[Immunochromatographic and latex-agglutination systems for diphtheria toxin detection].

The use of two monoclonal antibody types specific to different epitopes of diphtheria toxin systems have been developed to reveal diphtheria corynebacteria toxigenicity rapidly based on immunochromatographic and latex-agglutination detection of the diphtheria toxin. The methods have been tested on a sample of 36 clinical isolates. The possibility of significant detection of the toxigenic properties of the Corynebacterium strain, grown for 1 day, has been demonstrated. The developed methods allow for the detection of diphtheria toxin in concentrations of 3-4 ng/ml. The developed test systems are a perspective tool for diphtheria diagnostics because of significant time shortening as compared to traditional microbiological methods.

[Immunization of adult population of Russia against diphtheria in 2006-2007].

The vaccination coverage against diphtheria in the adult population of Russia in 2006-2007 was analyzed in different age, professional and social groups and reasons of absent immunization. Vaccination coverage in adults was 95.3%, of them 92.5% were boosted (i.e. completely immunized) and only 7.5% were in process of vaccination. Vaccination coverage was high in the majority of regions. Mean vaccination coverage in adults aged 25-49 ages was 96.2-96.5% whereas in adults > or =50 years it was lower (91.8-94.8%). Mean coverage in groups of high risk for severe diphtheria was 97.7% in professional high-risk groups and somewhat lower in social high-risk groups (94.4%). The lowest vaccination rate was registered in group of migrants (81.7%). In unvaccinated persons from professional groups 33.1% were not vaccinated due to medical contraindications, 22.8%--because of vaccination refusal, and 38.1%--due to non-medical reasons. In social groups these figures were 21.8%, 28.4%, and 49.8% respectively. Reported mean adult vaccination coverage in Russia is confirmed by results of serological studies. Protective titers were detected in 91.3% tested adults. However in the group aged > or =50 years rate of protected persons was lower (84-85%).

[Results of conducting an epidemiological survey of diphtheria in 21 territories of the RSFSR]. / Itogi provedeniia épidemiologicheskogo nadzora za difteriei na 21 territorii RSFSR.

As the result of epidemiological survey of diphtherial infection, carried out in conformity with the unified methodological recommendations in 21 regions of the RSFSR during 1980-1981, the expediency of such experiment was established. Immunity to diphtheria in children aged up to 14 years was high: children with negative Schick tests constituted 96.9-99.1%. No biological changes in Corynebacterium diphtheriae occurred during the term of observation. Toxigenic C. diphtheriae showed a high level of pathogenicity. The epidemiological survey contributed to a more thorough detection of diphtheria patients and carriers releasing toxigenic C. diphtheriae. The quality of clinical bacteriological diagnosis improved. In rare cases angina with the concomitant carriership of toxigenic C. diphtheriae could be diagnosed with the indispensable serological examination of the patients by Jensen's method.

[Circulation of the causative agent of diphtheria in immune collectives]. / Tsirkuliatsiia vozbuditelia difterii v immunnykh kollektivakh.

Prolonged observations on the spread of toxigenic C. diphtheriae carriership, made during a school year in 12 groups of immune children (3809 children), showed that the penetration of diphtherial infection could give rise to the outbreak of bacterial carriership, its level being as high as 20.9-35.1% of the total number of children in the group. The spread of bacterial carriership occurred during the first months after the penetration of the infection, achieving its peak, then followed the subsidence of the infection in the focus. Though some children in the group persistently released C. diphtheriae, almost no new cases of carriership were registered in spring. The highest spread of carriership (55.6-73%) was revealed in the first forms of boarding schools despite a higher level of antitoxic immunity in these children. Cases of the spontaneous cessation of carriership were observed. The spread and subsidence of carriership were determined by the presence or absence of a susceptible contingent. Tests on guinea pigs, carried out in the course of this study to determine the toxigenicity of C. diphtheriae, showed its variability.

[Patterns of antimicrobial immunity in carriers of toxigenic diphtheria bacteria]. / Zakonomernosti antimikrobnogo immuniteta u nositelei toksigennykh difteriinykh bakterii

It was shown in the passive hemagglutination test (PHAT) with a type-specific somatic antigen on 147 carriers of toxigenic diphtheria bacilli that the PHAT titres of 1/80 and over were determined in 64% of bacteria. In the process of carrier state of toxigenic bacteria antimicrobial antibodies were detected in 79% of the children; after the release from the carrier state, the percentage was from 57 to 26, depending on the time lapse after it. Among the carriers of nontoxigenic diphtheria bacilli the PHAT titre of 1/80 and over was established in up to 20% of children, and only in those which were in the focus of toxigenic bacilli carriers. The applied test could be used for epidemiological purpose to determine the spread of the carrier state of toxigenic bacteria in a collective body.