[Vntr-genotyping of Francisella tularensis strains isolated in the former USSR territory and some European countries during epizootics in 1988 - 1989].

Retrospective VNTR-analysis of 159 Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica strains isolated in December 1988 - February 1989 in former USSR and some European countries was carried out. Analysis of heterogenic genotypes of strains allow to subdivide them into 30 groups of variants by individual genotypes, while cluster analysis--to subdivide them in 7 clusters with different number of compositions. The predominance of genotype C1 strains isolated on the Rostov and Archangelsk regions and the Crimea was established. F. tularensis strains isolated in winter time 1988 - 1989 in different geographic regions were supposed to be resident cultures typical for their biotope in natural focus of disease.