Allelic Variants of Gene in Isolates from Patients with Ixodid Tick-Borne Borreliosis.

Protein P66 is one of the crucial virulence factors of , inducing the production of specific antibodies in patients with ixodid tick-borne borreliosis (ITBB). Various species of are characterized by genetic variability of the surface-exposed loop of P66. However, little is known about this variability in Here we describe the variability of the nucleotide sequences of gene locus in isolates of Analysis of nucleotide sequences of P66 in 27 isolates of from ITBB patients revealed three allelic variants of this gene.

Utility of sensu stricto C6 Peptide for Serologic Confirmation of Erythema-Free Ixodid Tick-Borne Borrelioses in Russia.

We evaluated the utility of sensu stricto peptide C6 for serologic confirmation of Ixodid Tick-Borne Borrelioses (ITBB) in Russia. Serum samples (N = 1089) were from erythema migrans (EM) (N = 327) and the EM-free (EMF) patients (N = 115); in some patients, the disease was accompanied by human granulocytic anaplasmosis or tick-borne encephalitis. The sera were investigated by multiplex phosphorescence analysis (PHOSPHAN) for IgM to C6, recombinant OspC and VlsE proteins, and IgG to C6 from , (), and ().

FIRST MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF THE TULAREMIA AGENT IN THE TICKS IXODES TRIANGULICEPS BIR. IN RUSSIA.

The ticks Ixodes trianguliceps (140 nymph pool and 211 adults) collected from small forest mammals in the forests of the Middle Urals (Chusovskoy district of the Perm Region) were tested using real-time PCR for the presence of Francisella tularensis DNA. Using the target gene 16S rRNA, the locus size 1165-1170 bp Francisella DNA was detected in 12 adults and 4 pools of nymphs. DNA-positive samples from 17 individuals from 128 adults and in 16 of 89 nymph pools were additionally detected by amplification of a shorter locus of the same gene (221-222 bp).

C6 Peptide-Based Multiplex Phosphorescence Analysis (PHOSPHAN) for Serologic Confirmation of Lyme Borreliosis.

Background: A single-tier immunoassay using the C6 peptide of VlsE (C6) from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bb) has been proposed as a potential alternative to conventional two-tier testing for the serologic diagnosis of Lyme disease in the United States and Europe.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of C6 peptide based multiplex Phosphorescence Analysis (PHOSPHAN) for the serologic confirmation of Lyme borreliosis (LB) in Russian patients.

Methods: Serum samples (n = 351) were collected from 146 patients with erythema migrans (EM); samples from 131 of these patients were taken several times prior to treatment and at different stages of recovery.

[Parasitological factors impeding the transmission of the agent of babesiosis (Babesia microti) to man from the tick Ixodes persulcatus].

Based on the analysis of own and literature data, it is concluded that the following ma- in permanent system of ecologicalarasitological factors prevents the effective vector functions of the tick I. persulcatus in transmission of B. microti: lack of distinct nymphs' anthropophily; small spontaneous invasion of hungry adults; a duration of the parasitic phase in humans is insufficient to complete the sporogonic development, because victims interrupt the phase.

Comparative analysis of the roles of Ixodes persulcatus and I. trianguliceps ticks in natural foci of ixodid tick-borne borrelioses in the Middle Urals, Russia.

Long-term studies on natural foci of ixodid tick-borne borrelioses (ITBB) have been performed in Chusovskoi district of Perm region, the Middle Urals, where the vectors of these infections are represented by two ixodid tick species: the taiga tick Ixodes persulcatus and many times less abundant vole tick I. trianguliceps. Over 10 years, more than 6000 half-engorged ticks were collected from small forest mammals using the standard procedure, and 1027 I.

Genome Sequence of the Asiatic Species Borrelia persica.

We report the complete genome sequence of Borrelia persica, the causative agent of tick-borne relapsing fever borreliosis on the Asian continent. Its genome of 1,784,979 bp contains 1,850 open reading frames, three ribosomal RNAs, and 32 tRNAs. One clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) was detected.

[Etiological structure of complex Ixodes tickborne borreliosis natural foci of southern taiga].

89 primary isolates of B. garinii and 72 B. afzelii from different developmental phases of I.

[Detection of leptospirosis infection in certain wild and domestic animals in Mongolia].

Aim: Serological examination for leptospirosis of domestic and certain species of wild animals in Mongolia.

Materials And Methods: Collection of material from domestic and wild animals was performed in 2009--2010 in 7 aimags (regions) of Eastern, Central and Southern Mongolia. Serological study of filter paper dried blood samples obtained from 51 specimens of cattle and small cattle, camels, and 545 specimens of rodents of various species was performed in microagglutination reaction (MAR) of leptospirae with 13 reference strains.

[Detection of natural tularemia foci in Mongolia].

Aim: Study of the current spread of natural tularemia foci in Mongolia and its epizootic activity evaluation for consequent substantiation of the recommendations for prophylaxis of this disease.

Materials And Methods: Study of 1119 pellet specimens from predatory birds obtained in 6 aimag in Mongolia in 2008--2010 was performed. Tularemia antigen was detected by using antibody neutralization reaction (ANR) and passive hemagglutination reaction (PHR) with tularemia diagnosticums.

[Southern taiga combined natural foci of spirochetoses].

Aim: Study of possibility of existence of combined natural foci of spirochetoses (ixodes tick borrelioses and leptospiroses) in typical taiga forests, and their etiologic and reservoir-host structure.

Materials And Methods: Small mammals of 19 species were captured in 1992-2010 at a station in low-mountain southern taiga forests of Chusov area of Perm region. Borreliae were isolated by seeding urinary bladder or aural bioptates into BSK II medium, leptospirae--by seeding a suspension of kidney tissue into Vervoort-Wolf medium.

[Genetic characterization of the Brucella melitensis isolates from Mongolia, Russia, and Azerbaijan].

Unlabelled: The goal of this work was to provide comparative genetic characterization of the human and animal Brucella melitensis isolates from Mongolia, Russia and Azerbaijan using current molecular-genetic typing methods.

Materials And Methods: Twenty eight Mongolian (n = 18), Russian (n = 6), and Azerbaijan (n = 4) human and animal Brucella melitensis isolates were studied using 2 molecular typing methods based on PCR for differential species and biovar specific ORF (open reading frames) molecular targets and MLVA (multiple locus variable number tandem repeats analysis) using primers to 12 known loci.

Results: The PCR was used for differential molecular targets (all B.

[Genetic variants of Borrelia garinii, a widely spread Eurasian pathogen of ixodic tick borreliosis].

As a result of PCR-RFLP analysis and the degree of similarity between the nucleotide sequences analysis of the rrfA-rrlB intergenic spacer DNA of 227 primary isolates of Borrelia garinii and 71 isolates/ amplicons from GenBank database in different regions of Eurasia revealed significant intraspecific heterogeneity among those of Borrelia. It was shown that genospecies B. garinii had within the two genetic subgroups (20047 and NT29) 16 genetic variants, whose geography was likely to be different.

[Molecular genetics typing of Brucella circulating in several provinces of Mongolia].

Aim: Comparative molecular-genetic typing of Brucella strains isolated in Mongolia from different animal species as well as from humans.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one strains of Brucella isolated from different hosts in 7 provinces of Mongolia were typed. Conventional phenotypic methods, genotyping by PCR with primers for genus- and species-specific differentiating targets of Brucella genes as well as multiple locus variable number tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) with 12 pairs of primers bounding locus variable tandem repeats of different length (from 134 bp to 8 bp).

[Genotyping some Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates from Ixodes ricinus ticks in Russia and Ukraine].

The 4 Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates obtained from 1. Ricinus ticks collected in the natural foci in Russia and Ukraine, having an unusual RFLP Msel-pattern, were studied using sequencing rrfA-rrlB spacer and rrs gene. The Ir-5215 isolate from the tick collected in southern Ukraine represented recently described genospecies B.

The tick Ixodes pavlovskyi as a host of spirochetes pathogenic for humans and its possible role in the epizootiology and epidemiology of borrelioses.

The tick Ixodes pavlovskyi is taxonomically, morphologically, and ecologically close to the taiga tick Ixodes persulcatus, a major host and vector of Borrelia spirochetes. The recent range of I. pavlovskyi is disjoined into the Western Siberian and Far Eastern parts, with this tick being almost always sympatric with I.

Chapter 4. Recent epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis an effect of climate change?

Consideration is given to the opinion of some specialists that the rise in tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) morbidity at the turn of the century has been accounted for by new features of TBE epidemiology as well as by global climate change. It is shown that neither the reputed current expansion of the ranges of main TBE vectors, the taiga (Ixodes persulcatus) and sheep (Ixodes ricinus) ticks, nor the significant rise of their abundance and TBE virus prevalence in them are confirmed by any objective data. The concept of recent tick expansion to large cities and human TBE infection in newly formed urban foci disagrees with the facts repeatedly described during the past four decades.

[Diagnostic efficacy of phosphorescent immunochips for serologic diagnostics of tick-borne encephalitis].

Aim: To assess sensitivity and specificity of phosphorescent immunochips developed by the authors on the basis of microplate phosphorescent assay (PHOSPHAN) for detection of IgM and IgG antibodies to tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in sera of patients and to compare results of PHOSPHAN assay with results obtained by lanthanide immunofluorescence assay (LIFA) and solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (SPEIA).

Materials And Methods: Two hundred sixty one serum samples were tested, including 155 samples from 74 patients with clinical diagnosis of TBE confirmed by serologic identification of IgM antibodies to TBEV. Sera were collected in 2003 in Perm region from persons, which fell ill during seasonal increased activity of ticks-vectors of TBEV, as well as from healthy blood donors.

[Isolation of tick-borne borreliosis agent from blood of patients].

During spring-autumn period of 2006 Borrelia were isolated for the first time in Russia from blood of 79 patients treated in Perm City Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases No. 1 with diagnosis "tickborne borreliosis, manifestive form with migrating erythema, localized stage". Ten primary isolates (12.

[Current characteristics of natural nidality of tick-borne encephalitis: new or well forgotten?].

A number specialists' opinion as to which the rise in the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis at the turn of the centuries is due to the new features of the epidemiology of this infection and to global climatic changes is analyzed. There are no objective evidence suggesting the ongoing expansion of a natural habitat of the major vectors--taiga (Ixodes persulcatus) and wood (I. ricinis) ticks and the noticeable increase in their size and virus infection rates.

[Microorganisms of the order Rickettsiales in taiga tick (Ixodes persulcatus Sch.) from the Pre-Ural region].

The PCR and sequence analysis revealed DNA Ehrlichia muris, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia spp. in the I. persulcatus ticks and blood samples from a patients with acute febrile illness occurring after a tick bite, registered in the seasonal peak of the tick activity of one of the highly endemic areas of Russia (Perm region).

[Difference in amino acid sequences of B. afzelii P66 surface-exposed loop region].

In the present work, we performed a phenotyping analysis of 45 B. afzelii 89-a.a.

Ultrastructural evidence of the ehrlichial developmental cycle in naturally infected Ixodes persulcatus ticks in the course of coinfection with Rickettsia, Borrelia, and a flavivirus.

Ehrlichiae are small gram-negative obligately intracellular bacteria that multiply within vacuoles of their host cells and are associated for a part of their life cycle with ticks, which serve as vectors for vertebrate hosts. Two morphologically and physiologically different ehrlichial cell types, reticulate cells (RC) and dense-cored cells (DC), are observed during experimental infection of cell cultures, mice, and ticks. Dense-cored cells and reticulate cells in vertebrate cell lines alternate in a developmental cycle.