[Characteristics of DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms of C. burnetti strains, isolated from areas of Russia].

The structural heterogeneity in Coxiella burnetii chromosomal DNA isolated in the European part of Russia from people, agricultural animals, and ticks has been studied. It is compared with the one of the European strains Henzerling and M44, the only genetically characterized strains up to date. The digestion of the total DNA by the restriction endonucleases BamHI, PstI, XhoI resulted in obtaining two types of restriction patterns. The ones for Henzerling and M44 differed from the restriction patterns of the Russian strains, while the latter proved to be identical. The obtained data are in proof of genetical homogeneity in the Russian group of strains. The group is different from the genomic group including Henzerling and M44. The fact is in proof of the genetical heterogeneity of the European population of coxiellae.