Results of serologic screening of small mammals for antigen of the virus of hemorrhagic fever with the renal syndrome (HFRS) and of testing human sera for antibodies to this virus in Moldova are reviewed. A total of 9946 animals belonging to 22 species and blood sera of 792 healthy donors were examined in 1983-1990. HFRS virus antigen was detected in 30 animals of 9 species, with the highest incidence of the antigen in gray voles. Two serotypes of Hantavirus were found to circulate in small mammals: Puumala and Hantaan. Screening of healthy humans revealed antibodies to HFRS virus in 7.8%. Natural foci of HFRS were detected in 23 of the 44 administrative territories of the Republic situated in 5 landscape geographical provinces.
Results of serologic screening of small mammals for antigen of the virus of hemorrhagic fever with the renal syndrome (HFRS) and of testing human sera for antibodies to this virus in Moldova are reviewed. A total of 9946 animals belonging to 22 species and blood sera of 792 healthy donors were examined in 1983-1990. HFRS virus antigen was detected in 30 animals of 9 species, with the highest incidence of the antigen in gray voles. Two serotypes of Hantavirus were found to circulate in small mammals: Puumala and Hantaan. Screening of healthy humans revealed antibodies to HFRS virus in 7.8%. Natural foci of HFRS were detected in 23 of the 44 administrative territories of the Republic situated in 5 landscape geographical provinces.
The epidemic manifestations of cholera in the Ukraine and Moldova in 1970-1991 are analyzed. In the Ukraine the peak of cholera morbidity in 1970 was caused by infection brought to the ports of Odessa and Kerch with its subsequent spread to other territories. This infection was characterized by outbreaks transmitted through water, mainly sea water, with the isolation of Vibrio eltor toxigenic virulent strains and outbreaks of vibrio carriership of alimentary (dairy) origin with the isolation of avirulent strains. In Moldova local outbreaks of water origin were registered in 1970-1972. In both territories prolonged (up to 16 years and even longer) circulation of cholera vibrios, mainly nontoxigenic and avirulent, were registered. The retrospective epidemiological analysis and the epidemiological situation in some regions of the Ukraine in 1991 completely confirmed the prognostic importance of the division of territories into regions according to the type of epidemiological manifestations and the necessity of differentiating the measures to be taken in the system of epidemiological surveillance.
The epidemic manifestations of cholera in the Ukraine and Moldova in 1970-1991 are analyzed. In the Ukraine the peak of cholera morbidity in 1970 was caused by infection brought to the ports of Odessa and Kerch with its subsequent spread to other territories. This infection was characterized by outbreaks transmitted through water, mainly sea water, with the isolation of Vibrio eltor toxigenic virulent strains and outbreaks of vibrio carriership of alimentary (dairy) origin with the isolation of avirulent strains. In Moldova local outbreaks of water origin were registered in 1970-1972. In both territories prolonged (up to 16 years and even longer) circulation of cholera vibrios, mainly nontoxigenic and avirulent, were registered. The retrospective epidemiological analysis and the epidemiological situation in some regions of the Ukraine in 1991 completely confirmed the prognostic importance of the division of territories into regions according to the type of epidemiological manifestations and the necessity of differentiating the measures to be taken in the system of epidemiological surveillance.
