At the Origins of the Natural Focality Concept

Introduction: The article analyzes the course of scientific research that led to the discovery of tick-borne (Amarillovirales: Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) and Japanese (Amarillovirales: Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) encephalitis viruses and further formulation of the basic principles of functioning of natural foci of vector-borne infections. Materials and methods: We did a literature search in the State Archive of the Primorsky Krai, the Vladivostok City Archive, the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Springer, and Google Scholar databases. Results: In the late 1930s, the Ussuri taiga became a “cradle” of the concept of natural focality first formulated by Academician Yevgeny N. Pavlovsky in 1939. Originally encompassing vector-borne infectious diseases this concept was later expanded to include non-vector-borne infections and sapronoses. A great contribution to the meaningful evolution of the theory of sapronoses was made by Academician Georgy P. Somov (Vladivostok). Conclusion: Establishment in May 1941 of a predecessor of the modern Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.P. Somovbelonging to the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing became one of the elements of consistent strengthening of the biological security of the country in the Far East.