Blood samples were taken from 541 small mammal captured in 2013-2015 in Znamensky district of Omsk region from Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes trianguliceps sympatric area and examined for the Babesia spp. presence by nested PCR with subsequent sequencing of positive samples. Babesia microti DNA was found in 31,1 % of positive samples; a proportion of infected mammals varied from 5,3 % to 61,6 % in different sampling periods. B. microti DNA was found in samples from three prevailing Myodes species as well as from a root vole (Microtus oeconomus), field voles (Microtus argestis) and Siberian chipmunks (Tamias sibiricus). It was shown that identified B. microti samples belong to two genetic groups: B. microti 'US'-type and B. microti 'Munich'-type; notably that > 90 % infected mammals contained DNA of nonpathogenic for human B. microti 'Munich'-type. We suppose that I. trianguliceps tick is the most probable vector of B. microti 'Munich'-type.

В статье приведены результаты сравнительного изучения стратегий кодирования аминокислотных последовательностей некоторых флавивирусов семейства Flaviviridae по значениям показателей RSCUk, рассчитанных для кодирующей части геномов. Значения RSCUk анализировались методами дискриминантного анализа. По рассчитанным значениям дискриминантных функций для каждой последовательности, были построены диаграммы рассеяния. Они продемонстрировали различия в использовании синонимичных кодонов у разных подтипов вируса клещевого энцефалита, а также внутри группы включающей вирусы: японского энцефалита, денге, Западного Нила, Повассан, леса Кьясанур, желтой лихорадки, клещевого энцефалита, омской геморрагической лихорадки, Тюлений, Лангат, Louping Ill. В результате было показано - различные генотипы вируса клещевого энцефалита не одинаково используют значительную часть синонимичных кодонов, Впервые выявлено также большое сходство в использовании синонимичных кодонов у вирусов Повассан и вирусов омской геморрагической лихорадки.

The paper presents data on the infestation of some passerines (Passeriformes) with feather mites in the south of the Western Siberia (Omsk and Tyumen provinces). For quantitative assessment of infection using an index of occurrence and intensity of infection rate, and also carried out a qualitative assessment of the relative abundance of species of mites of passerine birds. On 15 bird species we found 11 species of feather mites, belonging to the family Proctophyllodidae. Among them, 9 mite are common parasites of passerine birds examined, three species were detected on atypical host on common whitethroat. In addition, for blyth´s reed warbler, marsh warbler, icterine warbler, garden warbler, lesser whitethroat, common chiffchaff and greenish warbler was first found parasitism four species of mites. Also the new data оn communications of separate species of mites and hosts.

The analysis was applied to detect DNA of agents of human granulocytic anaplasmosis and monocytic erlychiosis. The sampling included 109 ticks of Ixodes species from Novosibirsk oblast and Khabarovsk kray and blood samples of 111 mouse-like rodents from Omsk oblast. The used techniques included polymerase chain reaction in real-time operation mode with set of reagents RealBest DNA Anaplasma phagocytophilum/Ehrlichia muris, ehrlichia chaffeensis (Vector-Best Novosibirsk) and double round polymerase chain reaction. The DNA of A. phagocytophilum, agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis and/or DNA ofE. muris, agent ofmonocytic erlychiosis was detected in 21 ticks and in blood samples of 52 voles. Both techniques were applied. The DNA of A. phagocytophilum was detected in samples of 2 voles and in 1 tick only after polymerase chain reaction in real-time operation mode was applied. It demonstrated that the set of reagents RealBest DNA Anaplasma phagocytophilum/Ehrlichia muris, ehrlichia chaffeensis permits to detect the DNA of isolates of A. phagocytophilum subsumed to different genetic groups. The set can be used for fast and effective detection of the DNA of agents of agents of human granulocytic anaplasmosis and monocytic erlychiosis in suspensions of analyzed ticks and blood samples.

Data on the infestation of some passerines (Passeriformes) with feather mites of the family Analgidae (Astigmata: Analgoidea) in the south of the Western Siberia (Omsk and Tyumen provinces) have been obtained. The indices of occurrence and infection rate were used for a quantitative assessment of infection; and also a qualitative assessment of the relative abundance of species on mites of passerine birds has been carried out. On 15 bird species we found 9 species of feather mites the family Analgidae; among them, 7 mite species are common parasites of examined passerines. New data оn host association of mite species with passerine hosts have been obtained. Four species of mites were recorded for the first time on hosts. The following passerines were recorded as new hosts: the paddyfield warbler, blyth´s reed warbler, marsh warbler, garden warbler, common whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, greenish warbler and yellowhammer.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis were used for determing Bartonella species reservoirs among wild small mammals populations inhabiting southern and northern forest-steppe zones in Western Siberia, Russia. Bartonella DNA was detected in organs from 21 of 145 animals included in this study. Two validated Bartonella species in the both zones were found out: Bartonella grahamii and B. taylorii (Birtles et al., 1995). Moreover, DNA, not belonging to previously known species was discovered in three samples of voles. Multi-gene sequences analysis based on 16S rRNA, ITS, gltA, rpoB and ftsZ gene sequences exposed that these three DNA isolates represent the same and new genotype of Bartonella. We propose to name this bacterium Candidatus Bartonella rudakovii.

The characteristic of the natural reservoir of Hantavirus infection connected to viruses of four genotypes (Topographers, Puumala, Dobrava/Belgrad and Tula), circulating in ecologic systems of various landscape zones in three areas of Western Siberia is given. Distribution of the natural reservoir of all four groups of virus has the expressed mosaic character. Arctic Hantavirus of genotype of Topographers is associated with Siberian rodents in geographically removed territories. In Western Siberia viruses Puumala are submitted by a variant connected to populations of red mice. The natural reservoir of the hemorrhagic fever with nephritic syndrome, associated with Hantavirus infection Dobrava/Belgrad, are related for a wood zone of region, connected to populations of the field mouse and territorially blocked with the reservoir of Hantavirus Puumala. The genotype Tula is submitted to two variants connected specific rodents. The activity of the epizootic process in the natural centers of Hantavirus is caused by features of ecology of rodents.

Phylogenetic relations were investigated in the group of Puumala viruses (the genus Hantavirus, the family Bunyaviridae) by the mutual information showing the similarity of the nucleotide sequences of S- and M-genome segments. There was evidence that recombination events might occurr in some Eurasian Puumala viruses (Scandinavian and West-Siberian genotypes). The investigation revealed the conservative sites available in the S and M segments that were common to most Puumala viruses, as well as the preservation of alternation and mutual arrangement of these sites in the S and M segments even for greatly diverging genotypes, which may be used in the detection of recombination events in Puumala viruses during further studies.