Molecular analysis of a clinical sample confirmed the presence of Borrelia bissettii DNA in cardiac valve tissue from a patient with endocarditis and aortic valve stenosis. This evidence strongly supports the involvement of B. bissettii in Lyme disease in Europe.

Until recently, three spirochete genospecies were considered to be the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis (LB) in Europe: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii. However, the DNA of Borrelia valaisiana, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia spielmanii and Borrelia bissettii has already been detected in samples of human origin, or the spirochetes were isolated from the patients with symptoms of LB. Molecular analysis of 12 selected serum samples collected in the regional hospital confirmed the presence of B. bissettii DNA in cases of single and multiple infection in patients with symptomatic borreliosis or chronic borrelial infection. The presence of B. bissettii as a single strain in patients provides strong support of the fact that B. bissettii might be a causative agent of the disease. After the first isolation of B. bissettii from the samples of human origin in Slovenia, following the detection of this species in cardiac valve tissue of the patient with endocarditis and aortic valve stenosis in the Czech Republic, here we present additional molecular data supporting the involvement of B. bissettii in LB in Europe.

Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by herpes viruses can result in severe diseases, often with a fatal outcome. In this study, the viral load in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with herpes simplex or varicella-zoster infections of the CNS was measured using a quantitative real-time PCR. The results suggest a high variability in viral load, with relatively mild disease associated with a high viral load in CSF and vice versa. Determination of the viral load in CSF does not therefore seem to be useful in assessing the prognosis of disease caused by these viruses.

Spatial analysis of long-term combined epidemic manifestations of some natural focal infectious diseases in the territory of the Astrakhan region was carried out using geographical information system. Suggested is the method to detect territories where these combined epidemic manifestations are stable and its high effectiveness and predictive value are demonstrated. On the basis of received data suggested are the measures to increase the effectiveness of epidemiologic surveillance for natural focal infectious diseases.

Presence of combined natural foci of plague, tularemia, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, West-Nile encephalitis, Astrakhan spotted fever in the North-West Precaspian region was substantiated. Influence of anthropogenic and climatic conditions in formation of combined natural foci of infectious diseases of bacterial, rickettsial and viral etiology was pointed out. Up-to-date potential epidemic danger of the territories under consideration was evaluated.

Retrospective epidemiological analysis as regards infectious and parasitic diseases in the Astrakhan Region was carried out using the methods of complex multi-dimensional data analysis - OLAP. It was elucidated that application of the OLAP cube technologies enabled to facilitate complex retrospective analysis of epidemiological data in the context of different groups of infectious and parasitic diseases. It became possible by means of automation of calculations and use of qualitatively new methods in formation of database profiles. Enterobiasis and acute enteric infections of unidentified etiology were shown to be the most significant in epidemiological and social relation among the enteric group diseases.

Retrospective analysis of cholera spread in the early period of the seventh pandemic in Russia (1970-1973) has been carried out. It was elucidated that importation and further spread of cholera in the Astrakhan region in 1970 had been realized through the water way. The development of a large cholera focus in the territory of this region determined the unfavorable situation as regards this infection in the whole country in the period of 1970-1972. Water transport was shown to play the main role in cholera spread. The risk cohorts were the population of the Astrakhan region, shipboard personnel of the Volga steamship company, fishermen, persons without permanent residence. Molecular-genetic analysis of cholera agent strains isolated from the patients (vibriocarriers) and the environment showed that they belonged to one clone, thus the common origin of cholera cases in the basin of the Volga was confirmed.

Considered is the experience of development of the decision support system (DSS) in the sphere of biological safety provision. Described are the objectives, functions, and architecture of DSS. Represented are the results of operational program-testing in the model territory (the Astrakhan region). Indicated is the effectiveness of DSS for information support of the control activity over internal and external biosafety hazards. Determined are the directions for further development of DSS.