We studied associations between rs8193036 polymorphism of IL-17A gene (C737T) and plasma levels of IL-17A in patients with erysipelas and healthy subjects in a Kazakh population. The rs8193036 polymorphism was assessed in 95 patients with erysipelas and 383 control subjects. The IL-17A (rs8193036) polymorphism was studied by a real time polymerase chain reaction. Plasma levels of IL-17A were assessed in 90 patients with erysipelas and 90 healthy subjects by enzyme immunoassay. Categorical data were analyzed using Pearson's Chi tests and odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Continuous data were studied using Kruskal -Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests with Bonferroni correction. We found that T allele occurred more frequently (OR = 1.41; 95 % CI: 0.21-0.92) while allele C (OR = 0.71; 95 % CI: 0.51-0.99) and genotype CC (OR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.21-0.92) occurred less frequently in cases than in controls. In erysipelas patients with CC genotype the level of IL-17A was significantly higher (p = 0.010) compared to the carriers of CT genotype. Also, the levels of IL-17A in patients with erysipelas was higher than among controls in groups with both CC and CT genotypes (p = 0.023 and p = 0.020, respectively). These data suggest that the rs8193036 polymorphism of IL-17A gene may play a role in the etiology of erysipelas, but other factors are also involved.

recorded, the case fatality rate was 6%. Seven (11%) of the 65 samples were positive for Congo Crimean haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) by both RT-PCR and IgG ELISA. Six of these were also ELISA IgM positive. An additional three of the PCR/IgM-negative samples were CCHF IgG positive. All CCHF-positive cases were men aged 21 to 30 years, except for one 5-year-old child. Four were farmers. All other samples tested negative on all assays.Conclusion: Comprehensive diagnostic evaluation demonstrated CCHF as one important cause, but not the sole major aetiology of UFI in the Darfur outbreak. We are presently undertaking unbiased sequencing of the legacy samples to explore other aetiologies, including novel pathogens. A UFI prospective study protocol and trained study team is now in place to investigate future outbreaks.