Kvemo Kartli Research Articles

Assesment of Breast Cancer's Risk Factors in the Female Population of Kvemo Kartli (Georgia)

Assesment of Breast Cancer's Risk Factors in the Female Population of Kvemo Kartli (Georgia)

Surveillance of tuberculosis in Georgia in 2017

Background: Tuberculosis is a chronic zoonotic disease that affects domestic and wild mammals, birds and humans. There are countries, where the disease is huge problem for animal and human health and Georgia is amongst them. The first tuberculosis case in Georgia was registered in the 1925 year. 73 unreliable foci were registered in the 1972 year, the number of unreliable villages decreased during 1985–1995 years. After those years no active surveillance was conducted to identify disease unreliable foci in Georgia. Methods and materials: The aim of the study was to identify tuberculosis positive animals and to determine the prevalence of the disease among herds/villages. 10,000 animals were chosen for testing from dairy cattle farms in 5 risk regions. The number of animals was calculated based on sample size calculation (Confidence level – 95%; population size – 200,000, Expected prevalence 50%, error 1%). Double intradermal tuberculin test (both avian and bovine tuberculin) was administrated to large ruminants above 6 weeks of age. All data (Animal owner name, ID, phone number, address and animal ID, sex, age, date and time of injection) were recorded on standardized forms. The interpretation of reaction was based on clinical observation after 72 h of injection of tuberculin. Results: Totally 9505 large ruminants were tested from 277 households in 23 municipalities. Appeared prevalence was 0.44% (44 positive/9505 tested) on individual level, 5.4% (15 positive/277 tested) on holding level and 6.5% (6 positive/91 tested) on herd/village level. Tuberculosis positive cases were identified in Samtskhe Javakheti (73.8%) Kvemo Kartli (14.3%) and Shida Kartli (11.9%) regions, where the livestock industry is more developed. No positive cases identified in Kakheti and Imereti regions. The highest prevalence on the animal level within the regions was in the Samtskhe Javakeheti region (0.92%) and lowest in the Kvemo Kartli region (0.25%). prevalence between villages varied between 1.67–6.85 percentages (average 4.2%). Conclusion: According to the obtained data, it can be concluded that the animal tuberculosis is still widespread in Georgia, especially in big commercial farms, but prevalence within the animals is low. Most of the villages were new emerged and did not have connections to earlier registered foci.

An ethnobotany of Kakheti and Kvemo Kartli, Sakartvelo (Republic of Georgia), Caucasus

Background: Kahketi and Kvemo Kartli are historical provinces of Georgia located on the south-facing macro-slope of the eastern part of the Greater Caucasus (Kahketi) and east of the Lesser Caucasus (Kvemo Kartli). In this study we documented traditional plant use in Kakheti and Kvemo Kartli.Methods: Fieldwork was conducted in August-November 2018. Interviews using semi-structured questionnaires were conducted with 40 participants (26 women and 14 men), with oral prior informed consent.Results: We encountered 215 plant species belonging to 157 genera of 114 vascular plant families, and 3 fungal species and 5 undetermined fungi of at least 5 genera, belonging to at least 3 fungal families being used in the research region. Of these 114 vascular species were exclusively wild collected, 88 were grown in homegardens, and 18 were both grown in gardens and collected in the wild. Plants and their uses mostly overlapped among the areas within the region, with a slightly wider divergence in uses than in plants. The environmental fit analysis showed that a large degree of this variation was explained by differences among participant communities. The elevation of the participant community significantly fit the ordination in plant-space and explained a large degree of the variation in plant species reported but not in use-space. Gender was not significant in plant-space but was important in use space.Conclusions: The lack of forest plant use, and both forest and garden plant-use knowledge in Kakheti and Kvemo-Kartli might be traced to the fact that both regions are close to large markets in the region, which make it less necessary to grow or forage many species. In addition, Kahketi is easily one of the most fertile regions in Georgia, with a very short winter and there is essentially no need for foraging wild species e.g. for Phkhali. Lagodekhi, with its almost subtropical climate, is an extreme example of that, with almost no recorded forest plant use.Key words: Caucasus, ethnobotany, plant use, traditional knowledge, post-soviet development

Establishing a Sustainable Waste Management System in a Transitional Economic Context: Analysis of the Socio-Economic Dynamics

Establishing a sustainable waste management system concerns multiple aspects of the prospected geo-locations. Among them, the dynamics of the socio-economy play a crucial role. Based on the idea of circular economy (CE), the amount of waste, in general, should be reduced and the process of social involvement is embedded. This study aims to examine the social willingness towards a sustainable waste management system at a local level in Georgia. The research study was conducted with waste management analyses in Marneuli city in the South-Eastern Georgian district of Kvemo Kartli, as well as a survey in 510 households in Marneuli. A descriptive statistical analysis and a narrative analysis were used to evaluate the results of the survey. In Georgia, as a transitional country, local participation is still not well developed. However, this research study shows that the potentiality and the social request for the environmental actions at a local level exist. The key results of this study are that the robust connection with the locals is a fundamental factor in implementing a sustainable waste management plan at a local level.

The Dynamics of Identity Negotiation in a Border Region: The Case of Georgian Azeri-Tukrs of Kvemo Kartli

Abstract: The Dynamics of Identity Negotiation in a Border Region: The Case of Georgian Azeri-Tukrs of Kvemo KartliIn The Dynamics of Identity Negotiation in a Border Region: The Case of Georgian Azeri-Tukrs of Kvemo Kartli Karli-Jo T. Storm studies collective identities among Georgian Azeri-Turks in relation to officially propagated narratives of national identity in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Storm’s ambitious work offers us insights into the complexities of the social and spatial positions of minority populations in the post-Soviet nation building projects.

Interference Occurrences in the Speech of the Kodorian Gorge’s Svans

The representatives of the Upper Bal and Lower Bal dialects who migrated in the Kodori (resp. Dali) Gorge to Upper Svaneti a century and a half ago, before the occupation of their territory they were mixed with each other according to the villages, that caused the resemblance of one dialect to another in their speech. Interference gained a form of adstrat that "arises due to the equal knowledge of two languages or dialects during their free mutual influence; It is a live process of interference of languages (dialects), and interference always appears in the direct contacts of languages (dialects)" (B. Jorbenadze). This phenomenon has been observed in the speech of the Kodori’s (resp. Dali’s) Upper Svan population in the 70s of the last century by M. Kaldani; Despite the issue, its investigation wasn’t proceeded in the last century by the kartvelologists. Only in the early 21st century it was renewed, when Iza Chantladze delivered a speech on the topic "Peculiarities of the Defective Verbs in the Kodori Gorge’s Svan” at the scientific session of the Arnold Chikobava Institute of Linguistics. This initiative was the basis for further thorough study of Svan speech of the Kodori Gorge’s population under the supervision of I. Chantladze at Arnold Chikobava Institute of Linguistics. The work was significantly complicated due to the well-known military actions: At certain times, the trip to the Kodori Gorge was associated with great risk. However, a group of scientists interested in the issue to some extent still managed it. As the result of this devotion (literally!) a large empirical material was obtained and 835-page publication "Kodorian Chronicles" was published, where the specifics and properties of the Kodorian speech are discussed. The logical question was raised: Whether Kodorian speech is dialect or not? Proceeding with the investigation to solve the problem failed at that stage, as this area became inaccessible not only for Georgian scientists but it has been completely emptied from Georgians and the local population has been dispersed throughout the regions of Georgia as refugees: Svaneti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, Imereti…Research has become even more significant, since the non-compact life of the population speaking an analytical speech threatened changes in their speech code. In 2016, the Rustaveli Foundation funded the fundamental research project: "Place of Kodorian Speech in Svan Language System" (Principal investigator I. Chantladze), which opened the way for the long-term observation on the speech of Kodorian population dispersed throughout Georgia and for new results. Working on the project is not over yet, but preliminary observations demonstrate a noteworthy picture that includes phonetics, grammar and vocabulary. Since analytical topic is very extensive, I will bring only some of the most common and noteworthy interference occurrences in the work.

C. burnetii Shedding Study In Domestic Animals in Georgia

ObjectiveQ fever is poorly understood in Georgia and its prevalence is largely underestimated in both humans and animals.One of the main goal of the project was shedding study in domestic animals – isolation of C. burnetii from suspected seropositive animal blood, milk samples.IntroductionQ fever is a zoonotic bacterial disease resulting from infection by Coxiella burnetii. Domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, and goats) are considered the main reservoir for the pathogen, which can also infect humans. Q fever is poorly understood in Georgia and its prevalence is largely underestimated in both humans and animals.In Georgia Q fever laboratory diagnostic was started and implemented at the Laboratory of the Ministry of Georgia (LMA) within GG20 ,,Prevalence, Epidemiological Surveillance, and Laboratory Analysis of Coxiella burnetii in Georgia’’.MethodsLMA conducted Coxiella burnetii shedding evaluation in three specific farms from Kvemo Kartli (Tsalka, Dmanisi) and Mtskheta-Mtianeti (Dusheti). Seropositive cattle and small ruminants were sampled per week. Sampling lasted 7 weeks and totally 581 samples samples (blood, milk and swab) were tested. Testing were conducted in a BSL3 laboratory under BSL3 working conditions. ACCM medium was used (2XACCm-2 acidified Citrate Cysteine Medium PH-4.75G N NaOH). The samples were incubated at 37°C using CO2.ResultsAs a result of the study, one culture was bacteriologically isolated from seropositive cattle milk sample ( the sample was taken on the third week of the study in Beshtasheni farm, Tslka, Kvemo Kartli) and confirmed by Molecular biology (PCR).ConclusionsThe study confirmed Q fever existence in Georgia. Traditionally considered an obligate intracellular agent, the requirement to be grown in tissue culture cells, embryonated eggs, or animal hosts has made it difficult to isolate C. Burnetii strains. Within the study one culture was isolated from the seropositive animal milk sample that was collected in the third week of the study. shedding of Coxiella burnetii in milk by infected cows appeared to be the most frequent positive sample for the bacterium.

Monitoring of Anthrax Prevalence in Georgia 2009-2017

ObjectiveOne of the main objectives of these studies was to improve Anthrax laboratory diagnostics in order to properly monitor the prevalence and distribution of the disease in Georgia. For this geographic information system (GIS) was implemented and used as the additional tool to the laboratory tests for better visualization, summary results and risk assessment.IntroductionAnthrax is an acute infectious disease of historical importance caused by Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis), a spore-forming, soil-borne bacterium with a remarkable ability to persist in the environment. Anthrax is endemic in many countries, including Georgia.Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture (LMA) has been actively working on the disease science 1907 and constantly improving diagnostics. In 2009-2017 the laboratory participated in cooperative biological studies. One of the main objectives of these studies was to improve Anthrax laboratory diagnostics in order to properly monitor the prevalence and distribution of the disease in Georgia.MethodsIn 2009 -2011, within GG18, LMA tested 130(animal and environmental) anthrax suspected samples collected from different regions of Georgia. Later, in 2014 – 2017, studies (TAP7; GG27) were focused on soil sample collection and 2825 specimens were collected from the entire country.Samples were tested according to Treat Agent Detection and Response (TADR) algorithm following standard operation procedures (SOPs). Cultures were isolated through Bacteriology tests - Gram strain, Lysis by gamma phage, Motility test, DFA and confirmed by Molecular Biology ( PCR).In 2009, within the studies , geographic information system (GIS) was implemented and used as the additional tool to the laboratory tests for better visualization, summary results and risk assessment.ResultsTotally, 2955 collected samples were tested. 86 cultures were isolated and confirmed. The results - anthrax cases were mapped by regions, rayons and villages, also positive cases were mapped by sample type and course, Majority of positive cases were in Kvemo Kartli (53%), 19% were from Kakheti, 19% - from Imereti and less distributed in other regions.Applying modern GIS the final map of anthrax foci in Georgia was created including both - old (historical data) and new (recent data) foci.ConclusionsThe studies aimed to improve Anthrax laboratory diagnostic in Georgia. Better Laboratory diagnostic with modern GIS analysis supports the monitoring of the disease prevalence in Georgia and significantly improves public health system in the country.

A People In-Between: Examining Indicators of Collective Identity among Georgian Azeri-Turks

Georgian Azeri-Turks are a people in-between—in between the nation-building policies of the Georgian and Azerbaijani states, caught in the crosshairs of either state’s official narratives concerning the historical boundaries of the ‘homeland’, and ‘in-between’ in a literal sense due to their concentration in the border region of Kvemo Kartli. This study examines the dynamics of identity formation among the Georgian Azeri-Turks of Kvemo Kartli and endeavours to answer the following question: Are individuals’ responses pertaining to both inter- and intra-group membership indicative of a collective identity? While many participants in this study share markers of a so-called ‘traditional’ Azerbaijani identity, most of the same individuals associate their pasts, presents, and futures with the territorial state of Georgia—not with Azerbaijan. Attachment to Georgian territories is a powerful component of a collective identity among survey participants that differentiates this identity from that which is officially propagated in neighbouring Azerbaijan.

The Impact of Some Uncontrolled Landfill Sites on the Ecosystems of Surrounding Areas of Eastern and Western Parts of Georgia

The most visible uncontrolled landfill sites were selected in the western and eastern parts of the territory of Georgia. Particularly, in eastern Georgia the regions of Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Kvemo Kartli have been researched; and in western Georgia Imereti and Samtskhe-Javakheti correspondingly. Both chemical and microbiological analyses were conducted in the samples taken from their adjacent territories. In case the landfill site is located near the river, during field works using portable equipment main physical-chemical indicators of surface waters were determined. After processing of the obtained results the corresponding estimations were provided. The risks due to the environmental pollution and negative impacts on population health were assessed.

Monitoring of Cadmium Contaminated Soil in Kvemo Kartli Region (Republic of Georgia)

Environmental pollution increases from year to year and concentrations of pollutants reach a colossal point, which ultimately affects the health of the living organisms. Industrial pollution and old mining methods are one of the sources of harmful agents in the environment. It is important to study and monitor environmental pollution in dynamics. During several years we have been researching heavy metals distribution in soils in the South East part of Georgia. “RMG Gold and Copper” mine in Kazreti is one of the biggest enterprises in Georgia. As a result of open-cast mining aerosols containing heavy metals are ejected which causes harmful effects of the environment. Within this research 21 villages in Bolnisi and Dmanisi municipalities were investigated; analysis of agricultural soils showed that the concentration of cadmium in the vicinity of the enterprise was significantly increased and exceeded maximum allowed concentrations. Through the wind, cadmium-containing dust spreads out to the 22 kilom

THE IMPACT OF ECOLOGICAL FACTORS ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN KVEMO KARTLI REGION

In this Article we discuss environmental issues necessary for safe and sustainable development of tourism as an integral part of economic relations. We focus to examine the impact of anthropogenic effects on the environment, which manifests itself in organizing recreational utilization of nature We refer here to the impact of ecological problems on human health in Kvemo Kartli region, which is very attractive tourist destination and has a great potential for tourism development as of its cultural and historic heritage.

A conflict that did not happen: revisiting the Javakhk affair in Georgia

AbstractDuring and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, several violent conflicts erupted in different parts of its (former) territory. The South Caucasus region has experienced three ethnically rooted violent conflicts, yet other ethnic disputes in the same region remained dormant. Despite an extensive literature on the South Caucasus conflicts, research on those ethnic disputes that could have erupted during the collapse of the Soviet Union is scarce. This article discusses the case of the Armenian populated region of Javakhk (Javakheti) in Georgia. It explores the questions of how, unlike the Abkhazian and South Ossetian movements that were able to effectively mobilize against Georgian calls for sovereignty leading up to the Soviet collapse, Armenian populated territories in Georgia remained relatively quiet. Considering that the primary ethnic minority groups within the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic could each be linked by concerns over demographic shifts, economic discrimination/resource allocation, and political representation, the absence of conflict in Javakhk, as well as in Kvemo Kartli, is somewhat surprising. Based on existing theories of nationalism and ethnic conflicts and field interviews with the leaders of the popular movements in Javakhk, the paper examines the underlying reasons for the lack of conflict there.

Fire blight in Georgia

Abstract Fire blight is distinguished among the fruit tree diseases by harmfulness. Fire blight damages about 180 cultural and wild plants belonging to the Rosaceae family. Quince, apple and pear are the most susceptible to the disease. At present, the disease occurs in over 40 countries of Europe and Asia. Economic damage caused by fire blight is expressed not only in crop losses, but also, it poses threat of eradication to entire fruit tree gardens. Erwinia amylovora, causative bacteria of fire blight in fruit trees, is included in the A2 list of quarantine organisms. In 2016, the employees of the Plant Pest Diagnostic Department of the Laboratory of the Georgian Ministry of Agriculture have detected Erwinia amylovora in apple seedlings from Mtskheta district. National Food Agency, Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia informed FAO on pathogen detection. The aim of the study is detection of the bacterium Erwinia amylovora by molecular method (PCR) in the samples of fruit trees, suspicious on fire blight collected in the regions of Eastern (Kvemo Kartli, Shida Kartli and Kakheti) and Western Georgia (Imereti). The bacterium Erwinia amylovora was detected by real time and conventional PCR methods using specific primers and thus the fire blight disease confirmed in 23 samples of plant material from Shida Kartli (11 apples, 6 pear and 6 quince samples), in 5 samples from Kvemo Kartli (1 quince and 4 apple samples), in 2 samples of apples from Kakheti region and 1 sample of pear collected in Imereti (Zestafoni).

Rural tourism as a promising trend of small business in Georgia: Topicality, capabilities, peculiarities

Abstract The article analyses prospects for the development of small tourism business in Georgia, in particular in rural settlements – so-called “rural tourism” (agritourism, farming tourism) which is a fast emerging sector of small entrepreneurship. Capabilities and conditions for the development of rural tourism are examined for different regions of Georgia. As it is noted, there are distinguishing characteristics in each region (natural environment, economic level, traditions of economic management, rules for family farm arrangement, rituals and customs, etc.) which differ regions from each other. Careful consideration is given to the objects which are of interest for agritourists in rural settlements in Georgian regions: Kakheti, mountainous area of Georgia (Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Mtskheta-Mtianeti), Achara, Guria, Samegrelo, Imereti, Shida and Kvemo Kartli, as well as to the issues of readiness for their acceptance. It is emphasized in the article that the development of rural tourism in the country will promote economic growth in the regions, ensure employment of local people, improve their well-being, and, what is most crucially for mountainous regions, solve pressing demographic problem (depopulation of villages, ageing of population, young people's migration to urban areas, etc.).

Resistance of grapevine varieties of Kvemo (lower) Kartli of Georgia to abiotic factors

The paper analyzes relative resistance to abiotic factors of Lower (Kvemo) Kartli, Georgia grape varieties such as Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Asuretuli shavi and Tavkveri (Vitis vinifera L.) with chlorophyll fluorescence method. It is shown that Rkatsiteli and Asuretuli shavi are distinguished by the highest frost resistance, followed by Saperavi and Tavkveri. However, Asuretuli shavi is more resistant to spring frosts. Rkatsiteli reveals more resistance to high temperatures, followed by Saperavi, Asuretuli shavi and Tavkveri. As for droughts, the most resistant is Asuretuli shavi, followed by Rkatsiteli, Saperavi and Tavkveri.

Seroprevalence of zoonotic diseases among farm animals in Kvemo Kartli (Georgia)

ObjectiveThe purpose of this research was to study the seroprevalence ofzoonotic diseases among farm animals in the Kvemo Kartli regionof Georgia.IntroductionZoonotic diseases are an important cause of human morbidityand mortality; around 75% of recently emerging human infectiousdiseases are zoonoses. Herein we report the first seroprevalence studyto include a range of emerging or re-emerging zoonotic pathogens ofeconomic concern (including:Bacillus anthracis, Coxiella burnetii,Francisellaspp.,Brucellaspp., and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagicfever virus (CCHFV)) affecting domestic animals (e.g., cattle, sheep,goat, and dog) in Georgia.MethodsCattle (n=177) from Gardabani, Marneuli, and Tsalka(Kvemo Kartli region) were sampled for the study as were small ruminantsand dogs (n=30).Bacillus anthracis, Brucellaspp., CCHFV, andC. burnetii(Phase I) were detected using ELISA methods.Francisellatularensiswas detected using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT).ResultsOf the cattle sampled, 11 were positive forF. tularensis, 39 werepositive forBrucellaspp., and seven were positive forC. burnetii. Allsamples were negative for CCHFV. Three goat samples were positiveforC. burnetii, one goat sample and one dog sample were positive forF. tularensis.ConclusionsDomestic animals serve as a source of disease that can spreadto humans through vectors or direct contact. In Georgia, domesticanimals were not previously studied for exposure to zoonotic diseases,with the exception of cattle, which were surveyed for brucellosis.In particular, the finding ofF. tularensisseropositive animals isnovel in Georgia, as this region was considered free of the pathogen.Screening studies of domestic/farm animals for zoonotic pathogenssuch as this can serve as a source of baseline data for regional riskassessments and to better inform One Health measures.

Georgian climate change under global warming conditions

Abstract Georgian Climate change has been considered comprehensively, taking into account World Meteorological Organization recommendations and recent observation data. On the basis of mean temperature and precipitation decadal trend geo-information maps for 1936–2012 years period, Georgian territory zoning has been carried out and for each areas climate indices main trends have been studied, that best characterize climate change - cold and hot days, tropical nights, vegetation period duration, diurnal maximum precipitation, maximum five-day total precipitation, precipitation intensity simple index, precipitation days number of at least 10 mm, 20 mm and 50 mm, rainy and rainless periods duration. Trends of temperature indices are statistically significant. On the Black Sea coastline and Colchis lowland at high confidence level cold and hot days and tropical nights number changes are statistically significant. On eastern Georgia plains at high level of statistical significance, the change of all considered temperature indices has been fixed except for the number of hot days. In mountainous areas only hot day number increasing is significant. Trends of most moisture indices are statistically insignificant. While keeping Georgian climate change current trends, precipitation amount on the Black Sea coastline and Colchis lowland, as well as in some parts of Western Caucasus to the end of the century will increase by 50% and amounts to 3000 and 6000 mm, respectively this will strengthen humidity of those areas. Besides increasing of rainy period duration may constitute the risk for flooding and high waters. On eastern Georgia plains, in particular Kvemo Kartli, annual precipitation amount will decrease by 50% or more, and will be only 150–200 mm and the precipitation daily maximum will decrease by about 20 mm and be only 10–15 mm, which of course will increase the intensity of desertification of steppe and semi-desert landscapes.

Archaeological excavations at Beshtasheni Late Bronze Age – Early Iron Age Cemetery (2015-2016 results)

Beshtasheni cemetery is located in South Georgia, in Kvemo Kartli region, north-west from the village Beshtasheni in Tsalka municipality (UTM – Zone: 38T; E: 425700.00, N: 4610700.00.), directly on the road from village Beshtasheni to village Shua Kharaba (formerly known as Saphar-Kharaba), on the right bank of the river Geriak-Chai. Cemetery belongs to ‘Beshtasheni Cyclopean Settlement’, 300 m to the east.

ACCESS AND BARRIERS TO EDUCATION: ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES LIVING IN GEORGIA

The aim of this research is to analyse the attitudes and perceptions by Georgian Azeri and Armenian ethnic minorities about the accessibility and barriers to acquire an education. The research includes three types of education: general, vocational education and training (VET), and higher education. The survey was carried out with 800 participants of both ethnic minorities in two regions of Georgia, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli . In-depth interviews were carried out with four experts working in the field of education for ethnic minorities. Respondents believe that they have more equal access to general education and VET while local Georgians have better access to higher education than ethnic minorities do. Attitudes of Ethnic Minorities correspond to their limited participation in Higher Education. The respondents identified poor knowledge of Georgian language (state language of Georgia) as the most significant barrier that excludes them from educational opportunities. This research provides evidence and a basis for formulating education policies for the Azeri and Armenian ethnic minorities living in Georgia. Key words: access to education, barriers to education, ethnic minorities.