Epizootic situation and risk of rabies exposure in Polish population in 2000, with special attention to Lublin province.

In Poland in 2000 a total of 2,221 cases of animal rabies were reported, including 1,874 (84.4%) of wild animals. The evaluation of epizootic situation in 2000 has shown a few cases of animal rabies in western provinces of Poland, so in regions where a programme aimed at oral vaccination of foxes was introduced. Most cases of animal rabies were identified in the northeastern region, as well as in eastern and central Poland. In October 2000 in Warminsko-Mazurskie province (northeastern region of Poland) rabies was responsible for the death of 59-year-old woman, bitten by a rabid cat, and refused post-exposure specific antirabies prophylaxis. Among domestic animals, the highest incidence of rabies occurred in cattle--167 cases (7.5%), cats--113 (5.1%) and dogs--61 (2.7%). In the group of wild animals, red foxes accounted for 1,587 (71.5%) cases, raccoon dogs for 210 (9.5%) and martens for 36 (1.6%). People have been vaccinated against rabies in all provinces of Poland. The number of people vaccinated against rabies in regions adjoining the western border was much smaller compared to other provinces of Poland. The highest rates of using post-exposure prophylaxis occurred in northeastern regions of Poland (Warminsko-Mazurskie province) and eastern and central parts of Poland. On the basis of analysis of cases consulted in the dispensary of rabies prophylaxis in the Department of Infectious Diseases in Lublin, it can be concluded that the number of people with exposure to rabid animals is rather small. Most vaccinations are carried out when animals suspected of being rabid bite patients. These are primarily domestic animals--dogs and cats.

[Level of beta 2-microglobulin in serum of patients with acute viral hepatitis types A, B and C]. / Poziom beta 2-mikroglobuliny w surowicy krwi chorych na ostre wirusowe zapalenia watroby typów A, B i C.

Serum beta 2-microglobulin concentrations were assayed in 14 patients with acute hepatitis A, 16 with acute hepatitis B and 10 with hepatitis C. Serum samples were taken from each patient in the first and the second week of hospitalization and in the period of aminotransferase normalization. There was a significant increase of beta 2-microglobulin level in every type of hepatitis compared to the control group. A raised serum beta 2-microglobulin concentration persisted during convalescent period. It decreased gradually in type A and B of hepatitis. Serum beta 2-microglobulin level during convalescence in hepatitis C was similar to that of first weeks of hospitalization.

[Alpha-fetoprotein in acute viral hepatitis type A]. / Alfa-fetoproteina w ostrym wirusowym zapaleniu watroby typu A.

Serum AFP levels were estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA) at the first and the last but one day of hospitalization of 25 patients with acute viral hepatitis of type A. The observed group consisted of 11 women and 9 men. A significant increase in the serum AFP levels was found in the group of patients on the first day of hospitalization. Besides, a rise in the aminotransferases (ALT and AST) activity and in the serum total bilirubin level were observed. On the last but one day of hospitalization the mean value of serum AFP level and the activity of the investigated enzymes were diminished. Mean value of serum AFP level the and activity of aminotransferases were higher in patients than those in the control group. Only serum total bilirubin level was similar to the mean value of control group.

[Level of prolactin, gonadotrophin, testosterone, and alpha fetoprotein in serum of blood donors with antibodies to hepatitis c virus (anti-HCV)]. / Poziom prolaktyny, gonadotropin, testosteronu i alfa-fetoproteiny w surowicy krwi krwiodawców, nosicieli przeciwcial przeciwko wirusowemu zapaleniu watroby typu-C (anty-HCV).

The study was aimed at the determination of serum levels of the investigated hormones (prolactin, gonadotrophins, testosterone and alpha-fetoprotein) in blood donors with antibodies to hepatitis C virus. The observed group consisted of 50 men of age between 22 and 47 years. The blood serum concentrations of hormones were determined by RIA method using the ready made reagent kits. No characteristic changes were observed in the serum hormones levels except for prolactin. Mean value of serum prolactin concentration was higher in blood donors than those in the control group.

[Level of estradiol and progesterone in blood serum during the menstrual cycle in woman with acute hepatitis b]. / Poziom estradiolu i progesteronu w surowicy krwi, w cyklu menstruacyjnym kobiet chorych na ostre wirusowe zapalenie watroby B.

The study was aimed at the determination of blood serum levels of the ovarian hormones (estradiol and progesterone) in women during the first menstrual cycle occurring in the course of hospitalization because of the acute viral hepatitis of type B, and in the same women during the first menstrual cycle occurring in the course of early convalescence after leaving the hospital. The observed group consisted of 20 women of age between 18 and 35 years treated because of acute hepatitis without coexisting diseases including gynecological ailments. All the women had a regular 28-day menstrual cycle. Twenty healthy women served as a control group. The blood serum concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were determined in all the subjects on 6-th, 12-th, 14-th, 18-th and 22-nd day of the menstrual cycle by RIA method using the ready made reagent kits. A significant decrease in the mean value of estradiol was found in the group of sick women as compared to the control group and to the same group of women in the course of early convalescence. On the other hand the value obtained during the first menstrual cycle after discharge from the hospital did not differ from that observed in healthy women. Mean value of blood serum progesterone concentration was higher in sick women than those in the control group and in the same women during convalescence all the time except on the 22-nd day of the cycle. These values did not differ significantly when comparing the group of sick women during convalescence and the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Immunoglobulin classes: M, A, G in blood serum of patients with mumps]. / Immunoglobuliny klas: M, A, G w surowicy krwi chorych na swinke.

The levels of immunoglobulins of: M, A, G classes in 65 patients (11 women and 54 men) ill from epidemic parotitis, at acute phase and after subsidence of symptoms, were determined. The results of examinations were considered in two categories. One of them concerned all the patients, the other one comprised the patients with three groups of complications: meningitis, orchitis and joint occurrence of meningitis and orchitis. No deviations from the norm were found in IgM and IgA levels, both in acute phase and during convalescence. An increase of IgG content was observed only in the initial phase of epidemic parotitis. Taking into consideration the complications during the disease there was obtained an increase of IgM level in the patients with joint occurrence of meningitis and orchitis only in acute phase. Increased IgG values in the course of mumps concerned the patients with meningitis and orchitis and could be still observed after subsidence of the symptoms of the disease.