[HIV infection in Saint Petersburg: the changing face of the epidemic].

The specific features of the epidemiological situation in St. Petersburg at the first stage (1987-1995) and the second stage (1986-1999) of the development of HIV infection are described. During this period morbidity in HIV infection, starting from the insignificant rate of growth, sharply increased.

[The use of a method for the quantitative determination of HIV-1 RNA for assessing the severity and prognosis of the development of the disease].

The informatory role of a new marker of HIV infection, characterizing the content of HIV-1 RNA in the biological fluids of the patient's body, is evaluated. The quantitative determination of HIV-1 RNA, carried out in a single assay, was made in the blood of 25 HIV-infected patients. These studies confirmed that the determination of the level of RNA in the plasma (viral load) was a reliable criterion indicating the severity and progress of the disease.

[The circulation of viruses of the California encephalitis and Bunyamwera groups (Bunyaviridae, Bunyavirus) on the northeastern Russian plain].

In the Komi ASSR, 102.2 thousand mosquitoes, 207 small mammals, 1487 blood serum specimens from people, 793 cow blood sera, 140 blood serum specimens from reindeer were collected in June-August, 1988. Twenty seven virus strains isolated from mosquitoes were classified into Bunyaviridae family according to the data of electron microscopic studies.