[DNA detection of pathogens transmitted by Ixodid ticks in blood of small mammals inhabiting the forest biotopes in Middle Irtysh Area (Omsk Region, West Siberia)].

Microtine rodents were captured in two disconnected sampling sites in Omsk region where Ixodes pesulrcatus and Ixodes trianguliceps are sympatric. In blood samples of rodents the DNA was revealed belonging to several ixodid-transmitted pathogens: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (prevalence 20.0 and 6.0%, here and further values are given for the first and second site, respectively), Borrelia miyamotoi (8.3 and 2.0%), Anlaplasnma phagocytophilum (33.3 and 48.0%), Ehrlichia muris (30.0 and 2.0%) and Babesia microti (33.3 and 42.0%). Three genetic groups of A. phagocytophilhm based on 16S rRNA gene and groESL operon, as well as two genetic groups of B. microti, B. microti 'US'-type and B. microti 'Munich'-type, were detected.

[The application of polymerase chain reaction in real-time operation mode to detect DNA of agents of human granulocytic anaplasmosis and monocytic erlychiosis].

The analysis was applied to detect DNA of agents of human granulocytic anaplasmosis and monocytic erlychiosis. The sampling included 109 ticks of Ixodes species from Novosibirsk oblast and Khabarovsk kray and blood samples of 111 mouse-like rodents from Omsk oblast. The used techniques included polymerase chain reaction in real-time operation mode with set of reagents "RealBest DNA Anaplasma phagocytophilum/Ehrlichia muris, ehrlichia chaffeensis" ("Vector-Best" Novosibirsk) and double round polymerase chain reaction. The DNA of A. phagocytophilum, agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis and/or DNA of E. muris, agent of monocytic erlychiosis was detected in 21 ticks and in blood samples of 52 voles. Both techniques were applied. The DNA of A. phagocytophilum was detected in samples of 2 voles and in 1 tick only after polymerase chain reaction in real-time operation mode was applied. It demonstrated that the set of reagents "RealBest DNA Anaplasma phagocytophilum/Ehrlichia muris, ehrlichia chaffeensis" permits to detect the DNA of isolates of A. phagocytophilum subsumed to different genetic groups. The set can be used for fast and effective detection of the DNA of agents of agents of human granulocytic anaplasmosis and monocytic erlychiosis in suspensions of analyzed ticks and blood samples.

[Changes in the ranges of pasture ixodid ticks of the genus Ixodes Latr., 1795 (Parasitiformes, Ixodinae) in Western Siberia].

The character of distribution of two species from the genus Ixodes, the Taiga tick Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes pavlovskyi in the plain part of Western Siberia is analyzed. The northern border of the range of I. persulcatus in HMAO-Ugra was clarified on the basis of long-term data on the population density of adult and immature ticks (1960-2011). The shift of the southern border of the species range in Western Siberia at the background of anthropogenic transformation (forest restoring activity, stopped sanitary forest cutting, road construction etc) is demonstrated; peculiarities of the distribution of the Taiga tick in some localities of the southwestern Siberia is analyzed. The modern state of the tick population in the joint dwelling zone of I. persulcatus and I. pavlovskyi is characterized. Possible reasons of changes in the structure of tick communities toward total prevalence of I. pavlovskyi in recreation zones of Novosibirsk and Tomsk are discussed. It is noted that the most significant changes in the character of distribution of these two tick species in Western Siberia had evidently occurred after 1990. Just in this period, local stable populations of the Taiga tick to the south of its main range in Western Siberia (within Omsk and Novosibirsk Provinces) were formed; the character of its distribution in the right bank of the Ob River (Novosibirsk Province) and in the valley of the Tom River (Tomsk Province) had changed; I. pavlovskyi became the dominating species.

[Zonal types of host-parasite complexes of arthropods and small mammals in a flat part of Western Siberia].

Within a flat part of Western Siberia distribution of the small mammals and parasitic arthropods connected with them is accompanied by formation zonal host-parasite complexes dated for corresponding landscape zones or subzones: tundra complex dated for a tundra zone; forest complex dated for a forest zone (including subzones northern taiga, middle taiga, southern taiga and subtaiga); forest-steppe complex dated for a northern forest-steppe subzone; steppe complex dated for a southern forest-steppe subzone and steppe. Parasitic specificity of each type of a complex is defined by arthropods of different systematical and ecological groups: a tundra complex is defined by epizoite gamasid mites (Mesostigmata), forest and forest-steppe complexes is defined by tick (Ixodides) and fleas (Siphonaptera), steppe complex is defined by fleas and nidicolous gamasid mites.

[Parasite-host relationship of flies and small mammals in the Omsk region]. / Parazito-khoziainnye sviazi blokh i melkikh mlekopitaiushchikh Omskoi oblasti.

A generalized analysis of data on a flea fauna, range of their hosts in various natural zones, and features of parasite-host relationships between fleas and small mammals obtained in the Omsk province during long term researches in 1963-1997 is given. 35 flea species are recorded. The most mass species both on animals and in their nest is Ctenophthalmus assimilis; the numerous species are Amalareus penicilliger, Megabothros rectangulatus, M. walkeri, Peromyscopsylla silvatica, Ctenophthalmus unciatus, Palaropsylla sorecis, Doratopsilla birulai, Neopsylla pleskei, Hystrichopsylla talpae; the usual species--Ceratopsyllus garei, M. calcarifer, M. turbidus, Frontopsylla elata, Amphipsylla sibirica, A. kuznetzowi, Peromyscopsylla dasycnema, Radinopsylla integella, Catalagia dacenkoi. Other species are less numerous or infrequent. The general infection rate of the flea populations on rodents and insectivores makes 30.4%. For certain species it reaches 65.1% (on red-backed vole Cletrionomys rutilus), for regular groups--86.9% (on shrews of the genus Sorex). The greatest variety of the flea populations is observed on Microtus arvalis, the least one--on Sorex caecutiens and S. daphaenodon. In the nests of small mammals the variety of fleas is significantly lower. Based on the index of flea species relative "loyalty" to small mammals and their nest we have recognized 6 groups of fleas.

[The spread of hantaviruses in western Siberia]. / O rasprostranenii khantavirusov v Zapadnoi Sibiri.

Studies made in west Siberia established the existence of at least 4 hantavirus types: Puumala, Tula, Topografov, and Dobrava/Belgrade. The authors detected Puumala virus genovariants in voles, Tula virus in sagebrush and narrow-skulled voles, and Topografov virus in Siberian lemmings. The etiological role of the hantavirus Dobrada/Belgrade was defined in the structure of morbidity of hemorrhagic fever with the renal syndrome. In Russia, hantaviruses were first detected in mites: a hantavirus antigen was found in one of the enzyme immunoassayed pools of the mole mites (Haemogamasus ambulans) collected from the Siberian lemming brooding burrow in the near-floodplain habitats of the transitional Yenisei tundras in southwest Taimyr.