Böcker av Svetoslav P. Martinov

Chlamydiae are a group of obligate intracellular microorganisms with a homogeneous group-specific antigenic structure, and a unique mode of development. The infections caused by them are unprecedented and wide-spread throughout the world, including a broad range of hosts among domestic and animal species and humans, and a variety of clinical manifestations. The uniqueness of chlamydia pathology consists mainly in the fact that the agents of the individual diseases are so close in their biological properties that they are represented only by the single genus Chlamydia, which includes all currently recognized species.Although chlamydiae and chlamydial infections were discovered a long time ago, they are still under-researched and relatively unknown to broad circles of microbiologists, virologists, epidemiologists and clinicians. A number of issues relating to molecular biology, pathogenesis, mechanisms of Chlamydia development and their interactions with cells, as well as their genetic conditioning and regulation, remain unclear. The same is true for ambiguities, problems and contradictions related to epidemiology, diagnostic approaches, immunity and vaccines. Based on scientific facts and the analysis of literature, and the experience of the author, Chlamydiae and Chlamydial Infections attempts to shed light on the cited problems, in terms of modern microbiology, cell biology and molecular biology. The scientific topics discussed include:* Biological, morphological and antigenic properties of Chlamydia spp* Genes, genomic structure and genetic regulations* Conventional diagnostic methods and examinations* Detection and differentiation of Chlamydia organisms by DNA detection systems* Clinical forms and manifestations and drug therapy* Pathology* Epidemiological peculiarities of Chlamydia - induced diseases in animals and humans* Immunity and vaccines

Information on the changing epidemiology and expanding nosological range of Q fever in humans has gained much attention in the past decade. Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the highly infectious pathogen Coxiella burnetii and has global distribution with important health, social and economic implications. A number of other properties and characteristics of the causative agent and disease, define Q fever as a lasting and difficult veterinary and epidemiological problem, namely: the adaptability of C. burnetii and its high resistance in the external environment; the possibility of the existence of the agent in three- and two-member parasitic systems; the availability of natural and agricultural foci of infection; peculiarities of pathogenesis in humans and animals, and the mechanisms of excretion of the pathogen into the environment; and the high susceptibility of non-immune populations of animals and people. Given that C. burnetii is included in the arsenal of bacteriological weapons as agent with potential bioterrorist threat must be borne in mind the strategic importance of this microorganismThis book summarizes and analyzes the scientific facts and developments about Q Fever researched worldwide and performed by the author to propose a system for monitoring, control and prevention covering the main necessary actions, measures and activities in the fight against this fever. There is an uneven level of knowledge of Q fever in animals and humans in various countries on the planet, while the assessment of the relevance of the problem is often ambiguous and unrealistic in terms of veterinary, medical and social and economic aspects, which can result in an incomplete diagnosis, inaccurate information about the spread of disease and lack of purposeful struggle. The scientific topics discussed include: Biological, morphological and immunological properties of Coxiella burnetiiDiagnosis, clinical forms and manifestations, pathologic changesEpidemiology of Q fever in animals and humansPrevention and Control