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Objective of the seroepidemiological study was to determine the level and structure of herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among the population of the Irkutsk Region during the period of an increase in the incidence of COVID-19.Materials and methods. The content of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was determined by ELISA applying a  reagent panel “ELISA anti-SARS-Cov-2 IgG” produced by the State Scientific Center of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (Obolensk).Results and discussion. The investigation has revealed that the herd immunity of the total population of Irkutsk Region amounted to 5.8 %. The greatest share of seropositive persons was among the children aged 14–17 (13.8 %) and 1–6 (11.8 %). It has been established that the risk of infection increases by 3.1 times in case of contact with COVID-19 patients. After exposure to COVID-19, antibodies were produced in 56.5 % of the cases. The share of asymptomatic forms among seropositive residents of the Irkutsk Region reached 81.2 %. Consequently, during the chosen period of increased COVID-19 incidence among the population of Irkutsk Region low level of seroprevalence was formed. A significant proportion of asymptomatic forms of infection characterize high intensity of the latently developing epidemic process. The results obtained can be used when organizing preventive measures, including vaccination, and for forecasting morbidity rates.

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Water mites Limnochares aquatica (L., 1758) during maintenance in the laboratory for a long period of time in constant conditions periodically produced certain whitish flocculent material consisting of long rigid unbranched tube-like threads 1.3 ± 0.3 µm in diameter crossing freely. These threads were studied using lightoptical as well as transmission electron microscopical and scanning electron microscopical methods. Microbiological staining was also applied to the threads to exclude their bacterial or fungal origin. The thread wall is built of fine fibrils arranged at different angles to the long axis of threads that is reflected in a certain stratification of the wall. Threads are mostly hollow or may contain electron-dense homogeneous material. No cell components are present in the thread composition. Numerous dermal glands with their small slit-like orifice scattered throughout the mite body surface are thought to produce these threads. Most probably the thread formation is a reaction of mites to stress under laboratory conditions, and this is expected to be a type of defensive reaction.