Nearly Complete Genome Sequences of Eight Rabies Virus Strains Obtained from Domestic Carnivores in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In this report, we describe eight nearly complete genome sequences of rabies virus strains collected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from domestic carnivores in 2017 and 2018. All of them clustered into a specific phylogroup among the Africa 1b lineage in the Cosmopolitan clade.

PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE ORGANS OF A CAT WITH ADENOCARCINOMA

Oncological diseases of unproductive animals are becoming increasingly common in veterinary practice, especially in large cities. The basis of tumor growth is the unlimited uncontrolled reproduction of cells by the body, which leads to a complex of structural and functional disorders. Despite the significant achievements of modern veterinary medicine in the field of diagnosis of benign and malignant tumors in animals, the issues of histological and cytological diagnosis of the forms of manifestation of this pathology remain problematic. Long-term statistical data show that there is a tendency to increase the incidence of oncological pathology in domestic carnivores, especially in the malignant form.

REGIONAL FEATURES OF THE FORMATION OF THE NOSOLOGICAL PROFILE OF INFECTIOUS ANIMAL DISEASES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BURYATIA

On the territory of the Republic of Buryatia, the epizootological profile is formed by 8 nosological forms of infectious pathology of farm animals. The dominant epizootic significance is rabies, leptospirosis, brucellosis. Rabies was registered in 8 (38.1 %) rural administrative districts of the republic and in the urban district of Ulan-Ude. In the total number of cases of rabies, the disease of farm animals occupies 48.3%, domestic carnivores-3.9, and in 47.6% of cases, epizootic foci began among wild animals. The main reservoir of the rabies virus is the wild fox: 46.2 % in the total number of cases and 97.1 % - in autochthonous epizootic foci. Leptospirosis in the conditions of Buryatia is an indigenous natural focal infection with a pronounced indicator of epizootic manifestation in the form of infection of animals without clinical signs. It is registered in 11 (52.4 %) rural administrative districts of the republic in 1.5 % of cattle and 0.6% of horses. The unfavorable situation with bovine brucellosis persisted from 2009 to 2018, 26 unfavorable points were registered. In the Jida district, 5 km from the state border with Mongolia, brucellosis was first registered in a dog. In this area, the corridor of migration of wild animals across the border passes, which confirms the assumption of the existence of natural foci of brucellosis in the transboundary territories of Russia and Mongolia and the introduction of the pathogen from the natural focus to the territory of the buffer zone farms.

Taeniidoses of domestic carnivores in Moscow and problems of their diagnosis

The purpose of the research is analyzing data on the spread of taeniidoses among carnivores in Moscow, as well as considering issues of their diagnosis and cross-species differentiation.Taeniidoses occupy a significant place among helminthiases of carnivores. The development cycle of Taenia includes larval parasitism inside the organism of productive animals (cattle, small ruminants, rabbits, etc.), therefore they pose a potential danger to carnivores, as well as humans. Rodents that can also be intermediate hosts of many species of Taenia can play an essential role in the spread of invasion.

Molecular Characteristics of Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 with High Sequence Similarity between Wild and Domestic Carnivores in Taiwan

Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1) is a DNA virus causing gastrointestinal disease and immunosuppression in various terrestrial carnivores. Domestic dogs and cats are considered the primary CPPV-1 reservoirs. The habitat overlap of wild carnivores and free-roaming dogs increases the threat of CPPV-1 transmission between them. This study explored the CPPV-1 distribution among wild carnivores in Taiwan through PCR screening and compared the partial capsid protein (VP2) gene sequences from wild and domestic carnivores. In total, 181 samples were collected from 32 masked palm civets (Paguma larvata), 63 Chinese ferret badgers (Melogale moschata), and 86 crab-eating mongooses (Herpestes urva), from 2015 to 2019 were screened for CPPV-1. The average prevalence of CPPV-1 was 17.7% (32/181), with the highest prevalence in masked palm civets (37.5%). In addition, a masked palm civet was coinfected with two CPPV-1 strains. Among the 33 partial VP2 gene sequences, 23 were identical to the sequences amplified from domestic dogs and cats in Asia, and the remaining 10 were identified for the first time. This study supported the circulation of CPPV-1 strains with the same genomic features as domestic carnivores that are also in wild carnivores from the same environment in Taiwan by molecular data. Therefore, further population control and health management of free-roaming domestic carnivores are recommended.

INSERT HOST IN THE LIFE CYCLE OF ALARIA ALATA (TREMATODA, STRIGEIDIDA) IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE CENTRAL BLACK-EARTH ZONE

Currently, an increase in cases of infection of wild and domestic carnivores with the trematode Alaria alata (Trematoda, Strigeidida) is currently recorded in the Central Black-Earth Zone. The trematode A. alata has a complex life cycle involving intermediate, insert and reservoir hosts. We obtained new data on the realization of the life cycle of A. alata in the natural environment of the Central Black-Earth Zone. The moor frog (Rana arvalis), green toad (Bufotes viridis) and spade-footed toad (Pelobates fuscus) are recorded as insert hosts. Infection with mesocercarias A. alata of the moor frog is 20% (the prevalence) and 23 specimens (infection intensity). The moor frog is the most numerous species among amphibians and is characterized by high in-touch capabilities with carnivorous mammals. The moor frog is the main insert host in the circulation of A. alata in natural biocenoses. We have identified the localization of the Alaria mesocercarias in the moor frog, namely, the pericardium and subcutaneous tissue of the intermaxillary space. We determined the distribution of mesocercarias in moor frogs of this year's brood: 71% in the head; 25.8% in the hind legs; 22.6% in the trunk; and 3.2% in the front legs. The green toad and spade-footed toad were also classified as insert hosts of A. alata (prevalence of infection was less than 10%; and infection intensity was 4.0 specimens). Mesocercarias were found in frog larvae (24.6%; 2.6 sp.).

EFFICIENCY OF THE PREPARATION OF THE PROLONGED ACTION ON THE BASIS OF MOXIDECTIN "NEOTERICA PROTECTO SYRUP" IN ECTOAND ENDOPARASITOSIS OF CARNIVORE ANIMALS

This article presents the results of studies of the therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of the drug "Neoterica Protecto Syrup" for arachnoentomoses and nematodes of domestic carnivores. The drug contains the active ingredient moxidectin, which provides a wide range of antiparasitic action of the drug against ecto- and endoparasites. The studies were conducted from April to August 2020 in veterinary clinics in Moscow and the Moscow region on dogs and cats free from parasites and naturally infested with fleas, lice, ixodid and scabies mites, intestinal nematodes and dirofilaria larvae. The animals were administered the drug once orally individually at a therapeutic dose at the rate of 1.5 mg moxidectin per 1 kg of animal weight. The diagnosis and efficacy of the diseases were confirmed by clinical (examination of the skin and hair for the presence of ectoparasites) and laboratory (Priselkova's method for detecting acariform mites in scrapings, the "thick crushed drop method" for detecting dirofilariae, Fülleborn's method for detecting nematode eggs) studies have confirmed the therapeutic efficacy the drug, the antiparasitic activity persisted for 90 days after application, which confirms the preventive effectiveness of the drug.

Current issues and gaps in the implementation of rabies prevention in Ukraine in recent decades

Ukraine remains the only country in Europe where rabies is widespread among animals and humans. Annually there are about 1,600 rabies cases in animals in Ukraine and sporadic cases in humans have been registered despite the conducting of preventive measures. Therefore, the aim of the study was to inspect the failures in rabies prevention, indicate the top reasons for human cases and highlights the risk of animal attacks in view of their species and geographical distribution in Ukraine during 1996–2020. The following archival state materials were used for analysis: from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and from the annual reports of oblast departments of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection. In general, more than 84,000 people (187.4 per 100,000 of the population) were affected by bites or harmful contact with animals every year, among them, 2,155 people were victims of rabid animals. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was prescribed annually, on average, for 21,434 patients (25.5% of all victims). Most people were attacked by cats and dogs that had owners (71.5%). The frequency of the proportion of the risk of attacks by rabid dogs on humans was (1:124), from cats (1:25), wild animals (1:7), and farm animals (1:2), but the largest general proportion of animal attacks on people was from dogs – 838,635 attacks (77.7%). Thus, due to the permanently higher level of contact with people, attacks by dogs remains more dangerous. Geographically attacks on humans by domestic carnivores were observed most commonly in the east part of Ukraine due to the high urbanization of the region and the high density of the human population. A large number of attacks by foxes was observed in the west part of Ukraine due to the larger area of forests and fields. During the last 25 years, there have been 63 human rabies cases. The main sources of rabies were dogs (24 cases) and cats (22 cases). The main causes of development of rabies were: failure to receive the PEP due to the absence of a visit to a hospital after an attack of an animal (n = 38), failures in prescribing PEP (n = 15), failure of PEP (n = 10). In conclusion, the gaps in the control measures against rabies are the lack of agreed coordination of inter-sectoral links, the lack of significant efforts to raise public awareness and the lack of funding for prophylaxis programmes for humans and animals. Our future research will be aimed at modelling the transmission of rabies from the pet population to humans.

Molecular Characteristics of Carnivore Protoparvovirus 1 With High Sequence Similarity Between Wild and Domestic Carnivores in Taiwan

Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1) is a DNA virus causing gastrointestinal disease and immunosuppression in various terrestrial carnivores. Domestic dogs and cats are considered the primary CPPV-1 reservoirs. The habitat overlaps of wild carnivores and free-roaming dogs increases the threat of CPPV-1 transmission between them. This study explored the CPPV-1 distribution among wild carnivores through PCR screening and compared the DNA sequences of the partial capsid protein (VP2) between wild and domestic carnivores. In total, 181 samples were screened for the CPPV-1 VP2 gene, including 32 masked palm civets (Paguma larvata), 63 Chinese ferret badgers (Melogale moschata), and 86 crab-eating mongooses (Herpestes urva), from 2015 to 2019 in Taiwan. The average prevalence of CPPV-1 was 17.7% (32/181), with the highest prevalence in masked palm civets (37.5%). In addition, a masked palm civet was coinfected with two CPPV-1 strains. Among the 33 partial VP2 gene sequences, 23 were identical to sequences amplified from domestic dogs and cats in Asia and the remaining 10 were identified for the first time. This study demonstrated that CPPV-1 has circulated between domestic and wild carnivores in rural Taiwan. Therefore, further population control and health management of free-roaming domestic carnivores are recommended.

The history of rabies control in Ukraine from the time of Pasteur to the present day

Rabies remains the oldest viral zoonotic disease, which always ends in death and which is now widespread throughout the world and causes an annual death of about 60 thousand people. Since rabies eradication in Ukraine continues over 135 years, our goal was to remind about the problems and successes of providing control rabies in different periods of the epizootic process in the last century, to remind the main specific features of infection and show real problems today. Materials for the analysis were archival data of reports of regional sanitary-epidemiological agencies, LV Gromashevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Neuroinfections of IVM NAAS of Ukraine, as well as the reports of regional departments of veterinary medicine of the State Food and Consumer Service of Ukraine. It has been shown that epizootic peaks were observed in certain historical periods. During the first period of urban rabies (dogs), mass vaccinations of dogs in combination with strict regulation of the number of homeless animals proved to be effective. The second period of fox rabies lasted 30 years, of which almost 20 years were relatively successful, which was facilitated by the strictest implementation of measures to regulate the density of foxes in all regions of Ukraine. At the beginning of the XXI century, the intensity of the epizootic process sharpened. At the same time, in all areas, the density of foxes was no longer maintained at an accep­table level and the incidence of foxes increased almost 20 times. Oral vaccination started in 2001, is still not fully implemented. Vaccination of domestic carnivores also does not reach the required level of coverage of 70 % of the population. Homeless animals are also vaccinated, although it has long been proven that under constant stress and hypothermia, the vaccine does not cause the production of antibody titers to a protective level. Thus, currently, the main problem in order to preserve a human from rabies is dogs. Thus, in 2019, 51,232 people were attacked by dogs. In total, in 2019, 73,962 people applied for rabies assistance, and 21,980 people were vaccinated. There were 4039 people with severe bites, of which 1161 were bitten by sick animals with a confirmed diagnosis and 777 people were attacked by wild animals (1938 people were saved from death), and 16,113 people were injured by light bites (73.3 % of the total vaccinated) were given 10 days to determine the danger of the bite, but failed to do so as the animal escaped. Due to this category of victims, the number of vaccinated increases sharply. It is important to note that each bite by a stray dog for the people is a punishment, and a course of rabies vaccinations costs about 6 thousand UAH depending on the degree of the bite, so the question of regulation of the number of stray dogs and the feasibility of their vaccination remains open.