Measles: prospects of vaccine prophylaxis and decrease of morbidity in Moscow

The results of the prolonged epidemiological surveillance on measles in Moscow are presented. The detailed analysis of the influence of immunization on the level of measles morbidity has been made. Changes in the age structure of measles patients with an essential increase in the proportion of adolescents and adults due to mass vaccination of the child population are shown. High risk groups have been determined according to the data of serological screening and epidemiological surveillance. The prospects of the vaccinal prophylaxis of measles under present conditions, as the basic intervention for achieving sporadic level of morbidity in this infection and further eradication are evaluated.     

Clinico-epidemiologic aspects of campylobacteriosis in Moscow and Moscow Province

The clinical course and epidemiological features of campylobacteriosis in Moscow and Moscow Province in 1986-1987 are described. The specific proportion of this infection in the structure of acute enteric infections is, on the average, 4.8%. The level of Campylobacter contamination of animals and birds and their role in the spread of campylobacteriosis have been established. The possible ways and factors of the transfer of this infection are discussed.     

The penetration of HIV into the population of Moscow homosexuals and its spread

The article deals with the epidemiological investigation of cases of HIV infection among the population of homosexuals. 119 representatives of this population were checked in their sexual contacts; of these, 13 persons proved to be infected with HIV. HIV infection was found to penetrate into the homosexual population of the USSR from the countries of Western Europe and the USA by sexual route. In 1988 the intensive spread of this infection began.     

Helminthofauna of wild canids in Azerbaijan and ways of its formation

The complete list of helminthes parasitizing canids in Azerbaijan is given; ways of formation of the canids' helminthofauna in Azerbaijan are reconstructed. As a result of our study, 42 helminth species were recorded; 25 of them parasitize jackals, 16 parasitize wolfs, and 39 species were found in foxes. The helminthofauna includes 5 species of Trematoda, 14 species of Cestoda, 1 species of Acanthocephala, and 22 species of Nematoda. By the life cycle, 32 species belong to biohelminthes and 10 species are geohelminthes.     

Nesting Dynamics of Corvids (Corvidae) in the City of Moscow and Moscow Oblast

Biology Bulletin - Abstract—This paper analyzes the long-term (1978–2017) observations of the nesting dynamics of three corvid species, i.e., the gray crow, magpie, and rook. Inhabited...     

Significance of the antibiotic resistance of the causative agents of salmonellosis in its epidemiology and the procedure for controlling the infection

Antibiotic resistance of a wide set of strains (1501) of different serovars (69) was studied and the nature of the resistance was determined. Virulent bacteriophages designed with regard to the biological properties of the isolates were considered as possible agents for the control of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. It was shown that multiple resistance to antibacterial drugs was mainly characteristic of the serovar of S. typhimurium. In Gorky and its region, strains carrying R plasmids determining the resistance to tetracycline and chloramphenicol with a molecular weight of 58-64 Md predominated. The antibiotic-resistant strains were dangerous from the epidemiological point of view. The use of the bacteriophages is advisable for the treatment of patients, sanation of bacterial carriers or decontamination of disease sources and prophylactic phaging with regard to the epidemiological indications for preventing group diseases.     

Pathogenesis and immunity in murine salmonellosis.

Salmonella is traditionally described as a facultative intracellular parasite, and host macrophages are regarded as the primary effector cells in both native and acquired immunity in mouse typhoid. This concept has not been unanimously accepted in the literature. Based on cell culture experiments and electron microscopic examinations of infected tissues, we observed that virulent Salmonella typhimurium is killed within polymorphs and macrophages of guinea pigs and mice. In a systemic disease, the organism propagates primarily in the extracellular locations of sinusoids and tissue lesions and within hepatocytes. Hence, it is more likely to be an extracellular pathogen and its virulence is directly related to its antiphagocytic property. The conspicuous absence of macrophages in the primary lesions of murine salmonellosis disputes the likelihood of their significant role in native resistance to the disease. Acquired cellular immunity is expressed as an enhanced antibacterial activity of macrophages facilitated by cytophilic antibodies rather than as an altered antibacterial action of immune macrophages. It is proposed that acquired immunity in murine salmonellosis is a synergistic manifestation of the innate capacity of polymorphs and macrophages to destroy ingested salmonellae, the activated antibacterial functions of macrophages mediated by cytophilic antibodies, the opsonic and agglutinating actions of antiserum, and the accelerated inflammation associated with delayed hypersensitivity to bacterial antigens. Unlike live attenuated vaccines, nonviable vaccines offer a significant, though not a solid, protection against subsequent challenges.     

Lizards in the ecology of salmonellosis in Panama.

Enteropathogenic bacteria was isolated from 131 of 447 (29.4%) neotropical Panamanian lizards belonging to 34 species of seven families. Overall, 147 strains of bacteria were isolated comprising 26 Salmonella and 10 Arizona serotypes. Gymnopthalmus speciosus had the highest infection rate, 12 of 13 individuals (92.3%), whereas Gonatodes fuscus exhibited the lowest, 1 of 18 (5.6%). The highest infection was detected in lizards whose behavioral patterns were secretive (42.0%) and terrestrial (42.6%), whereas the lowest infection was among the scansorial lizards (17.5%). Rates were highest during the dry season, from January through April. Many neotropical Panamanian lizards were multiply infected by Salmonella an Arizona strains representing representing a wide range of serotypes. Infected lizards were distributed in areas varying from remote rural and forested regions to urban developments, offering a potentially important reservoir of enteropathogenic bacteria known to cause infection in man and domestic animals.     

Myxomycetes in forest parks of Moscow,Moscow region,and some areas of the Kaluga region

Species diversity of myxomycetes in Moscow region and partly in Kaluga region is investigated. The survey was performed from July 10, 2007, to September 20, 2008. The annotated list includes 81 species belonging to 23 genera. Novel species for Moscow region are indicated.     

A new boring bryozoan from the Middle Jurassic of the Moscow Region and its micro-CT research

A new boring ctenostome bryozoan without calcareous skeleton, Orbignyopora opulenta sp. nov. (Vesiculariida, Eurystomata), is described from deposits of the Middle Callovian of the Moscow Region. A pioneering micro-ct examination of a colony of this species reveals its diagnostic features hidden in the shell substratum: shape, size, and distinctive features in the budding of zooids and stolons, and also tubular processes (tubulets) developed on the frontal surface of autozooids. The diagnosis of the genus Orbignyopora is added by dimorphism of autozooids (A-zooids and B-zooids) and spindly kenozooids.