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The epidemiological survey of the foci of campylobacteriosis confirmed the activity of the "milk" factor in the transmission of this enteric infection. The proliferation of Campylobacter in milk corresponded to the general regularities of the growth of bacterial population in the closed system. Most of the Campylobacter strains under study retained their viability in cooled boiled milk for a longer time.

Data on some parameters of the epidemic process of campylobacteriosis in the Ukraine are presented. Campylobacteriosis patients were found to constitute 1.9 +/- 0.095% of all examined patients with acute enteric infections (AEI). No statistically significant difference in the proportion of campylobacteriosis among child and adult AEI patients was established. The proportion of sick persons at the period of the spring-summer rise in morbidity was 71.5%. A definite relationship between the epizootic and epidemic processes in campylobacteriosis was noted. In the Ukraine the predominant infective agent was Campylobacter jejuni belonging mainly to serotype Lio and biotype 1. Quite frequently campylobacteriosis was found to be accompanied by mixed infections.

The data on the cytopathogenic activity of campylobacteria isolated from different sources are presented. 84.7 % of the isolated campylobacteria have been shown to possess cytopathogenicity with respect to Hep-2 cell cultures. The greatest number of highly cytopathogenic strains (52.6 %) has been registered among clinical isolates of campylobacteria. At the same time 44.1 % of highly cytopathogenic strains have been isolated from chickens, which is indicative of the potential danger of poultry as the source of Campylobacter infection. In the course of the epidemiological surveillance of campylobacteriosis the determination of cytopathogenically active Campylobacter strains is necessary.

The results of the clinico-epidemiological study of campylobacteriosis in a concrete area (Kiev and the Kiev region) are presented. The proportion of campylobacteriosis cases was found to be 6.4% among patients hospitalized in connection with acute enteric infections. Hens were most frequently the source of human infection. Thus, at the local poultry farm the proportion of hens contaminated with bacteria of the genus Campylobacter was 44.8%. The possible routes of the spread of Campylobacter infection and the factors of its transmission were established. The most important element of the epidemiological marking of Campylobacter bacteria is the determination of their species and serotype.

Antibioticograms of different campylobacteria strains have been analyzed. It is shown possible to develop a system of epidemiological marking on this basis. With this purpose sensitivity of campylobacteria to gentamycin, canamycin, carbenicyllin, tetracylin and erythromycin has been studied. No statistical difference in the average markers of resistance in the studied groups of strains was observed. This permitted supposing that R-plasmids in "human" strains may be isolated not only from the human intestine microflora, but also from other sources (animals, birds, environmental objects) as well. There are found common R-spectra in different groups of strains (Gm Kb Tc Er; Kb and Kb Tc), which confirms the same infection source. The study of antibioticograms of campylobacteria which circulate among people, animals, birds and environmental objects permits revealing regularities of epidemic process in case of campylobacteriosis.

The influence of multiple antibiotic resistance of Campylobacter strains determined by R plasmids on their virulence was studied. It was shown that the strains with multiple resistance were mostly isolated from children with campylobacteriosis (26.5 per cent). The number of such strains isolated from the infected adults, hens and environmental objects amounted to 25.8, 23.3 and 21.4 per cent respectively. The difference of the resistance determinants in the tested strains was statistically insignificant. It was suggested that the R plasmids of the human strains could be as well detected in the strains from the infected hens and environmental objects. A chromosome-plasmid pattern of the Campylobacter resistance to kanamycin, tetracycline and erythromycin was determined. The analysis of the cytopathogenic activity of the plasmid-containing strains and their aplasmid clones revealed that this criterion of the virulence statistically significantly increased after the plasmid loss by the strains. It was concluded that the antibiotic resistant strains had a selective superiority while circulating in various ecological niches.

An analytical survey of literature on the problem of immunological aspects of campylobacteriosis is presented. Antigenic nature of various components of a bacterial cell of these agents is described. Schemes of serotyping of campylobacteria on the basis of thermolabile and thermostable antigens are analyzed. It is shown expedient to use serotyping for determination of an infection source in the epidemiological practice. Proceeding from the published data presented, a conclusion is made that it is necessary to develop the home schemes of serotyping. At the same time a problem on development of new proximate methods promoting immunological indication of campylobacteriosis antigens in various ecological niches is not less urgent and is to be taken into account when planning antiepidemiological measures against the campylobacteriosis infection.

Composition of fatty acids of total lipids in home strains of campylobacteria has been studied. Lipids of all the strains of C. jejuni and C. coli mainly consist of saturated fatty acids (from 75.7 to 78.7%) with predominance of tetradecanoic and hexadecanoic fatty acids. The level of unsaturated fatty acids is considerably lower (from 21.0 to 22.5%); These acids are mainly presented by hexadecene acid. Qualitative composition of fatty acids of total lipids in C. jejuni and C. coli does not permit using it for differentiation within these species.

An analytical review of literature on the problem of biological properties of campylobacteria is presented. Taxonomic characteristics of campylobacteriosis agents are given. Morphological and cultural peculiarities of campylobacteria are considered, their ability to form coccal forms is emphasized. Peculiar attention is paid to serotype and biotype characteristics of bacteria of the Campylobacter genus. It is shown expedient to develop the home schemes of sero- and biotypization. Data on biological properties of "new" agents of human campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter cinaedi, C. hypointestinalis, C. upsaliensis) are generalized for the first time in home literature. A conclusion is made that the study of biological properties of campylobacteria strains circulating in the Ukrainian territory as well as the development of efficient prophylactic and antiepidemic measures on this basis are urgent now.

Clinical course and epidemiological features of campylobacteriosis in Ukraine are described. The disease accounts for 11.2% of the total number of acute enteric infectious cases. Ratio of bacterial contamination of hens and their role in spread of campylobacteriosis have been established. Possible ways of transfer of the infection are discussed.

An analytical review of recent publications of home and foreign authors on the problem of laboratory diagnosis of campylobacteriosis is presented. The commercial nutrient media, methods of creation of the microaerophilic conditions for cultivation of campylobacter are presented. The filtration method is preferable for isolation of these agents from the studied material highly contaminated by accompanying microflora. A special attention is paid to immunodiagnosis of campylobacteriosis: agglutination reaction, coagglutination reaction, passive hemagglutination reaction, immunoenzyme and radioimmune analyses. Seroepidemiological examination of the staff at one of meat-packing factories in the Republic carried out by the method of indirect immunoenzyme analysis has revealed high levels of anticampylobacteriosis antibodies in 17.9% of examinees. The promising trends in perfection of the methods for laboratory diagnosis of campylobacteriosis are outlined.