INVESTIGATION OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS FOCI IN THE DARVAZ AND PENJIKENT DISTRICTS OF TAJIKISTAN: SEROEPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND SEROEPIZOOTOLOGICAL STUDIES.

A total of 1963 dwellers and 779 dogs from the Penjikent and Darvz districts of the Republic of Tajikistan were examined for antibodies to the pathogen of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), by using the rk39 rapid diagnostic test. Mainly children less than14 years and persons over 14 years of age with signs of VL were selected as an examined contingent. There were 35 and 9 persons who were found to have antibodies to the VL pathogen among the examinees in the Penjikent and Darvaz districts, respectively The examination of infants during the first years of life, whose immune system can be defenseless against leishmaniasis, yielded the largest number (more than 90%) of positive results.

National intestinal helminth survey among schoolchildren in Tajikistan: prevalences, risk factors and perceptions.

Solid evidence regarding the epidemiology of intestinal helminth infections in Tajikistan is currently lacking. As such information is essential for the evidence-based design, implementation and evaluation of control interventions, a national intestinal helminth survey was conducted with the following objectives: (i) to assess the prevalence of intestinal helminth infections among school-aged children nationally and stratified by region; (ii) to identify locally relevant risk factors for infection; and (iii) to better understand the children's knowledge and perception of intestinal helminth infections, and asses their haemoglobin status. Standard field and laboratory procedures including the Kato-Katz thick smear and tape test were employed.

[Evaluation of the prevalence of helminthiasis among the population of the Republic of Tajikistan].

Helminthological examinations of 2629 persons of different ages have shown that the prevalence rate of soil-transmitted helminths averages 54.24% of the examinees. There isa high rate of helminthiasis in the examined dwellers from two districts (Vanch and Faizobod) in the foothill and mountain zones (78.

[Clinical features of tropical malaria in children in Tadjikistan].

The paper considers the age-specific features of the clinical course of tropical malaria in children in Tadjikistan. Tropic malaria in children, those of young age in particular, is characterized by the acute onset, polymorphism of clinical manifestations, high fever of mainly abnormal type, and hepatosplenomegaly. Tropical malaria takes the most severe course in children of the first three years.

[Malaria in Tadjikistan: from control to elimination].

In the past three years, a notable progress has been made in the control of malaria, as suggested by a drastic reduction in malaria morbidity and in the number of active foci. To fulfill the set tasks, there is a need for continuous financing of antimalaria measures by the country's Government, the Global Fund, WHO, and other sponsors. In the Republic of Tadjikistan, there are prerequisites for achieving the elimination of tropical malaria by 2010; however, it is necessary to collaborate with the Islamic State of Afghanistan for prophylactic measures to be implemented to prevent importation of tropical malaria from the boundary areas.