Epidemiology and control of diphtheria in the Republic of Moldova, 1946-1996.

In 1994-1996, the Republic of Moldova was stricken with an epidemic of diphtheria after >30 years of routine diphtheria immunization and the near absence of the disease for nearly 20 years. The intensity of the epidemic gradually grew, reaching a peak in 1994-1995. The epidemiology of diphtheria in Moldova during this period is described along with laboratory findings and control measures. Pharyngeal diphtheria was the predominant clinical form of the disease (97% of cases), and it most often developed in a localized form (70%), with 20% in the toxic form. The clinical diagnosis of diphtheria was bacteriologically confirmed in 91% of cases: Of the cases tested for biotype, 91.3% were gravis, 8.5% were mitis, and 0. 2% were intermedius. Of 494 toxigenic isolates from cases and carriers at the beginning of the epidemic, 47% were nonphagotypeable strains, and 25.7% were phagotype VI strains. Aggressive population-based diphtheria control measures, a mass immunization campaign, rapid case identification, antibiotic prophylaxis and supplemental immunization of close contacts in clusters of infection, and high coverage with routine immunization rapidly controlled the epidemic within Moldova.

[An analysis of group salmonellosis morbidity in the Republic of Moldova]. / Analiz gruppovoi zabolevaemosti sal'monellezami v Respublike Moldova.

The epidemiological analysis of data on the outbreaks of Salmonella infections registered in the Republic of Moldova in 1983-1989 were analyzed. Significant differences in the epidemic parameters of the outbreaks occurring in 1983-1985 and in 1986-1989 were revealed. The deterioration of the epidemiological situation in recent years was shown to be linked with the alimentary route of the transmission of the infective agent with the increased circulation of S. enteritidis among agricultural animals and poultry.

[The characteristics of salmonellosis in the Republic of Moldova at different periods of adverse epidemic situations]. / Osobennosti sal'monellezov v Respublike Moldova v raznye periody épidemicheskogo neblagopoluchiia.

The epidemiological analysis of salmonellosis morbidity in the Republic of Moldova for 20 years (1970-1989) was made. The analysis revealed that the time course of morbidity was characterized by several sharply defined periods of seasonal rises. The main epidemic features of Salmonella infections at the periods of unfavorable epidemic situation were established and their essential differences shown.

[Seasonal distribution and age structure of those ill with salmonellosis due to causative agents with different drug resistances]. / Izuchenie sezonnogo raspredeleniia i vozrastnoi struktury zabolevshikh sal'monellezami, vyzvannymi vozbiditeliami s razlichnoi lekarstvennoi ustoichivost'iu.

The medicinal resistance of Salmonella strains isolated on the territory of the Moldavian SSR in 1985 was studied. The greatest number of multiresistant microorganisms was shown to occur among S. java, S. virchow and S. infantis, i.e. the serovars dominating in the etiological structure of Salmonella infections on this territory. The seasonal distribution of cases of Salmonella infections and the age structure of patients with these infections induced by multiresistant strains and antibiotic-sensitive strains were found to have essential differences.

[Dynamics of the etiological structure of salmonellosis and of the biological properties of the Salmonellae isolated in a selected territory of the Moldavian SSR 1982-1985]. / Izuchenie dinamiki étiologicheskoi struktury sal'monellezov i biologicheskikh svoistv sal'monell, vydelennykh na izbrannoi territorii Moldavskoi SSR v 1982-1985 gg.

The etiological structure of Salmonella infections and the biological properties of salmonellae, isolated in one of the regions of the Moldavian SSR where the epidemic process of Salmonella infections reflected the regularities observed on the whole territory of this republic, were studied. Changes in the predominant serovars at the period of 1982-1985 in comparison with the preceding years were shown. Salmonellae belonging to the dominating serovars were characterized by more pronounced drug resistance in comparison with other salmonellae. Some parameters of the epidemic process of Salmonella infections were found to be related to the biological properties of the causative agents of these diseases.