[ELISA and RT-PCR-based research of viruses in the ticks collected in the foci of Crimean-Congo fever in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan in 2001-2002].

Different species of ticks were found, in the territories of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, to be infected with the virus of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CKHF). The virologic evaluation included determination of antigen and RNA of the CKHF virus by ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. The below tick species were found to be involved in the epidemic process: Hyalomma asiaticum, Dermacentor niveus (Kazakhastan) and Hyalomma anatolicum (Tajikistan). The results testify to the fact that Hyalomma ticks are the main carrier of the above virus in the Middle Asia. At the same time, Dermacentor niveus ticks are infection carriers in Kazakhstan.

[Study of virus contamination of Ixodes ticks in the foci of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan].

The data on the contamination of different of ticks with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus on the territory of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan were obtained. The methods of the evaluation of the virus contamination of ticks included the determination of the antigen and CCHF virus RNA by the methods of the enzyme immunoassay and the reverse transcription PCR respectively. Different tick species were found to be involved in the epidemic process: Hyalomma asiaticum, Dermatocentor niveus (Kazakhstan) and Hyalomma anatolicum (Tajikistan). The results obtained in this study confirmed that the main vector of CCHF virus in Central Asia were ticks of the genus Hyalomma, and in Kazakhstan the vectors of this virus also included ticks Dermatocentor niveus.

[Genetic identification of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus during epidemic outbreak in Kazakhstan in 2000]. / Geneticheskaia identifikatsiia virusa Krymskoi-Kongo gemorragicheskoi likhoradki vo vremia épidemicheskoi vspyshki v Kazakhstane v 2000 g.

Sera samples from patients suspected of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) taken during epidemic outbreak at the territory of Sarysusky and Moiynkumsky districts of the Zhambyl region in Kazakhstan, in 2000, were analysed by means of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing of virus genome fragments. Genome RNA of CCHF virus was found in 2 assays. Analysis of nucleotide sequences of fragments of S-segment of viral genome revealed in the Sarysusky districts circulation of CCHF virus, genetically resembled to close phylogenetically to CCHF virus strains from China.

[A method of preparing antibody erythrocytic diagnostic means for detecting viruses]. / Sposob prigotovleniia antitel'nykh éritrotsitarnykh diagnostikumov dlia indikatsii virusov.

It was found possible to use method for preparation of antibody erythrocytic diagnosticums for detection of agents of influenza and arboviral infections. Test systems prepared by the developed method were superior in sensitivity to immunoreagents prepared with previously proposed amidol. Testing of 1387 tick samples collected in various climatic geographical zones of the Republic of Kazakhstan detected arboviral antigens in 4.61% of cases. The highest share of positive results was observed with diagnostic agents for detection of Syrdarya valley fever and Sindbis viruses (37:5 and 32.81%, respectively).

Experimental study of the reproduction of Karshi virus (Togaviridae, flavivirus) in some species of mosquitoes and ticks.

The strain Kaz-816 of Karshi virus was isolated in 1976 from H. asiaticum ticks collected in the North of Central Asia (Alma-Ata region of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic). Both ticks and mosquitoes can be vectors of Karshi virus as proved experimentally by reproduction of the virus in Hyalomma asiaticum and Dermacentor daghestanicus ticks and Culex pipiens molestus, Anopheles atroparvus an Aedes aegypti mosquitoes as well as by transmission to newborn mice by the bite of infected mosquitoes.

[Isolation of the virus of Syr-Darya Valley fever]. / Vydelenie virusa likhoradki doliny Syr-Dar'i.

In the course of studies on the ecological structure of acute febrile diseases in the season of activity of blood-sucking arthropods strains of a virus antigenically related to Sikhote-Alyñ virus were isolated from the blood of a patient and from Ixodid ticks. This paper presents the results of the study on the causative agent and the clinical picture of the disease caused by this virus. The virus was found to be a new one for science; its appurtenance to the family Picornaviridae, genus Cardiovirus, the antigenic group of encephalomyocarditis has been determined. The virus has been designated "Syr-Darya Valley fever virus" by the area of its isolation.

[Detection and characteristics of foci of arbovirus infection in the Kazakh region]. / Vyiavlenie i kharakteristika ochagov arbovirusnykh infektsii Kazakhskogo regiona.

Complex studies carried out on the territory of Kazakhstan have allowed one to detect arboviruses, heretofore unknown in the republic, to determine their role in human infectious pathology and to obtain additional data on the ecology of viruses causing tick-borne encephalitis and Crimean hemorrhagic fever under the conditions of different geographical zones in the republic. On the basis of the results thus obtained the map indicating the spread of arbovirus infections and their causative agents on the territory of the Kazakh SSR has been drawn. This map may serve as a practical aid in organizing antiepidemic measures.

[Improved hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition tests for arboviruses]. / Nekotorye usovershenstvovaniia v postanovke RGA i RTGA s arbovirusami

The capacity of formalinized goose erythrocytes to be agglutinated in interactions with arboviruses was studied. Formalinized goose erythrocytes were found to be as sensitive as native erythrocytes, and were used successfully for diagnosis of arbovirus infections and study of the immune structure of the human population and animals. The superiority of formalinized erythrocytes is determined by the duration of storage (2 years of the observation period) withoug any change in the capacity for agglutination.