[RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR-GENETIC PROPERTIES OF STRAINS - CAUSATIVE AGENTS OF CHOLERA - ISOLATED IN UKRAINE IN 1994 - 2011].

AIM: Retrospective analysis of biological and molecular-genetic properties of strains - cau- sative agents of cholera - isolated in the period of epidemics in Ukraine in 1994 - 2011. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phenotypic and molecular-genetic properties of 5 strains of cholera vibrios, biovar El Tor isolated from cholera patients and 4 strains from the environmental samples were studied using traditional bacteriological and genetic methods. Detection of DNA for toxigenicity genes and genes characteristic for El Tor and classic biovar were carried out by PCR method using rea- gent kits <> and <> an experimental test system). Sequencing of genomes of 4 strains of causative agents of cholera was carried out in genetic analyzer Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine. RESULTS: Strains of cholera vibrios identified in Ukraine in 1994 and 2011 such as a typical toxigenic biovar El Tor (V cholerae Ο1, El Tor, Ogawa, Hly-, ctxA+, tcpA+) contain genes ofthe classic cholera vibrio in their genome and are genetically altered (hybrid) variants of cholera vibrio biovar El Tor producing enterotoxin CTI and having increased virulence, that was clinically manifested in predominance of severe forms of cholera in Mariupol of Donetsk region in 2011. Genome sequences ofthe 4 studied strains were deposited into the international database DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank. CONCLUSION: The studied isolates were established to belong to a clade of strains associated with cholera outbreaks in Haiti and Asian continent, from where genetically altered strains of cholera vibrios biovar El Tor were introduced to Haiti in 2010, based on results of comparison of genomic sequences of the studied strains with genomes of V cholera strains from the international database GenBank.

[Improvement of laboratory diagnostics of cholera due to genetically altered (hybrid) variants of cholera Vibrio biovar El Tor].

AIM: Improvement of laboratory diagnostics of cholera taking into the account appearance of hybrid variants of cholera vibrio El Tor biovar in the 1990s. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phenotypic and molecular-genetic properties of typical toxigenic (151 strains) and hybrid (102 strains) variants of El Tor biovar cholera vibrios, isolated in the Caucuses in 1970-1990 and 1993-1998, respectively, were studied. Toxigenicity gene DNA fragments, inherent to El Tor biovars or classic, were detected by using a reagent kit "Genes of Vibrio cholerae variant ctxB-rstR-rstC, REF" developed by us. RESULTS: Reagent kit "Genes of V. cholerae variant ctxB-rstR-rstC, REF" is proposed to be used for laboratory diagnostics of cholera during study of material from humans or environmental objects and for identification of V. cholerae 01 on genome level in PCR-analysis as a necessary addition to the classic scheme of bacteriological analysis. CONCLUSION: Laboratory diagnostics of cholera due to genetically altered (hybrid) variants of cholera vibrio El Tor biovar is based on a complex study of material from humans and environmental objects by routine bacteriologic and PCR-analysis methods with the aim of detection of gene DNA fragments in the studied material, that determine biovar (classic or El Tor), identification of V. cholerae O1 strains with differentiation of El Tor vibrios into typical and altered, as well as determination of enterotoxin, produced by the specific cholera vibrio strain (by the presence ctxB(El) or ctxB(Cl) gene DNA fragment, coding biosynthesis of CT-2 or CT-1, respectively).

[Antibacterial susceptibility/resistance of Vibrio cholerae eltor clinical strains isolated in the Caucasus during the seventh cholera pandemic].

The data on antibacterial susceptibility and resistance of Vibrio cholerae eltor phenotypes with different sets of the susceptibility or resistance markers conditioning the outbreaks and sporadic cases of cholera in the Caucasus within 1970-1998 are presented. An increase of the number of the Vibrio cholerae phenotypes resistant to tetracycline and chloramphenicol usually used in the treatment of cholera was recorded in 1990-1994 vs. 1970-1989. The El Tor cholera vibrios stored on synthetic media lost some of their resistance markers, therefore the retrospective investigation of the antibioticograms was only of approximate prognostic value in the choice of the drugs for the etiotropic treatment of cholera in view of possible outbreak of the disease.

[Results of the bacteriological work of the specialized epidemic brigade of the Stavropol Research Institute for Plaque Control]. / Osnovnye itogi bakteriologicheskoi raboty spetsializirovannoi protivoépidemicheskoi brigady Stavropol'skogo Nauchno-Issledovatel'skogo Protivochumnogo Instituta.

The experience of use of efforts and resources by the bacteriological section of the specialized antiepidemic brigade of the Stavropol Research Institute for Plague Control in the Chechen Republic during the period of 1999-2000 under the conditions of the emergency situation, formed as the consequence of carrying out the antiterrorist operation, is summarized. The work load falling of the bacteriological section in different shifts, the structure of bacteriological investigations, as well as some problems arising in the process of work, were analyzed. The experience showed the necessity of the complete accommodation of the bacteriological laboratory in specialized motor-vehicle modules having all necessary equipment for investigation works, disinfection, sterilization. The brigade sent to its mission should be given concrete tasks with a view to ensure the adequate supply of the bacteriological section with diagnostic preparations, materials and equipment.

[On sanitary and epidemic situation in the Republic of Ingushetia]. / O sanitarno-épidemiologicheskoi obstanovke v Respublike Ingushetiia.

Information on the recent sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Republic of Ingushetia is presented. In some years an almost twofold growth in the number of population was registered in the republic due to the mass influx of temporarily displaced persons. Such factors as excessive population density, the absence of conditions for the observation of elementary sanitary and hygienic norms, malnutrition, complications with the supply of drinking water meeting sanitary norms contribute to the possibility of epidemic complications. The data on the state of water supply and sewage in populated localities and on the state of morbidity in infectious diseases are presented. By the year 2000 the aggravation of the epidemiological situation in viral hepatitis A and tuberculosis took place. Morbidity in acute enteric infections somewhat increased. There is the danger of the appearance of some infections from the natural foci.

[Laboratory diagnostics of acute enteric infections under the conditions of the work of the specialized epidemic brigade during liquidation of the consequences of the emergency situations]. / Laboratornaia diagnostika ostrykh kishechnykh infektsii v usloviiakh raboty spetsializirovannoi protivoépidemicheskoi brigady pri likvidatsii posledstvii chrezvychainykh situatsii.

The scheme of the complex microbiological diagnostics of cholera, dysentery, salmonellosis and escherichiosis has been developed. The scheme includes the introduction of material taken from a patient with acute enteric infection into 1% peptone water (pH 8.0), followed by inoculation into Endo medium (pH 7.4-8.0) and the selection of colonies on MC-agar with the subsequent final identification of bacteria with the use of biochemical, serological and genetic methods of investigation. This scheme is proposed for use in bacteriological sections of specialized antiepidemic brigades working on the liquidation of the consequences of emergency situations when the epidemiological safety of the population is threatened.

[Comparative characterization of Vibrio cholerae O1, isolated from surface water reservoirs in Grozny in 1995 and 2000]. / Sravnitel'naia kharakteristika shtammov Vibrio cholerae O1, vydelennykh iz poverkhnostnykh vodoemov g. Groznyi v 1995 g. i 2000 g.

The results of complete identification revealed the phenotypical similarity of V. cholerae strains isolated from surface water reservoirs im Grozny in 1995 and 2000. The strains under study proved to be atoxigenic, hemolysis-positive and phage resistant. The modified method of subculturing from peptone water 1 to peptone water 2 was more labor-consuming, but it was used in the bacteriological laboratory of the specialized antiepidemic brigade with the aim of more profound study of open reservoirs for the presence of V. cholerae with the positive result.