Role of anaerobic bacteria in simian enteric diseases.

Screening of monkeys for anaerobic bacteria showed that the incidence of non-spore-forming anaerobes was 2.0-2.5 times higher than that of clostridia. The overwhelming majority of isolated anaerobes were saprophytes and opportunistic bacteria. The incidence of C. perfringens was higher in monkeys with enteric infections of obscure etiology and dead from these diseases than in healthy animals (48.2 vs. 36.8%).

[The phylogenetic position of Chlamydia strains isolated from monkeys and humans with Chlamydial pathology in the family Chiamydiaceae. Genotypic and phenotypic properties of this pathogen].

Based on the results of the comparative analysis concerning relatedness and evolutional difference of the 16S - 23S nucleotide sequences of the middle ribosomal cluster and 23S rRNA I domain, and based on identification of phylogenetic position for Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Chlamydia trichomatis strains released from monkeys, relatedness of the above stated isolates with similar strains released from humans and with strains having nucleotide sequences presented in the GenBank electronic database has been detected for the first time ever. Position of these isolates in the Chlamydiaceae family phylogenetic tree has been identified. The evolutional position of the investigated original Chlamydia and Chlamydophila strains close to analogous strains from the GenBank electronic database has been demonstrated. Differences in the 16S - 23S nucleotide sequence of the middle ribosomal cluster and 23S rRNA I domain of plasmid and non-plasmid Chlamydia trachomatis strains released from humans and monkeys relative to different genotype groups (group B- B, Ba, D, Da, E, L1, L2, L2a; intermediate group - F, G, Ga) have been revealed for the first time ever. Abnormality in incA chromosomal gene expression resulting in Chlamydia life and development cycle disorder and decrease of Chlamydia virulence can be related to probable changes in the nucleotide sequence of the gene under consideration.

Etiologic structure of bacterial intestinal infections in monkeys of Adler breeding center.

We studied etiologic structure of bacterial intestinal infections in monkeys of Adler nursery. A total of 533 monkeys with diarrhea syndrome and monkeys dead from intestinal infections, as well as clinically healthy monkeys and animals dead from other pathologies were examined by bacteriological and molecular-genetic methods. Pathogenic enterobacteria Shigella and Salmonella and microaerophile Campylobacter were found in 5 and 19%, respectively. A high percentage (49%) of intestinal diseases of unknown etiology was revealed in monkeys. The fact that the number of detected opportunistic enterobacteria did not differ in healthy and diseased monkeys suggests that they are not involved into the etiology of intestinal disease.

[Phylogenetic analysis of the mycoplasma isolated from the Javanese macaque (M. fascicularis)].

The nucleotide sequence of the fragment of 16S-aRNA of mycoplasma was determined. The fragment was identified using the PCR method in the urogenital scrape of the Javanese macaque (M. fascicularis). The sequenced fragment of mycoplasma of M. fascicularis was compared to well-known sequences of mycoplasma of mammals. The results of our comparative and phylogenetic analyses of the sequenced DNA fragment revealed that the mycoplasma belonged to the M. primatum species and fell within the same cluster as M. hominis. The mycoplasma M. primatum was for the first time observed in the monkeys M. fascicularis. The pathogenicity of the mycoplasma species with respect to monkeys is being studied.

[Immunologic parameters of monkeys infected by urogenital mycoplasmas].

In monkeys contained in captivity conditions in open-air cages or in group cages human mycoplasmas are often detected: antigens of Mycoplasma hominis in blood serum were revealed in 33.3% of cases, and antibodies to it--in 15.6% of cases. IgM to M. hominis were detected more often than IgG. In 8 monkeys both types of immunoglobulins were detected. Rates of detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum antigens and specific antibodies were 43.1% and 31.1% respectively, and IgG were found more frequently than IgM (in 22 cases both types of immunoglobulins were revealed). High rates of M. hominis and U. urealyticum antigens and antibodies detection in blood serum of both healthy monkeys and monkeys with urogenital tract diseases show prevalence of human mycoplasmas carriage among monkeys contained in captivity conditions.

[Monkeys as subjects for study of immunobiological preparations].

The parameters of colon microbiocenosis were evaluated in healthy animals belonging to 6 species of marmosets; its disorders typical of patients with different forms of acute intestinal infections were revealed. Bifidoflora of young monkeys was characterized. The study demonstrated multiple similarities of the microflora of monkeys and humans, including small children. A preclinical study of dry bifidin, a probiotic, revealed its advantages over the commercial bifidumbacterin. 90 monkeys were used for preclinical evaluation of complex immunoglobulin preparation (CIP) and a combination of CIP with interferon (kipferon in suppositories). The study demonstrated sanifying and microflora-normalizing effects, increase of anti-microbial antibodies and serum interferon after both parenteral and rectal administration. The protective activity of a new variant of the probiotic Acilact in exposure to ionizing radiation and anticancer chemotherapy under experimental conditions

[Campylobacter in the etiology of acute intestinal infections in primates].

The subjects of the study were 1,249 primates of different species, kept in a nursery in the city of Adler. The subjects varied in age, were either clinically healthy, diseased, or dead (the death had been caused by an acute intestinal disease). Biological, molecular-genetic (PCR), and immunological (coagglutination reaction) methods were used in diagnostics of campilobacter infections. The study found campilobacter in 20.9% of healthy animals on the average; this number varied depending on the species and age. The frequency of campilobacter infection in diseased and dead animals was higher than that in healthy ones (40.1% and 20.9%, respectively.) Two types of Campilobacter were identified: C. jejuni (73.4% of cases), and C. coli (14.2%). Clinical and pathomorphological manifestations of campilobacteriosis in primates and humans are similar. The portion of campilobacteriosis in acute intestinal diseases of primates is 40.1%.

[Spontaneous urogenital infection in macaques].

Rates of natural infection of macaques with microorganisms that cause urogenital tract infections (UGT)--chlamydias, mycoplasms, ureaplasms and trichomonades--have been assessed. 198 macaques (rhesus, javan and lapunder) aged from newborn to 25 years (born healthy or from females with complicated pregnancy or labour) were examined. High rate of infection (40%) was observed in healthy macaques by PCR assay. In animals born from females with complicated pregnancy or labour (abortion, complicated labour, stillbirth or inflammatory postdelivery complications) rate of pathogens detection was significantly higher (up to 54,5 - 64,5%). In such animals mixed infection with 2 - 4 microorganisms in association was commonly observed. Births of weak, low weight and vitality monkey's calves was observed in infected macaques aged 17 - 25 years. Pathogens' nucleotide sequences that were analogous to ones detected in mothers were detected in calves that died during 1st month of life. This finding can be the evidence of the intrauterine infection of calves.

Study of the prevalence of agents of sexually transmitted diseases in monkeys by the gene diagnosis method.

Carriership of agents of sexually transmitted diseases (Trichomonas, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma) is highly prevalent in healthy monkeys living in the Adler Breeding Center. The incidence of these microorganisms is appreciably higher in animals with gestoses and labor abnormalities in comparison with animals with normal genital function. Mixed infection caused by 2-4 agents is much more incident than monoinfection.

Encephalomyocarditis in monkeys.

This paper presents the results of studies of a spontaneous viral infection in monkeys--encephalomyocarditis caused by encephalomyocarditis virus. The infection first detected in the Sukhumi Breeding Center in 1974 was observed in the Adler Breeding Center since 2001. The characteristics of the virus are described and principles of diagnostic by the results of pathologic studies are presented.

[Infectious pathology of monkeys: a brief description, potential experimental research, safety for attendants at primate care facilities and laboratories]. / Infektsionnaia patologiia obez'ian: kratkaia kharakteristika, vozmozhnosti éksperimental'nogo izucheniia, bioopasnost' dlia cheloveka pri soderzhanii obez'ian v primatologicheskikh pitomnikakh i laboratoriiakh.

Infectious diseases of monkeys, including the bacterial anthroponosous and zoogenous as well as viral infections, are described in the paper. A bulwark of research resulted from authors' independent long-term observations of monkey pathologies at Sukhumi and Adler primatological facilities. Pathologies are elucidated, which are better to be modeled in monkeys; there are also diseases that can be studied only in monkeys. Monkey agents were isolated, which are dangerous to humans attending the animals at primatological facilities and laboratories.

[Evaluation on monkeys of reactogenicity and effectiveness of the complex immunoglobulin preparation formulation]. / Otsenka na obez'ianakh reaktogennocti i éffektivnosti lekarstvennykh form kompleksnogo immunoglobulinovogo preparata.

Experiments on 75 monkeys, 20--healthy and 75--with diarrhea, showed that ready medicinal forms of the complex immunoglobulin preparation in tablets, capsules or in a dried form (vials) were safe, well tolerated, clinically and bacteriologically effective. When used simultaneously with antiparasitic treatment, this preparation, irrespective of the kind of its ready medicinal form, showed high curative effect (80-90%). The diarrhea ceasing was accompanied by the gradual normalization of intestinal microbiocenosis (an increased concentrations of Escherichia coli and Bifidobacterium, a decreased amount of opportunistic bacteria). The complex method of the treatment of diarrhea in monkeys (antibiotics, trichopol, phage and probiotics) made it possible to achieve curative effect only in 60% of cases, which required the additional course of treatment, namely the use of rehydration therapy.

Experimental Mycoplasma infection in monkeys.

Experimental mycoplasma infection was studied in Papio hamadryas, Macaca mulatta, and Macaca nemestrina infected with Mycoplasma (M. pneumoniae and M. hominis) and Ureaplasma (U. urealyticum).

Detection of Campylobacter jejuni in healthy monkeys and monkeys with enteric infections by PCR.

Campylobacter were detected by PCR in feces of monkeys of different species (clinically healthy, with diarrhea, and dead from acute enteric infections). High prevalence of these bacteria in monkeys was revealed. The incidence of C. jejuni DNA in monkeys with acute enteric infections was higher than in healthy animals (69.6 and 51.3%, respectively). The highest percentage (92.3) of positive results was observed in Macaca mulatta with enteric diseases and in macaque dead of these diseases. The presence of C. jejuni in monkeys with diarrhea and the absence of pathogenic enterobacteria (Shigella, Salmonella, Yersinia) in feces probably attest to etiological relationship of acute enteric infections with Campylobacter.

Spontaneous simian mycoplasma infection.

We present our many-year studies of spontaneous Mycoplasma infection in monkeys. Mycoplasma flora of healthy, acclimatized, and sick monkeys of different species is characterized. S ome characteristics (including pathogenic properties) of new Acholeplasma isolated from monkeys are described.

[The phagocytic activity of the blood neutrophils in monkeys undergoing multiple irradiation]. / Fagotsitarnaia aktivnost' neitrofilov krovi u obez'ian pri mnogokratnom obluchenii.

The study of pathogenic activity of neutrophils under chronic low-dose irradiation (total doses were 0.84-24.99 Gy) was carried out. The stage of phase changes was followed by a stable increase in neutrophil phagocytic activity, according to absorbing capacity, at relatively high total doses of irradiation. The data obtained were considered as a defence-compensatory reaction caused by decrease and depression of digestive capacity of phagocytes.

Protective ribosomal preparation from Shigella sonnei as a parenteral candidate vaccine.

A parenteral Shigella ribosomal vaccine (SRV) was investigated in animals for safety, antibody-inducing capacity, and protective activity. Ribosomal preparations from a Shigella sonnei phase I avirulent strain were obtained and shown to possess chemical, sedimentation, and other properties typical of bacterial ribosomes. No endotoxin contamination was revealed by a ketodeoxyoctonate assay, although the presence of some kind of O antigen was evidenced by serological findings and the high activity of SRV in inducing the O-antibody response and immunological memory in animals. SRV was nontoxic in mice, guinea pigs, and monkeys and induced no local reactions when injected subcutaneously in reasonable doses. Significant protection against a local Shigella infection (Sereny test) was seen in guinea pigs injected with SRV (efficiency index, about 60%) and the specificity of the protection was evident from cross-challenge experiments. The protective efficiency of SRV was especially high in rhesus monkeys challenged orally with virulent Shigella cells (89%, as calculated from the summarized data of several experiments in 71 animals). Protection in monkeys was long lasting and could be demonstrated several months after injection of SRV. An inexpensive technique can be used for the production of SRV on a large scale. The high immunogenicity of SRV is discussed in terms of the amplifying effect of the ribosome, which serves as a delivery system for polysaccharide O antigen. Further study of SRV as a candidate vaccine for humans seems justified by the data obtained.

[The immunological status indices of monkeys inoculated with a meningococcal B vaccine]. / Pokazateli immunologicheskogo statusa obez'ian, privitykh meningokokkovoi B-vaktsinoi.

The method for the determination of bacterial antibodies to group B meningococci was worked out. The method was used for the determination of antibodies to group B meningococcal vaccine produced in the USSR. The dynamic study of antibodies to protein, polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide antigens of group B meningococci was made by the method of the enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and the safety of the vaccine was studied by the determination of autoantibodies active against brain tissue antigens. The data thus obtained were indicative of the immunological activity of group B protein-polysaccharide vaccines, manifested by the capacity for stimulating bactericidal antibodies whose level increased 8- to 10-fold after the immunization of monkeys in 2 and 3 injections. Similarity in the dynamics of the formation of bacteriolysins and antibodies to protein antigen, as determined in EIA, was noted. The vaccine was found to stimulate no cytotoxic anticerebral antibodies in the glia migration test, which was indicative of the safety of group B meningococcal vaccine.