[The characteristics of the spread of Coxiella burnetii in the Carpathian region]. / Osoblyvosti rozpovsiudzhennia Coxiella burnetii v Prikarpatti.

The paper presents data of the long-term (1975-1994) study of Q fever in Carpathian region [correction of Forecarpathia] (Ivano-Frankivs'k and Chernivtsi provinces) and dynamics of epidemiologic manifestations of this disease during the recent years. It is shown that after Q fever outbreaks in 1975-1977, people sick for it have been recorded sporadically, and a considerable decrease of epidemiological manifestations of Coxiella burnetii circulation is observed in the late years. This is accompanied by the decrease of the immune stratum among the population from 10.1% to 1.6-2.8%. In the authors opinion there is the interepizootic period now when the agent population remains in the phase of reservation that requires devoting much attention to the future appearance of its epidemiologically dangerous variants. The expediency of the purposeful examination of the profile therapeutic patients for Q fever and a necessity of special study of the chronic form of this infection are emphasized.

[A fatal case of chronic Q fever with cardiovascular involvement]. / Smertel'nyi vypadok khronichnoï Ku-hariachky z urazhenniam sertsevo-sudynnoï systemy.

A lethal case is reported of chronic Q-fever in a patient aged 34 who regarded himself as completely healthy six months before his death. The diagnosis was made on the basis of vital investigation of blood sera in a complement-fixation test and indirect fluorescent-antibody test (antibody titers 1 : 1280 against phase 1 and 1 : 320 against phase 2 Coxiella burnetii), differentiation of antibodies as distinct classes of immunoglobulins, results of pathoanatomical and microbiological investigations. Pathoanatomical features of the organs are fully detailed, especially those of the heart. Death occurred in the presence of cardiac failure growing progressively worse, involving many organs. Patients with cardiovascular pathology have to be examined for Q-fever in order that we should be able to early detect and apply specific therapy to treat its chronic form.

[The diagnosis of rickettsioses in patients under therapy]. / Diahnostyka ryketsioziv u khvorykh terapevtychnoho profiliu.

A serological study of 92 patients with rickettsiosis, revealed in the blood serum of 19 patients antibodies to the pathogens of Q-fever or typhoid fever. In three patients the character of distribution of immunoglobulins of different classes corresponded to the chronic course of rickettsia infection. Patients of the therapeutic profile from infections foci should be examined for rickettsiosis.