The paper presents results of the Salmonella identifcation, testings of recovered isolates for their susceptibility to antibiotics and their serogroup and serovar distribution. In 2012–2017 13,774 tests of animal products were performed, 105 Salmonella contaminated samples were detected which is 0.76% of the total number of the tested samples. As a result, 31 isolates were recovered. It was established that 22 of them belonged to seven serovars: S. enteritidis, S. infantis, S. nigeria, S. montevideo, S. typhimurium, S. derby, S. meleagridis. S. infantis (38.7%) and S. enteritidis (16.1%) were identifed as the most spread serovars. There was observed a trend of increase in contaminated samples: 1.13% in 2012 upto 2.84% in 2017. The performed tests for antimicrobial resistance demonstrated that all isolates were susceptible to the following antibiotics: carbpenemes (meropenem, imipenem), β-lactams (amoxicillin /clavulanate), aminoglycoside (amikacin, gentamycine), macrolides (azithromycin). Most of the isolates demonstrated susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics (ceftriaxone, cefotaxime), fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin) and aminoglycosides (kanamycin). Resistance at least to one antibiotic was detected in 12.9% (4/31) of isolates. Resistance to at least three antibiotics was detected in 6.5% (2/31) of isolates. 58.1% (18/31) of isolates demonstrated multiple resistance (to four or more antibiotics).

Ofcial data of RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) database on detection of Salmonella spp. in animal and plant raw materials in 2010–2015 are demonstrated. Total of 2,651 notifcations of Salmonella spp. detection were reported by RASFF member countries. The majority of such notifcations are associated with contamination of poultry meat and poultry products, feed, fruits and vegetables. Salmonella can survive in food for a long time (up to 6 months). The cause of salmonellosis in humans mostly involves consumption of raw or insufciently heat-treated eggs, meat and milk products. Regulation (EU) No. 142/2011 prescribes a requirement, which the heat-treated and processed food products shall comply with, i.e. absence of Salmonella in 25 g of the product. Analysis of RASFF data for 2010–2015 demonstrated annual increase of Salmonella spp. detections. The most frequently occurring is Salmonella enterica. Over the above mentioned period there were notifcations of 154 Salmonella serovars, the overwhelming serovars include S. enterica – 32.4%; Salmonella spp. – 18.8%; S. enteritidis – 6.3%; S. typhimurium – 4.6%, S. Agona – 2.6%; S. Lexington – 1.4%. Salmonella spp. were detected in poultry meat (19.5%), in feed for dogs and cats (5.6%), in pork (3.7%), in fshmeal (5.1%). During the period from 2010 to 2014, the increase of Salmonella notifcations in plant feed was reported. Over 2010–2015, RASFF reported of 42 salmonellosis outbreaks that resulted in 1,586 diseased humans.

Functions of many African swine fever virus genes and multigene family members have not been yet understood. In particular, no virus genes directly associated with pig virulence have been identifed. Identifcation of such genes will enable preparation of deletion mutant ASF virus strains as well as development and testing of pilot safe vaccines based on the said virus strains. Comparative analysis of the virus biological characteristics and detection of differences in its genome structure affecting certain phenotypic features is a main method used for the virus basic pathogenicity and immunogenicity examination. The most interesting and effective approach to addressing this problem is an analysis of changes in the gene structure during ASF virus adaptation to replication in continuous cell culture. The said factors have made continuous cell culture-adapted variant ASF virus preparation necessary. Variant viruses with modifed biological features were prepared during adaptation of ASFV Odintsovo 02/14 isolate to replication in CV-1 cell culture. Lethality level was 16.7% when pigs were infected with adapted variant virus at 30th passage and survived animals became resistant to reinfection with homologous virulent ASFV Arm07 isolate. It should be noted that the virus passage in non-permissive cell culture up to 30 serial passages did not result in changes in its genotype; however, a large 3,000 bp deletion similar to that one in continuous Vero-cell culture-adapted BA71V strain genome appeared in right terminal variable region of the genome.

Newcastle disease is an OIE-listed and highly contagious viral avian disease inflicting great economic losses and constituting a serious threat to poultry farms all over the world. The paper provides monitoring research results for Newcastle disease among poultry and wild birds in the Russian Federation for 2017. The tests were carried out with diagnostic kits for Newcastle disease virus antibody detection by immunosorbent assay and HI at the FGBI “ARRIAH” Reference Laboratory for Viral Avian Diseases (Vladimir). Biological material delivered from Rosselkhoznadzor Territorial Administrations was collected from 31 678 domestic and 433 wild and synanthropic birds from 22 and 4 regions of the Russian Federation, respectively. The paper shows different levels of seroprevalence in poultry from industrial poultry establishments of a closed type and backyards and in wild birds of various regions of the Russian Federation. Almost total Newcastle disease seroprevalence was found in adult poultry from industrial closed establishments due to a total vaccination against the disease. Broilers demonstrated a relatively low average Newcastle disease virus seroprevalence because of an insufficient antibody level by the moment of blood sampling (mostly during slaughter). On average, antibodies to Newcastle disease virus were detected in one third of samples from backyard poultry. With that, high seroprevalence was registered on farms of North Caucasian Republics and southern regions of the Russian Federation. Seroprevalence in wild birds was moderate. Thus, the monitoring research indicates an unstable epidemiological situation for Newcastle disease in the Russian Federation and the remaining risk of disease outbreak on industrial and backyard farms.

The paper demonstrates examination results of antigenic properties of Avibacterium paragallinarum reference strain and ten isolates thereof recovered in the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus. Nine isolates and the reference strain demonstrated type L hemagglutinin (thermoliable, trypsin-sensitive, active against fresh and glutaraldehyde-treated RBC). One isolate was marked by type Hl hemagglutinin (thermoliable, trypsin-resistant, active only against glutaraldehydetreated RBC). The reference strain antigen proved to be inagglutinable by homologous antiserum, and unable to agglutinate RBCs due to hyaluronic acid in the capsular substance. Serological and hemagglutination non-reactivity was removed through the cell treatment with hyaluronidase. The agglutination test demonstrated that seven out of ten tested isolates belonged to the same serological group; herewith, the proportion of the bilateral antigenic relatedness amounted to ≥78.4%. HI results demonstrated ≥92.6% antigenic relatedness of the tested isolates being indicative of the fact that they belonged not only to the same serological group but also to the same serotype. No serological relatedness was identifed between the tested isolates and reference strain of serogroup A both using agglutination test (≤23.6%) and HI (≤12.2%). Polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that all the isolates recovered in the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus in 2014-2016 belonged to serogroup B.

The research tasks covered the study of ВНК-21/2-17 cell DNA transformation dynamics during FMDV reproduction process. It was noted that the destruction of major cell population coincided with the increase in apoptotic cell number and detritus amount. Three hours post cell culture infection increase in apoptosis and detritus was observed, G 1-phase decreased by 17–21% and polynuclear cells grew by 2.3 times. In seven hours, the drastic rise in cell death was noted. It was established that at all stages of FMDV culture in ВНК-21/2-17 suspension cell line, diploid cells G1(2n) were predominant, being basic cells for the virus reproduction. Cells in synthetic (S) and G2and M-phases were less susceptible to virus. Using flow cytometry technique made it possible to quantify cell cycle phases during reproduction in FMDV cells. We also succeeded in comparing between these phases, virus livability and virus reproduction dynamics. The study of FMDV cytopathic effect in ВНК-21/2-17 cells demonstrated that one of the optimization trends in culture vaccine production include proliferation inhibitory factor use at a certain cell cycle phase.

Optimization of the technology for preparation of the primary cells suitable for virological studies requires long-term storage of internal organs and tissues. Results of tests of organs stored at subnormal temperatures under laboratory conditions for the purpose of further preparation of complete monolayer of primary cells for their preservation are presented. Method for 6-day storage of kidneys aseptically taken from 3–5 month-old piglets was proposed. Serum-free medium 199 supplemented with 100 U/ml of penicillin, 100 µg/ml of streptomycin, 100 U/ml of gentamycin was used as a stabilizing substance. The organ was placed in a wide-neck vessel at medium/air phase ratio of 1:1 and the vessel was covered by a Petri dish to optimize medium chemical homeostasis and stored at temperature of –1 to +4 °C up to 6 days avoiding medium and organ crystallization. It was concluded that any freezing with crystallization and without cryoprotector (of –2 to –4 °С) had a negative effect on cell and organ tissue survivability. Trypsinization and complete monolayer preparation were carried out upon the kidney storage period completion. All variants of prepared cell materials used for virological studies were suitable for testing semi-preparations for their avirulence as well as for virus neutralization tests and foot-and-mouth disease virus isolation. Proposed method for porcine kidney storage allows more effective use of donor organs for primary culture preparation for virological studies. This method of organ storage could be recommended for preservation and transportation of organs derived from domestic and wild animals under feld conditions.

Anthrax is a widespread disease. Epizootic outbreaks are constantly registered worldwide. Obligatory lethality of the disease, the causative agent of which leads a parasitic mode of life, makes it possible to consider mortality as the main sign of anthrax epizootic process in animals. The paper describes susceptibility of animals to anthrax under natural conditions. The paper presents literature data on the participation of animals of different species and groups in the epizootic process, and the author’s own results of analysis of the recent situation. The susceptibility of animal species to anthrax depends not only on the dose, but also on the form (vegetative or spore) of the anthrax bacterium, the mode of infection, and the site of introduction of the pathogen into the organism. Anthrax affects mammals of 19 species: mostly cattle, which are intermediate hosts and hosts in the global parasitoid system; sheep and goats, horses, pigs, many species of wild ruminants and herbivorous, mostly deer, gazelles, bisons, hippopotamuses and even elephants, as well as Carnivora. Herbivorous endemic animals play the main role in maintenance of natural (soil) foci of anthrax and provide infectious cycles and regular recontamination of the soil – the only reservoir of infection. Such multipathogenicity demonstrates the predominant host range of local parasitoid systems – cattle and small ruminants in the areas of pasture, distant-pasture, free-range cattle rearing (Africa, Asia, Australia), wild herbivores in Africa and the south of the USA, bisons in Canada, deer in the north of the Russian Federation. Infection of Equidae and particularly predators has a sporadic, dead-end character. It occurs relatively seldom and does not play any signifcant role in anthrax epizootology and epidemiology.

The paper presents the analysis results of basic quantitative characteristics of national veterinary service human resources as at 2017. The analysis was made both in general for the subject veterinary services and for their separate organizational levels: regional, local, laboratory as well as for the units, involved into the state veterinary surveillance on the regional level. The data about available number of veterinarians and stafng levels of veterinary institutions in the territorial subjects are discussed. These data suggest that the number of veterinarians correlates with the human and animal populations, as well as with the number of municipal entities and the volumes of livestock products manufactured. Notwithstanding the diverse peculiarities of the RF regions, the majority of them suffer from an actual defcit of veterinarians in the local and laboratory institutions. As of 2017, the average age of veterinarians in the RF is 40–45. The analysis of the RF average salaries showed that veterinarians of local and laboratory levels earn about 24 thousand rubles per month, which is 30% lower than the average level in Russia and almost twice lower than the salaries of regional veterinarians and ofcial veterinary inspectors. The study results are also indicative of a sufciently high number (about 72%) of veterinarians with a higher vocational education in RF Subject institutions, but at the same time not all of them are covered by advanced training programs.

Data on the specifcity of the development of post-vaccination immunity against parvovirus enteritis agent in dogs are summarized and analyzed in the review. The publications were searched for using the following bibliographical and reference databases: Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI), Scopus, Web of Science, Agris, PubMed, as well as Google Scholar search system and the electronic library of theses of the Russian State Library (RSL). Triple vaccination of puppies was found to be the most effective, therewith the puppies shall be last vaccinated at the age of 16-weeks or older. Where necessary, vaccination of 4-week-old puppies and pregnant dogs is allowed. After immunization, the rates of increase in anti-canine parvovirus enteritis antibody titre do not depend on the sex of dogs or vaccine type but can vary depending on age, body weight and the presence of maternal antibodies. The titres of maternal antibodies against canine parvovirus type 2 in newborn puppies demonstrate broad individual invariance. The use of immunomodulators as adjuvants in vaccine composition is proved to be effective to maintain the high titre of antibodies against canine parvovirus type 2 in the post-vaccination period, and the modern DNA-vaccine is a reasonable alternative to conventional vaccination. The probability of adverse reactions resulting from the administration of a combined vaccine containing canine parvovirus enteritis agent antigen is 3.8%; the predisposing risk factors are the following: neutering, low body weight and the age of less than 9 months old. Contemporary vaccines based on NL-35-D CPV-2 strain confer the full protection from other virulent strains of canine parvovirus type 2.