The aim of the study was to assess free radical processes and their effect on oxygenation of hemoglobin in the blood of 18-21 weeks  pregnant women with exacerbation of cytomegalovirus infection. We  examined 40 pregnant women with exacerbation of cytomegalovirus  infection and various levels of specific antibodies (IgM) at 18-21  weeks and 30 pregnant women without cytomegalovirus. The  spectrophotometric method was used to determine the content of oxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-active  products, superoxide dismutase in blood erythrocytes; thin layer  chromatography – phosphotidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine;  gas-liquid chromatography – arachidonic acid. Exacerbation of  cytomegalovirus infection changes the activity of free radical  oxidation processes, the severity of which is determined by the level  of IgM antibodies and is manifested by a decrease in superoxide  dismutase (p = 0.000) and phosphatidylcholine (p = 0.000), an  increase in phospholipase A2 (p = 0.000), lysophosphatidylcholine (p  = 0.000), arachidonic acid (p = 0.000) and TBA-active products  (p = 0.000). Accumulation of superoxide anion radical and products of lipoperoxidation in erythrocytes decreases  oxyhemoglobin (p = 0.000) and increases methemoglobin (p =  0.000). Exacerbation of cytomegalovirus infection at 18-21 weeks is  associated with the enhancement of free radical lipid oxidation and a  deficiency in the antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase. It  decreases oxygen transport properties and increases phagocytosis  by red blood monocytes; and pregnant women develop further  hemic hypoxia.

Background. In many countries, hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures.

The objective of our analysis was to assess the social and medical characteristics of young reproductive-age patients who underwent hysterectomy.

Materials and methods. A retrospective study involved 140 women aged 18–35 years (median age 29.4 ± 4.7 years) who underwent emergency or elective hysterectomy in the hospitals of Zabaykalsky Krai for a period of 5 years (January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2017).

Results. 51.4 % of patients were housewives; 52.9 % were single; 55.7 % had bad habits (smoking, alcohol consumption). These women had a high incidence of socially significant infections: HIV – 3.6 %, active forms of tuberculosis – 1.5 %. 89.3 % of hysterectomies were emergent and 10.7 % were elective (p = 0.0001; OR = 69.4; 95% CI 32.6–148.1). The indications for the emergency hysterectomy were uterine myoma (80 %) and cervical or ovarian cancer (20 %). The obstetrical complications were the main indications for the emergency surgery: placenta abruption – 24.0 %; placenta previa – 20.8 % (placenta increta and/or percreta – 16.8 %; massive antenatal bleeding – 4.0 %); postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery and caesarean section 19.2 %; septic and/or hemorrhagic shock in early miscarriages (from 8 to 19 weeks of gestation) 15.2 %. Mortality was registered in case of emergency hysterectomy only (4.3 %). Half of the deaths (50 %) occurred in cases of complicated miscarriages.

Conclusion. To preserve the reproductive potential of young women of reproductive age, it is necessary to increase their social and cultural level, and responsibility for their own health and gender behavior. 

The Khasan district, located in the south of the Primorsky Krai, borders with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and  the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This determines the special  importance in terms of epizootological observations of the causative  agents of vector-borne tick infections. To date, such studies have not  been carried out in the Khasan district.

Aims: to show infections of ixodid ticks in the south of Primorsky Krai (in the Khasansky District), causative agents of viral and bacterial tick-borne infections.

Materials and methods. During the period of 2017, 387 specimens of ixodid ticks were collected from the vegetation. The study of collected ticks was carried out using the real-time polymerase chain reaction method.

Results. RNA of the TBE virus was detected in 1.1 %, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA in 12.5 %, Borrelia miyamotoi DNA in 0.6 %, Anaplasma phagocytophillum DNA in 4 %, Ehrlichia chaffeensis /  Ehrlichia muris DNA in 1.7 %. In 8 %, rickettsia DNA was detected,  of which Rickettsia heilongjiangensis in 12 cases. Seven cases of  mixed infection of various species of ticks with two pathogens were detected.

Conclusions. The data obtained suggest that the pathogens of infections transmitted by ixodid ticks can circulate not only  throughout the border area of the south of the Primorsky Krai  (Khasansky District) but also in the adjacent territories of the PRC and DPRK.

The susceptibility of the great gerbil to the causative agent of plague is genetically determined. However, there is not enough information  on the involved genes and their effect on this feature in the  literature. Although the sensitivity of gerbils to plague microbe may  depend on many genes, this feature can be described using a  monogenic model of inheritance with one gene. In addition to the  genetic component, other modifying factors of biotic and abiotic  nature may influence the sensitivity of a great gerbil to infection.

The aim of the work was to evaluate the role of genetic and modifying factors in the variation of the sensitivity of the great gerbil  to the causative agent of plague. For this, a one-factor  analysis of variance was used. The strength of the effect of the intensity of plague epizootics on sensitivity was calculated by the method of Plokhinsky. As a result, it was found that approximately 87 ± 3.9 % of the total variation of the sensitivity  sign is due to its genetic component and about 13 % to the share of other factors affecting the characteristic (modifying factors). The  conclusion is made that while in studies on the sensitivity of rodents  the effect on regulation of the immune response (specific for specific  antigens) has not been demonstrated, it is necessary to talk about  the general infectious sensitivity of rodents to infections, for  example, the causative agent of plague.

At present, the neuroinfections in children are a socially significant problem, as they can lead to disability and death.

Aim. To reveal the patterns of clinical manifestations of neuroinfections in the children’s central nervous system.

Materials and methods. We investigated 91 cases of neuroinfections in children. The children underwent treatment in the  Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital (Chita) between 2007 and  2014. Among 91 cases, 32 patients had viral neuroinfections and 59 had bacterial infections.

Results. The young boys have bacterial neuroinfections more often. Headaches were found in 73.6 % of children; more often in children  with viral neuroinfections – in 87.5 %, and less frequent in children  with bacterial neuroinfections – in 66.1 %, p ˂ 0.01 The disease  often starts with fever and vomiting. The neck stiffness and the  Kernig symptom were often found in patients with bacterial  neuroinfections persisting for 5 ± 1.7 days and 4 ± 1.9 days  correspondingly, in children with viral neuroinfections – for 3 ± 1.4  and 3 ± 1.2 days, p ˂ 0.05. Pneumococcal etiology of the disease  underlies the most severe and protracted cases in the course of  neuroinfections. Pneumococcus causes the most severe and  protracted diseases of the nervous system. Most often the bacterial  neuroinfections cause cerebral edema and septic shock.

Conclusions. Neuroinfections have typical clinical signs that need to be properly interpreted and evaluated by physicians to reduce adverse outcomes.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is a widespread natural-borne infection of orthohantavirus etiology in the territory of the  Russian Federation. Male patients of working age dominated, which  is associated with their professional and social activity. Although the  rate of children among all cases of this infection in our country is 2.5 %, the variety of clinical symptoms causes the problem in the diagnostic of this disease.

The purpose of this work was to study the characteristics of  orthohantavirus infection among children and adolescents of  Primorski Krai.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of 60 serologically confirmed cases of orthohantavirus infection in children and  adolescents was carried out. Patients were divided into age  subgroups with a link to the possibility of infection in the urban or rural locations.

Results. The prevalence of men aged 15-17 years among all studied patients was established. However, children starting from 3 years old are at risk of infection in rural areas of the region too, which is  related to proximity of natural landscapes. Circulation in the  Primorski Krai of two pathogenic orthohantaviruses (Hantaan and  Seoul) causes yearround registration of human orthohantavirus infection, including children.

Conclusion. The Primorski Krai is an endemic territory for orthohantavirus infection, with the simultaneous circulation of  several orthohantaviruses. Risk of infection within all categories of  the population, including children, in whom the disease can occur  more often in a moderate form and with variety of different  symptoms, is related with the activation of the epizootic process in the rodent’s populations.

The subdivision of the viral population into subtypes and clusters based on the molecular genetic characteristics of the tick-borne  encephalitis virus (TBEV) strains predetermines not only the  differences in the biological properties of these strains, but also their different responses to specific antibodies in persons vaccinated against TBE.

The aim of the present study is to show the differences in biological properties on the model of two strains of Far Eastern TBEV subtype  belonging to different clusters and to substantiate the need for a  personalized approach to the vaccine prophylaxis of tick-borne encephalitis.

Results. Two strains of TBEV were used in the studies. On the basis of full genome sequencing the Dal’negorsk strain (FJ402886,  GenBank) is referred to the typical representative of Sofjin-like, and  Primorye-437 (JQ825162, GenBank) – to Oshima-like TBEV strains  of the Far Eastern subtype.The experiment shows the levels of  specific antibodies capable of neutralizing virulence strains of tick- borne encephalitis virus. Low antibody titers (1:100 and 1:400) can  neutralize only a low dose of a non-virulent strain of tick-borne  encephalitis virus. Reliable protection against the disease of people infected with virulent strains of the TBEV can provide only a  high level of specific antibodies.

Conclusion. If the level of specific antibodies of IgG is 1:400 or lower, the vaccination course should be continued, at a titer of  antibodies above 1:400, revaccination can be postponed subject to  annual monitoring of specific immunity parameters in the pre-epidemic TBE season.

Orthohantaviruses (Orthohantavirus genus, Hantaviridae family) are the causative agents of a widespread natural focal infection in the  Russian Federation, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).  An important role in the persistence of orthohantavirus in reservoir  hosts among other immunological responses, as well as in the  spread of the virus in the infected organism, is played by infected  macrophages, which, along with the vascular endothelium, are the main targets for orthohantaviruses.

The aim of our study was to investigate the characteristics of replication of orthohantavirus Hantaan strains isolated from  Apodemus mice and detect the influence of different values of  multiplicity of infection (MOI) on replication dynamics of orthohantaviruses on cell culture.

Materials and methods. We used 4 strains of Hantaan virus, isolated from A. agrarius (n = 2) and A. peninsulae (n = 2), captured in the different areas of Primorsky Krai of Russia. The  modeling of infection was performed on the primary cell culture of  mouse peritoneal macrophages with different MOI (from 10 to 0.1).  The assessing of infection was conducted via indirect fluorescent  antibody assay, and results were expressed as rate of antigen- positive cells per all cells in the field of vision. 

Results. Common dynamics of orthohantavirus infection on this in vitro model was characterized by periodically increased rates of  infected cells after 2, 4, 6 и 8 hours post infection (p.i.). Replication  of A. agrarius-borne strains was more intensive compare with  viruses, isolated from A. peninsulae, in the time point 4 hour p.i. on  the background the same MOI the statistically significant difference  of rate of antigen-positive cell 24.9 ± 2.38 % vs 15.2 ± 1.87 % (t =  3.20; p = 0.001414) was observed. Additionally, the decrease of MOI was followed by determined decrease of replication effectivity.

Conclusion. The results of our study showed the significant phenotyping heterogeneity of orthohantavirus Hantaan strains,  isolated from Apodemus mice, resulting in different rates of  replication in the culture of mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Background. During the study of the genetic variability of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in Eastern Siberia, a group of 22  strains with a unique genetic structure significantly different from all  known TBEV subtypes was identified. This TBEV variant was  tentatively called “group 886”. Therefore, for this original TBEV  variant it was necessary to study the genetic, biological properties of the “group 886” strains, clarify its TBEV taxonomic status, its range, evolutionary history, etc.

Aim. The generalization of the currently available data on genetic and biological properties of TBEV “886” group.

Materials and methods. The genetic structure of “group 886” strains was studied by the complex of molecular-genetic methods (MHNA, sequencing of fragments or the complete genome).

Results. It was shown that “group 886” strains form a separate cluster on phylogenetic tree, and the level of genetic differences  from other genotypes is more than 12 %. It was defined that this  TBEV variant has its own area (Irkutsk region, Republic of Buryatia,  Trans-Baikal region, Northern Mongolia). Its ecological connection  with all links of the transmissive chain (ixodid ticks, small mammals,  human), participation in human pathology, stability and duration of  circulation in the Baikal region, individual evolutionary history  were proved. Some phenotypic characteristics of the “group 886” strains were considered.

Conclusion. The presented data testify to the validity of the “886 group” isolation as an independent genetic type. Taking into account  the geographical distribution of this TBEV genotype, we propose to assign it the name “Baikal genotype/subtype”.

Background. Periarticular cysts (PC) of facet joints is a rare pathology in neurosurgical practice. The concept of PC is applicable for all cysts that are located either pararticularly in the region of facet joints, or start from them.

Material and methods. A systematic search was performed in medical databases: Medline, RINC, EMedicine, UMKB, Pubmed on the relevant topic in Russian and English. The search query includes  words: arcuate joint, periarticular cyst, clinic, diagnosis, surgical  treatment. One of the significant factors of PC development is the  instability of the vertebralmotor segment of both degenerative and post-traumatic character.

Results. The result of the literature review was the writing of a clinical lecture, the current state of the issue of etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management of patients with  periarticular cysts of facet joints was studied. The article gives a  clinical example of surgical treatment of a patient with a periarticular cyst at the level of LIV-LV on the right.

Conclusion. Periarticular cysts of facet joints are one of the factors of compression of cauda equina roots, with surgical treatment being  a radical and effective way of treatment. A detailed study of this  pathology is a promising direction in spinal neurosurgery. Further  research is required on comparative analysis of clinical and  instrumental efficacy of various methods of surgical treatment of periarticular cysts of facet joints.

The published during last few years data concerning communicative role of lectins (proteins and their complexes which recognize  carbohydrates, glycoconjugates and their patterns) in on-duty  supporting and increasing anticancer status of human immunity are  analyzed. Examples of lectin-(glycoconjugate pattern) strategies,  approaches and tactic variants in study and development of  anticancer treatments, principle variants of therapy, possible  vaccines in 35 cases of blood connected tumors (leukemia,  lymphomas, others), solid tumors (carcinomas, sarcoma, cancers of vaginal biotopes, prostate, bladder, colon, other intestinal  compartments, pancreas, liver, kidneys, others) and cancer cell lines  are described and systemized. The list of mostly used communicative lectins (pattern recognition receptors, their soluble forms, other  soluble lectins possessing specificities of importance) involving in key intercellular cascades and pathway co-functioning is presented. The  regulation of resulting expression of distinct active lectins (available and hetero/di/oligomeric forms) and their interaction to  adequate glycoconjugate patterns as well as influence distribution of  co-functioning lectins and antigens CD between populations and  subpopulations of antigen-presented cells (dendritic cells cDC, mDC,  moDC, pDC; macrophages M2 and M1), mucosal M-cells, NK-cells  play key role for choice and development of anticancer complex  procedures increasing innate and innate-coupled immune responses.  Prospects of (receptor lectin)-dependent intercellular  communications and targeting glycoconjugate constructions into  innate immunity cells for therapy of cancer and development of anticancer vaccines are evaluated and discussed.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the causes of congenital neurological disorders and the virus itself is the most common viral  agent causing an imbalance in the production of placenta  progesterone and its neuroactive metabolites – allopregnenolone and 5α-dihydroprogesterone. The aim was to evaluate the concentration  of progesterone and its metabolites – 5α-dihydroprogesterone and  allopregnenolone – in placenta during exacerbation of CMV infection  in the first trimester of pregnancy, and the impact of these  disturbances on the development of neurological disorders in children. We examined 30 pregnant women with exacerbation of  CMV infection in the first trimester of pregnancy and 30 pregnant  women with latent disease; and later their newborns. The enzyme  immunoassay was used to determine  concentration of progesterone  in placenta; the histochemical method – to determine 5α-dihydroprogesterone and allopregnenolone. Newborns underwent  neurosonography studies. Exacerbation of CMV infection in the first  trimester of pregnancy decreased progesterone in placenta by 1.3  times, 5α-dihydroprogesterone – by 1.73 times and allopregnenolone – by 2 times. Ultrasound examination of the brain  showed ventriculomegaly, periventricular ischemia, and pseudocysts  in newborns up to one year from mothers with exacerbation of CMV  during pregnancy. Later, minimal brain dysfunctions were manifested by motor disorders, increased general, vegetative excitability, and a  tendency to digestive and sleep disorders. The data obtained  indicate that the exacerbation of CMV infection in the first trimester  of pregnancy is interrelated with a decrease in the concentration of progesterone and its metabolites (5α-dihydroprogesterone, allopregnenolone) in the placenta and development of neurological dysfunction in newborns.

The use of boron preparations (borax and boric acid) in medicine began long before their isolation in pure form. The mineral water of  boron-containing sources has been historically used to treat skin  diseases, to wash eyes, to disinfect wounds, etc. Also, what is of  interest in the context of this article, boron-containing waters were  used as calming, anti- anxiety, anticonvulsant and sleep-promoting  remedy. In 1777, boric acid was first isolated from the mineral water of a healing spring source in Florence. Historically, first name  of this compound was sal sedativum (“soothing salt”). However, the  discovery of boron toxicity led to the cessation of its internal use. In  recent decades, it has been found that boron is a microelement  necessary for many metabolic processes in the body. It affects  memory, cognitive functions, anxiety level, sleep, mood, regulates  calcium and magnesium exchange, metabolism of vitamin D and sex  steroids. It has been shown that some cases of treatment  resistance to standard therapy, for example in epilepsy, anxiety and depression, are related to boron deficiency. In this regard,  interest in the use of boron preparations in psychiatry and neurology, but in much smaller doses and on new scientific grounds, flared up again.

The analysis of vacancies and job offers for doctors, especially information on the declared amount of wages and benefits, allows  not only to study the need for personnel, but also to study the level  of motivation of candidates for medical posts. The aim of the study  was to analyze vacancies and job offers for doctors from state  medical organizations of the Irkutsk region. The study was  conducted using the method of continuous statistical analysis of job  offers for physicians posted on the official website of the Ministry of  Health of the Irkutsk region. The public sector of the healthcare  system in the Irkutsk region provides a large number of vacancies  for unemployed doctors and young professionals. Declared in job  advertisements, the salary level of doctors is below the level  reflected in regional state reports on the health of the population and  the organization of health care. There is a lag in the salaries of  medical workers from the average for the region, as well as the  backlog of the Irkutsk region in this indicator from the Russian  Federation. When comparing the municipalities of the region to the  maximum and minimum declared wage levels, it is revealed that the  difference between them is almost fourfold. Although the most  demanded are doctors who provide primary health care, the need for these specialists does not correlate with the level of wages offered to them in vacancy announcements. Fourfold excess of the maximum  declared wage level over the minimum in the municipal formations of the region is not a consequence of taking into account difficult  working conditions in hard-to-reach areas, but is due exclusively to factors of economic nature.

Live vaccines are used for specific brucellosis prophylaxis in the Russian Federation. These vaccines in addition to a number of  positive properties have some limitations including high  agglutinogenicity, reactogenicity, sensitizing activity. In this  connection, the development of subunit vaccines without adverse  reactions is a perspective direction in modern vaccinology. Complex  morphological research of the adrenal glands and comparative  analysis of peripheral blood (leukogram, leukocytic index and index  of allergization) of white mice immunized with thermoextracts (ТE)  of Brucella abortus I-206 in L- and S-form and inactivated vaccine B.  abortus 19 ВА were conducted. It was shown that ТE unlike B.  abortus 19 ВА caused minor alterations in peripheral blood of the  experimental animals in early periods of observation (increase of allergization index, changes in leukogram) with the subsequent  levelling to the values in control. Expositions of the adrenal gland  zoning were determined and cellular structure was estimated in  consideration of morphometry. Changes in architectonics of the mice  organ immunized with B. abortus 19 ВА were revealed. These alterations could indicate the stress-reaction development. In  case of ТE application the given changes were insignificant and were  developed in early periods. The revealed morphological changes in  adrenal glands of laboratory animals permit to prove the necessity of  realization the further experimental researches to ТE application  as the components for development of a subcellular brucellosis vaccine.

The narrowing of the lumen of the trachea due to cicatricial stenoses of the trachea is one of the urgent problems of the modern surgery.  The processes taking place in the trachea and lungs lead to a change in the state of the immune system. Assessment of the dynamics of  indices of nonspecific resistance is one of the methods for assessing  the severity of the course of the disease. We studied the indices of  nonspecific resistance of the organism in narrowing the lumen of the  trachea in an experiment in the early postoperative period.  The study was carried out on the basis of the scientific department  of experimental surgery with the vivarium of Irkutsk Scientific  Centre of Surgery and Traumatology, on 24 white male Wistar rats  with a body weight of 300–350 g. We simulated narrowing the lumen of the trachea by placing a silicone tube in the lumen of the trachea  for 14 days. The parameters of phagocytosis, the state of phagocytic activity of blood neutrophils, spontaneous NBT-test, induced NBT- test were studied. The animals were withdrawn from the experiment  on the 3rd, 7th and 14th day. We revealed that as a result of  narrowing of the lumen of the trachea with the original procedure,  the nonspecific resistance of the organism was violated with  inhibition of the phagocytic activity of leukocytes. There was  inhibition of phagocytic activity of leukocytes and depletion of the  functional reserve of leukocytes.

Background. Intensive physical exertion is one of the stress-factors leading to the decrease of non-specific resistance of the body,  significant increase in oxygen consumption followed by activation of  the lipid peroxidation and decrease of endogenic antioxidant system efficacy.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the complex plant remedy on exercise tolerance of laboratory animals and to reveal mechanisms increasing physical endurance.

Materials and methods. The experiments were carried out on white Wistar rats weighing 190-220 g. The physical endurance of the animals was estimated by recording time of weighted swimming to  complete exhaustion in the pool. The weighting was 7 % of the body  mass. The water solution of the dry extract derived from five  medicinal plants was introduced intragastrically to the animals of the experimental group at the dose of 100 mg/kg in the volume of 10  ml/kg for 7 days (once a day), an hour before testing. The content of ATP, lactic acid and pyruvic acid were determined in the skeletal  muscle homogenate; glycogen was determined in the liver  homogenate; in the blood serum there was estimated concentration  of malonic dialdehyde, the activity of catalase; the concentration of  reduced glutathione was determined in the whole blood and the  activity of superoxide dismutase was estimated in erythrocytes.

Conclusion. The course introduction of the complex plant remedy to rats results in resilience to intensive physical exertion due to  optimization of energy metabolism, inhibition of free-radical  biomacromolecule oxidation processes and increase in endogenic antioxidant system activity.

Adhesive process in the abdominal cavity is one of the most frequent complications of intra-abdominal surgery.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the activation of the JNK MAPK cascade during the experimental adhesion process.

Materials and methods. Experimental studies were performed on 40 male Wistar rats (9 months old). We modeled the adhesive  process in the abdominal cavity. At the time from 2 hours (2, 6, 12  hours) to 30 days (1, 3, 7, 14, 30 days), a JNK MAPK cascade was  evaluated in the zone of damage to the serosa using  immunohistochemical methods (painting on JNK1 Phospho (pT183) /  JNK2 Phospho (pT183) / JNK3 Phospho (pT221)) and real-time  PCR (the MAP Kinase Signaling Pathway RT2 - Profiler ™ PCR Array  (Qiagen) kit). 

Results. We have found that the expression of the  phosphorylated part of the JNK MAPK cascades has an undulating dynamics with two  peaks on the 3rd and 14th day. It has been determined that all  three JNK cascades are involved in the process, and all JNK cascades are synchronously activated on the 3rd day (JNK1 increases 12-fold  in comparison with the group of intact animals, JNK2 is 8-fold, JNK3  is 10-fold). On the 14th day, the activity of the JNK3 cascade is the  most intensively increased – 30 times (for JNK1 – about 6 times,  JNK2 – 12 times). 

Conclusion. Significant activation of MARK cascades has been established on the 14th day after traumatic injury, which indicates the need for long-term prevention of posttraumatic changes, in particular, the formation of adhesions.

Introduction. Annually, there are several patients attended the Center for Diagnosis and Prevention of Tick-borne Infections in  Irkutsk after bites of ticks that happened outside the Pribaikalye  region or abroad. In such cases, the attacking ticks do not belong to  convenient species that are usual for Eastern Siberia. Consequently,  the spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms transmitted by these  ticks may significantly differ from those that are detected by usual  laboratory tests. Thus, both physicians and laboratory personnel may  have difficulties in proper detection and identification of pathogens as well as in diagnosing and treating of such patients.

The purpose of the study was the analysis of potential risks of human infection with the pathogens that are common in foreign countries outside the Russian Federation.

Material and methods. The article uses information from electronic databases created by the authors during 2007-2017.

Results and discussion. During 11 years of observations, 52 tick bites were registered in 20 countries, with 48 of them in the Eastern  Hemisphere (92.3 %), three (5.8 %) in the United States and one  (1.9 %) in the Republic of Cuba. The results indicate a real danger of infection by tick-borne pathogens of people traveling as the tourists  and with business purposes to the countries of Europe, Asia and America.

Conclusion. It is necessary to improve the existing algorithm for diagnosis, prevention and treatment for people bitten by ixodid ticks  outside the Russian Federation, taking into account the possibility of  infection by inconvenient imported infections.

The article is devoted to the study of vector-borne pathogens circulating in the Republic of Buryatia. The authors have carried out  identification of the genetic material of tick-borne encephalitis virus,  Borrellia burgdorferi, Borrellia miуamotoi, Coxiella burnetii and  Rickettsia sibirica in various samples of biological material. The  object of the study were whole blood, leukocyte fraction and blood  serum of patients admitted to the hospital in a state of fever that  occurred after sucking of the tick, as well as mites brought by the  population. A detailed analysis of the data showed that 11.7 % (9  out of 70) of the clinical material samples and 17.8 % (50 out of  281) of the tick samples had genetic markers of tick-borne  pathogens. In the material from the patients, the RNA of tick-borne  encephalitis virus was most often determined, and in the DNA of  Borrellia burgdorferi mites. In addition, the authors first confirmed  the etiologic role of Borrellia miуamotoi in the development of cases  of Lyme disease in the Republic. An unexpected finding was the  detection of Coxiella burnetii DNA in ticks and in clinical material. In  the Republic of Buryatia Q-fever was detected by laboratory  diagnostics for the first time. This fact confirms the circulation of this pathogen in the region. In this regard, the authors conducted a  retrospective analysis of the medical histories of patients who were found to have genetic markers of Q-fever.

The article presents the comparative analysis of the incidence of diphyllobothriasis in the Siberian Federal District and the Irkutsk  Region, and the peculiarities of its epidemiology in the Irkutsk  Region. On the basis of in-depth study of the structure of  diphyllobothriasis foci functioning on the territory of Irkutsk Region,  the zoning of the territory was carried out according to the degree of risk of contamination with diphyllobothriidae. The categories of the  population of various age groups exposed to invasion is defined, and  dynamics of morbidity within groups is analyzed. The analysis  revealed a distinctive feature of the Irkutsk Region, which is  expressed in a greater proportion of children among the sick people compared to other regions of the Siberian Federal District and the lowest incidence reduction rates among this group. The question  of reorientation of preventive and explanatory work with the  population, taking into account the identified data, is raised. The  cases are also considered on the basis of belonging to the rural or  urban population; among the rural population, the incidence is  almost twice as high. The analysis of morbidity in some territories of  the Irkutsk Region was carried out on the basis of an integral  indicator, which was carried out by ranking individual territories  according to the degree of infection of the population, areas with low, medium, high and very high levels of morbidity were allocated.

The article describes the additional evolutionary factors, apart from natural selection, which can influence the genetic structure of the  populations of the main carriers of the plague microbe – the great  gerbil. The influence of genetic drift on random fluctuation of alleles  is considered. With the help of a stochastic matrix, on the example  of the family group of gerbils consisting of four individuals, the  probabilities of the transition of allele frequencies from parents to  offspring are calculated. Based on the previously calculated size of  the neighborhood in gerbils, it is concluded that any large population  of great gerbils can be considered as small in terms of deviation of gene frequencies. In such small groups – parcels –  the drift of genes will be of great importance. In addition, the effect  of the gene flow on the genetic structure of the gerbil population on  the example of the simplest population model “continent-island” is  considered. The dynamics of changes in allelic frequencies for 100  generations has been calculated. It is shown that the allele  frequency during the 20-30 generations changes at the maximum  rate, and then slows as the equilibrium is approached. It is  concluded that different populations of gerbils should be considered  as separate historically formed structures, with different sequence of influence of external environmental factors on them.

We have aimed to detect both Rickettsiae species and Babesia microti in adult ticks of Dermacentor nutalli in Tuv province; and  looked for only Rickettsiae species in Ixodes persulcatus in Selenge  province. Using the PCR and DNA sequencing techniques, we  amplified and sequenced the 16S rRNA, gltA, rOmpA genes of  Rickettsia and 18S rRNA gene of B. microti and Rickettsia species  were identified. Infection rate for Rickettsiae spp. was 82.7 %  (115/139 samples) by 16S rRNA sequencing results and among  them the highest prevalence rate was that for R. raoultii strain –  71.4 % (80/111 samples) by gltA gene sequencing and 100 %  (81/81 samples) by rOmpA gene sequencing. Canditatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae strain was detected in 27.9 % (31/11  samples) by gltA gene sequencing. Infection rate for Rickettsiae spp. in D. nutalli ticks was 84.3 % (81/96 samples) and R. raoultii  strain comprised 96.2–98.7 % among them. Adult ticks of I.  persulcatus were infected with Rickettsiae spp. with 78 % and 93.75  % of them were R. raoultii strain. Seventeen out of 97 ticks (17.5  %) were found to be infected with B. microti. Nucleotide DNA  sequencing of partial 18S rRNA and gltA genes supported the PCR  results. We have identified that the same species of ticks commonly  distributed in Mongolia have been infected with R. sibirica, R. raoultii  and B. microti. It might be the strength of our study as B.  microti have not been detected in D. nuttalli ticks yet. We are  considering to detect the tick-borne infections in humans.

Currently, the detection and identification of viruses that cause respiratory and influenza-like illness (ILI) is one of the main tasks of  public healthcare. In 2016-2017, nasopharyngeal swabs were  collected from 200 sick children with ILI aged 0 to 5 years. Detection  of pathogens in ILI patients was carried out by RT-LAMP  amplification method. In 43 % of patients ILI viruses were detected.  Among all confirmed cases of viral infection, a respiratory-syncytial  virus was detected in 49 %, rhinoviruses in 16 %, coronaviruses in 9 %,  parainfluenza viruses in 6 %, and human metapneumoviruses in 2 % of  samples. Influenza A viruses were found in 6 % of infected specimens.  The results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of using RT-LAMP amplification in differential laboratory diagnostics of the ILI of viral etiology.

The article presents the results of examination of stray dogs from Havana, Cuba for six ixodid tick-borne diseases. Analysis was carried  out using real-time PCR. Overall 107 dogs, 95 (89.09 %) were infected.  41 dogs (38.31 %), 66 (61.68 %), 28 (26.17 %) and 40 (37.38 %)  were found to be infected with Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis,  Rickettsia spp. and Hepatozoon canis, respectively. Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and groEL genes for Rickettsia spp. revealed 99 % identity  with Rickettsia felis. There were no dogs infected with A. phagocytophilum and Borrelia spp.