[The ecological aspects of ADTP vaccination]

The results of measuring the activity of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids in the blood of 19,654 persons immunized with adsorbed DPT vaccine have shown a pronounced decrease in the effectiveness of booster immunization with adsorbed DPT vaccine. The negative influence of environmental pollution is more pronounced with respect to less active diphtheria toxoid. The possibility of the separation of the population into strata differing in the intensity of their immune response to toxoids under the influence of environmental pollution is considered.

[An assessment of the situation regarding opisthorchiasis in the area of the Irtysh-Karaganda canal]

The opisthorchiasis situation in Irtysh--Karaganda canal zone were studied. 615 men (by coprological method), 319 men (by serological method), 26 domestic cats, and molluscs (gen. Codiella)--were investigated. In the canal zone the situation of opisthorchiasis infection at present is favourable. Some of the infections are connected with the fish out of Shiderty River.

[Gynecologic diseases in the rural population of Kazakhstan]

A total of 6153 women living in various rural regions of Kazakhstan were screened for gynecologic diseases. Various diseases were detected in 2366 (38.4%) cases. The highest share of patients was found in the Northern regions, where the villages are particularly far away from medical institutions. 161 patients (2.6%) with genital tuberculosis were detected. This condition was the most incident in the Western regions, where the epidemiologic situation in respect of tuberculosis of humans and agricultural animals is particularly unsatisfactory.

[An assessment of the opisthorchiasis situation in the area of Irtysh-Karaganda Canal]

Helminthological investigation of the Irtysh-Karaganda Canal area was performed in the summer of 1989. In 9 storage ponds on the Shiderta and Olenta rivers 900 fish individuals, whose size was suitable for fishery have been examined, samples of water have been taken and the epidemiological assessment of modern conditions of opisthorchiasis agent circulation have been presented. The whole canal is at present favourable in view of opisthorchiasis infection. Local cases of infection are associated with fish from Shiderta and Olenta rivers.

[Clinico-morphological characteristics of developmental defects of the eye]

Analysis of the records of the ophthalmologic pathoanatomic laboratory of the Kazakh Research Institute of Ophthalmic Diseases has shown that the incidence of developmental abnormalities due to disorders in the embryonal period and organogenesis have made up 3.7 percent of the total number of ocular tumors and 6.0 percent of benign tumors over the past 34 years. More than 60 percent of the patients with developmental defects were residents of South-Eastern Kazakhstan, equally frequently aborigens and representatives of other nationalities (41 and 43 patients, respectively), with male patients predominating (46 of 84 subjects). The patients' ages varied from 3 months to 70 years, children under 14 (50 patients) and young subjects aged 14 to 30 (24) prevailing. The most frequent developmental defects were dermoid cysts (61.9 percent) localized mainly in the orbit, less frequently dermoids and lipo-dermoids (20.2 percent) in the cornea, and dystrophic lacrimal gland in scleral conjunctiva (14.3 percent). Teratoma, brain hernia, and cystic eyes occurred in 1.2% of cases each; these conditions and dystopic lacrimal gland were histologically diagnosed.

[Congenital pathology of the eye as a main cause of impaired vision in children]

Congenital diseases of the eyes is the most frequent cause of vision reduction in children and one of the major causes of invalidity for poor sight. The aim of the present study was analysis of the causes of congenital ocular diseases in children in Kazakhstan. Results of prophylactic examinations at some rural districts of the republic evidence that refraction abnormalities rank first in the structure of congenital ocular diseases, oculomotor system abnormalities second, and defects of the eyelids and lacrimal tract, third. Congenital diseases of the eye make up 29-42 percent of all ocular diseases in children. Hospital records evidence a 45 percent incidence of congenital diseases of the eye. Lenticular abnormalities rank first, oculomotor system pathology second, and eyelid diseases third in the structure of congenital diseases of the eyes.

[Around the Semipalatinsk proving grounds: the radioecological situation and the population radiation doses in Semipalatinsk Province (based on data from the report of the Interdepartmental Commission)]

The paper represents some results of a joint commission, organized by the USSR Ministry of Health by order of the USSR Council of Ministers at public requests. The commission worked in the area neighbouring the proving ground at Semipalatinsk in the period of May-July 1988. A radiological situation there was investigated after underground nuclear testing on July 8, 1989. The results of measurements and archive data were used to estimate doses of radiation exposure of the population in the period of 1949 (nuclear testing on the ground and in the atmosphere) and in the period of underground testing, It was shown that in the period of 1949-1963 approximately 10,000 people received increased doses of external and internal irradiation. A high level of radiation-induced chromosome aberrations was noted among them. The highest effective equivalent doses of external and internal irradiation were received by the residents in the villages of Folon' (1.6 Gy during the first testing in 1949), Karaul (0.37 Gy), Sarzhal (0.20 Gy), Semenovka (0.02 Gy). The annual effective equivalent doses at that period did not exceed 0.0056 Gy (the highest value) for the Semipalatinsk residents. Proceeding from the values of collective doses probable long-term effects (malignant tumors) were assessed. Recommendations and conclusions of the commission are presented.

[Immunodiagnostic methods in interpreting an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus infection]

In the determination of the etiology of the outbreak of respiratory viral diseases, caused mainly by respiratory syncytial (RS) virus, on the basis of the comparison of the results of different laboratory tests and some epidemiological and clinical data high specificity of the detection of RS virus antigen and antibodies to it by means of erythrocyte diagnostica (newly developed antibody and commercial antigenic preparations) has been revealed. In the epidemiological situations the rapid methods of the detection of viral antigen are of prime importance.

[Visceral leishmaniasis in Central Asia and Kazakhstan]

At present sporadic foci of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are encountered mainly in the natural foci. The natural foci of VL are situated mainly in valleys and foothills. In southern areas of the Turkmen SSR the majority of cases were registered in small settlements situated near wells in interbarkhan lowerings. The reservoir of pathogen here may be Vulpes vulpes and dogs and the most likely vector is Phlebotomus turanicus. In Kazakhstan cases of VL are encountered in the thickets of the Syr-Darya floodlands in Kzyl-Orda Province, where the natural reservoir of the pathogen are Canis aureus L. and Vulpes corsac, and the vector is P. smirnovi. Synanthropic foci in Dzhambul and Chimkent, where dogs were most likely the source of the infection and P. longiductus was the vector, are at present inactive. The maps have been plotted where landscape dissemination of mosquitoes (VL vectors) is compared to places of habitation of Canis aureus L. and VL incidence in humans at peaks of the disease endemia. Medical personnel should be on the look-out for VL on the whole territory with VL natural foci.

[The current status of the Turgai focus of opisthorchiasis]

Complex investigations in the Turgai opisthorchiasis focus stated that it is characterized by weak intensity of the epidemic process, as evidenced by stable low morbidity index (5.5%) and invasion intensity of population, the average number being 4.968). The fact is mainly due to the natives' daily habit to use fish that is heat-treated. Meanwhile, the risk infection in the focus is rather great, for there is considerable fish invasion in the Turgai River with Opisthorchis larvae and 40% of cats are infected with Opisthorchis.

[The prevalence of obesity among the adult population of Kazakhstan]

The questionnaire method was used to study obesity incidence among 25107 subjects over 15 years of age living in the Northern, Southern and Western regions of Kazakhstan. Anthropometry was conducted, and incidence rate of certain diseases in the investigated subjects was recorded. Excessive body mass was revealed in 36.1%, among them obesity was diagnosed in 23.7%. The obesity incidence increases with aging and decreasing of physical load level. Obesity was more frequently observed among the urban women than among the rural, and it was less frequent among the urban than among the rural men. The incidence rate of obesity in the population of the Northern region of the Republic was significantly higher than that in the population of the Western and Southern regions. The incidence rate of arterial hypertension was 5-fold, that of coronary heart disease--4-fold, and of chronic diseases of the biliary tracts--3-fold higher in obese subjects as compared to those with normal body mass.

[The prognosis for the opisthorchiasis situation in an area influenced by hydraulic engineering works]

Basing on the materials of many years observation, literature and their own data, the authors consider expert prognostication methodology in regard to opisthorchiasis in hydro construction regions as exemplified by the Shidertinsk focus and Irtysh-Karaganda canal. Analysis of prognostication signs and alterations connected with them showed that relatively satisfactory situation concerning opisthorchiasis for 10-year period of channel exploitation was provided by measures aiming at water bodies protection, by changes in ichthyofauna, and by breaking the connection of water voles with fish. Further prognosis puts you on guard because of releasing a strict sanitary regime in coastal region due to opening the channel for population and fishery development.

[The dynamics of the epidemic process in weakly endemic foci of opisthorchiasis in Kazakhstan]

Activity of the opisthorchiasis focus in the Tobol-Ubagan river basins has increased under the influence of several anthropogenic factors. The invasion rate in the population increased 8.7 fold. In the other focus situated in the Lower Turgai-Irgiz, the invasion rate remains stable for many years in spite of the reduced number and invasion rates of ides and Bithynia. Sanitary education of the population should be improved to prevent Opisthorchis invasion; ecological and parasitological studies of the Opisthorchis intermediate hosts in the first focus should be repeated.

[A natural opisthorchiasis foci in Kazakhstan]

The structure of many opisthorchiasis foci in Kazakhstan has not been finally determined. Occurrence of opisthorchis in wild animals is not indisputable evidence of the natural character of the focus. The role of humans in the circulation of causative agents is also rather important. Most of the foci in the republic are probably of a mixed or purely anthropogenic character, the purely natural ones are more rare.