[New infections: myths and reality].

New contemporary data about new infectious diseases of XXI century are presented. Data on morbidity and mortality from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS, atypical pneumonia) and avian influenza are analyzed and compared with World Health Organization data on human influenza. Biologic characteristics of avian influenza virus A/H5N1 are discussed as well as possibility of its human-to-human transmission. Principles of SARS and avian influenza infections transmission as zoonoses are described as well as mechanisms of transmission impeding their ability to infect humans. It has been argued that SARS should be regarded as contagious infection, whereas avian influenza - as non-contagious. Features of all stages of epidemic process of these infections are analyzed.

[Doctrine of the transmission of the causative agents of infections and social and ecologic concepts of the epidemic process]. / Uchenie o mekhanizme peredachi vozbuditelei infektsii i sotsial'noékologicheskaia kontseptsiia épidedmicheskogo protsessa.

The concept on social and ecologic determination of the epidemic process in its direct connection with L.V. Gromashevsky's doctrine on the transmission mechanism of the causative agents of infection is presented. The role of this concept in the development of epidemiological science is discussed.

[The leading pathways and factors in the transmission of the causative agents of campylobacteriosis under current conditions]. / Vedushchie puti i faktory peredachi vozbuditelei kampilobakterioza v sovremennykh usloviiakh.

The authors have studied the epidemiological importance of different paths and factors of the transmission of causative agents in the foci of campylobacteriosis, as well as the character and frequency of microbial associations detected in cases of campylobacteriosis. The family foci of campylobacteriosis have been epidemiologically studied and the detected factors contributing to contacting campylobacteriosis have been analyzed. As revealed in this study, 41.6% of the foci of campylobacteriosis are linked with the active action of the alimentary factor, while 37.9% of the foci are linked with the factor of everyday contacts. High frequency of microbial associations with Campylobacter has been established (20.8%), which makes it possible for sporadic cases and especially outbreaks of campylobacteriosis to be disguised as other infections.

[The epidemiology and epizootiology of rabies on the territory of the former USSR]. / Epidemiologiia i épizootologiia beshchenstva na territorii byvshego SSSR.

On the territory of the former USSR rabies is as infection with natural foci in the western and central regions. In the republics of Central Asia and Transcaucasia, in the North Caucasus the presence of natural foci of infection is combined with appearance of the foci of rabies, mainly among dogs, due to human activities. The existence of natural epizootic cycles of three years has been established, and the natural foci of rabies have been found to prevail in certain landscape zones: steppes, forest-steppes, tundra, forest tundra. A vast zone of northern taiga remained free from this disease. About half a million persons asked for medical assistance in connection with rabies annually, and about 50% of them received urgent antirabies treatment. Of the total number of persons asking for antirabies assistance, the proportion of rural dwellers was about 30%, while the majority of rabies patients were from rural areas (about 70%). During the period under study the incidence of this disease among humans did not show any tendency towards a decrease and constituted 0.01-0.02 cases per 1,000 persons. Of the total number of persons contacting this disease, only 30% went to a clinic for medical assistance.

[A system of simulation models of the epidemic process based on a socioecological concept]. / Sistema imitatsionnykh modelei épidemicheskogo protsessa na osnove sotsial'no-ékologicheskoi kontseptsii.

In this paper different methods of modeling the epidemic process for different types of infectious diseases are discussed. We propose a concept of modeling for an essentially nonhomogeneous human population, taking into account biological, ecological and social factors. The method of an "epidemiological tree" has been developed, which makes it possible to divide the population into so-called "epidemiologically active groups". The method is invariant with respect to nosological forms. The paths of the spread of an infectious disease among the population are described in the form of the oriented graphic presentation of the interaction of individual epidemiologically active groups. The dynamic characteristics of the epidemic process are calculated by means of the system of differential equations. For illustration, the proposed approach is applied to HIV infection used as an example.

[The differential diagnosis of anthrax in man]. / K differentsial'noi diagnostike sibirskoi iazvy u cheloveka.

The paper reports group cases of the disease running as anthrax. The disease was not identified etiologically. The authors hold that it is important to make differential diagnosis of anthrax with necrobacillosis, pasteurellosis and contact pustular viral dermatitis. Laboratory and clinical diagnostic techniques are specified.

[The leading routes and factors in the transmission of the causative agent of campylobacteriosis under current conditions]. / Vedushchie puti i faktory peredachi vozbuditelia kampilobakterioza v sovremennykh usloviiakh.

Epidemiological investigations carried out at the foci of Campylobacter infection in Moscow and the Moscow region in 1987-1990 demonstrated that Campylobacter infection was recently registered as sporadic cases in a few foci. The alimentary route of the transmission of this infection was the main factor of its spread. A high role of everyday contacts in the spread of this infection was noted. The possibility for outbreaks and sporadic cases of Campylobacter infection to be masked by very frequently occurring associations of these bacteria is discussed.

[The epidemiological aspects of campylobacteriosis in children in arid area]. / Epidemiologicheskie aspekty kampilobakterioza u detei v aridnoi zone.

Specific epidemiological features of Campylobacter infection in children in Samarkand Province during the period of 1987-1990 are discussed. The specific proportion of this infection in the total structure of acute enteric infections was, on the average, 8.5%, and Campylobacter carriership among healthy children, 7.0%. Among children with Campylobacter infection, children aged up to 1 year constituted 71.5%. The results of the study of the biological properties of Campylobacter strains isolated from sick and healthy children and their difference from strains isolated in other regions are discussed.

[Risk factors and transmission routes of the causative agents of campylobacteriosis in commercial poultry plants]. / Faktory riska i puti peredachi vozbuditelei kampilobakterioza na promyshlennykh ptitsekompleksakh.

The study, carried out in two regions of the USSR and aimed at estimation of the contamination of products supplied by industrial poultry complexes (IPC), revealed that the contamination of these products was closely related to the Campylobacter contamination of the personnel of IPC. The causes of high Campylobacter contamination of the products of IPC at all technological stages of their production are described. The species, serovars and biovars of Campylobacter strains isolated from different sources were determined, which made it possible to carry out the specific and intraspecific differentiation of these strains.

[An immunoenzyme test system for the detection of antibodies to Campylobacter]. / Immunofermentnaia test-sistema dlia vyiavleniia antitel k kampilobakteriiam.

An enzyme immunoassay system for the detection of antibodies to bacteria of the genus Campylobacter in human blood serum has been developed. The system is based on the use of ethanol-treated C. jejuni and C. coli whole cells as antigen. The study of sera obtained from healthy donors in this assay has made it possible to establish the value of the tentative diagnostic titer: 320.

[The laboratory diagnosis of campylobacteriosis today]. / Laboratornaia diagnostika kampilobakterioza v sovremennykh usloviiakh.

Different conditions necessary for the successful isolation and cultivation of Campylobacter (culture media, inoculation techniques, gas mixtures, etc.) are described. Of these, the most effective conditions and methods, as well as those available for practical health service, have been determined. The main trends in further improvement of the laboratory diagnosis of Campylobacter infection is presented.