Animal vesicular diseases are rather widespread in the world. Transboundary vesicular diseases are mainly registered in African and Asian countries. They primarily include foot and mouth disease, sheep and goat pox, peste des petits ruminants, lumpy skin disease, swine vesicular disease, vesicular stomatitis, as well as relatively new Seneca Valley virus infection. The transboundary spread of vesicular diseases is mainly caused by legal and illegal movements of animals, animal products, feeds, live vaccines; migration of wild animals across the borders from neighboring countries and passive mechanical transmission of infection. The risk of vesicular disease agent introduction with legal import of live animals into the territory of the Russian Federation is minimal. Most likely, the causative agent can be introduced when livestock products are illegally imported from the following countries: China, Turkey, India, Mongolia, Iran, Kazakhstan, etc. Violations of foreign trade regulations pose a direct threat to the epidemic situation and economic security of Russia. There is a possibility of the introduction of vesicular agents with animal feed imports into the country since some viruses can potentially survive for a long time in some ingredients. Taking into account the fact that some neighboring countries are infected with vesicular diseases, the threat of infection introduction into Russia through migration of wild animals along the North Caucasian, Central Asian and Far Eastern routes still remains.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a serious threat to the global cattle farming, including that in the Russian Federation where the frst outbreak was reported in 2015. Since the disease occurred for the frst time, it has continued to spread in this country; however, virus transmission mechanisms have not yet been studied. Transmission through insect bites is considered to be the most likely mechanism of virus shortrange transmission. At present, such arthropod species as stable fly (Stomoxys сalcitrans), Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, as well as Amblyomma hebraeum and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks are regarded as potential vectors. Viral DNA has also been detected on the exoskeletons of house flies (Musca domestica). The available literature describes the results of many studies on the role of arthropods in LSD virus spread, but the data presented are inconsistent and do not provide an unambiguous answer concerning the level of signifcance of potential LSD virus vectors in the progression of the feld epizootic. These papers investigate the ability of gadflies, flies and ticks to act as mechanical vectors. Currently, there is no unequivocal viewpoint with respect to the proved LSD vector. This paper reviews the entomological papers aimed at studying possible LSD virus transmission by arthropods.

FMDV can be shed with milk of infected animals and infect susceptible animals. The possibility of using real-time qRT-PCR for FMD virus detection in cattle milk was assessed. To prepare samples of FMDV infected milk the following strains were used: А No. 2177/ Amursky/2013, О No. 2123/South Ossetia/2011, Asia-1 No. 1987/Amursky/2005, С No. 564, SAT-1 No. 2033/Botswana, SAT-2/Saudi Arabia, SAT-3/Bech 1/65. For specifcity test swine vesicular disease O-72 strain, Vesicular Exanthema of Swine A-48 strain and vesicular stomatitis virus Indiana strain from FGBI “ARRIAH” collection were used. The obtained data showed that real time qRT-PCR can be successfully used for the virus detection in milk of infected cows as well as in epithelium and cell cultures. Analytical sensitivity of real-time qRT-PCR in milk samples is 1–10 TCD50/ml, the method specifcity is 100%. When identifying basic validation characteristics of the method it was proven that real-time qRT-PCR demonstrates precision and sensitivity and can detect FMDV in its genetic diversity. So, the detected data showed that the real-time qRT-PCR is a precious method of milk and dairy product control.

Milk is a natural food product that is unique in its nutritive value and signifcance for human organism. Its composition is balanced in major biochemical components as well as mineral components including calcium. Calcium is essential for many metabolic processes and is contained in milk in easily digestible and phosphorus-balanced form. Therefore, decrease in its content in milk creates prerequisites for insufcient meeting the body need in the said microelement and has an effect on human metabolism especially in children. Results of laboratory testing of 400 milk samples collected from clinically healthy Holstein and Black and White Spotted cows kept on 40 farms located in the Moscow Oblast in 2001–2017 are presented. The raw milk was examined for the following quality indicators: sensory, physical and chemical as well as microbiological parameters. It was found that calcium concentration in milk depended on the season. It was shown that the majority of tested milk samples did not comply with the veterinary and sanitary quality parameters despite of the tendency to increase in analyzed parameter content in autumn. The monitoring showed recent decrease in calcium content of cow milk and dairy products intended for infant food. Average calcium content of raw milk was found to be 900–950 mg; it varied from 700 up to 1,100 mg of calcium/litre of milk. Further testing scheme based on analysis of such factors as pure protein, diet, biologically active dietary supplements is proposed. Such testing will allow comprehensive assessment of exogenous factors influencing calcium content of milk as well as harmonization of Russian requirements for food quality and safety assessment with the European ones.

The paper presents the results of monitoring tests performed in the FGBI “ARRIAH” Branch in 2018 to detect AIV circulation in the Republic of Crimea. As AIVs are most frequently detected in aquatic and semiaquatic birds wild waterfowl present the greatest threat of the disease introduction and spread. That’s why the paper gives special attention to the Azov Sea and Sivash water area and describes natural biotopes of the Central and Eastern Sivash. During expeditions biological material samples were collected, bird species were identified and bird fauna was estimated in waterfowl aggregation sites. Laboratory PCR tests of the biological material collected during the expedition as well from killed birds and poultry revealed no AIV type A. As the number of wildfowl in the their usual aggregation sites decreased due to the fact that fresh water supply through the North-Crimean Canal ceased it can be assumed that the Crimean peninsula will manage to maintain HPAI freedom despite the fact that the disease is being reported close to the peninsula. Nevertheless, the threat of the virus introduction to the commercial and backyard farm stocks still exists as the peninsula is located in the bird migration routes and AI epidemical monitoring is a topical task.

One of the topical veterinary problems is infestation of domesticated chickens with ectoparasites. Permanent and temporary ectoparasites are vectors and reservoirs of more than 100 poultry infectious disease agents; they cause outbreaks of contagious diseases, thus decreasing performance and increasing economic losses. The results of ectoparasite fauna study in domesticated chickens in private backyards of the Krasnodar Krai are given. The research was carried out in 2017–2018 in 600 chickens of different breeds and ages in four settlements: Gorkhutor (250 chickens), Industrialny (150), Yuzhny (100) and Svyazist (100). The results of the analysis demonstrated that chickens were infested with the following ectoparasite species: shaft louse Menopon gallinae with the highest invasion extensity of 100% and average invasion intensity of 18.6 parasites; poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae (55.7%) with average invasion intensity of 12.5 parasites; two species of scaly leg mites – Knemidocoptes mutans (17.7%) with average invasion intensity of 39.4 parasites; and Knemidocoptes gallinae (17.7%) with average invasion intensity of 35 parasites. Seasonal dynamics of fowl infestation with ectoparasites showed that shaft louse Menopon gallinae was found in spring, summer and autumn on all farms. Mites Dermanyssus gallinae were found more often in spring with maximum invasion extensity of 74.4%. The prevalence of scaly leg mites Knemidocoptes mutans and Knemidocoptes gallinae was as high as 76%. The results of the tests indicate that infestation of domesticated chickens with different species of ectoparasitres can be linked with bad hygiene practice and free access system, creating favourable and stable environment for them. That is why it is necessary to use scientifcally justifed control measures, involving modern insecticides and tools.

Procedure for validation of the method for indirect assessment of cultural FMD virus titre (T FMDV) in raw materials used for vaccine production with real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCRrt) based on determined amplifcation threshold cycle value (Ct) using linear regression model, TFMDV= –0.2956Ct+ 11.4650, is described in the paper. Testing results for 390 samples of cultural FMD virus were analyzed and basic validation characteristics of the proposed method: specifcity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection and limit of quantifcation, application scope and linearity, were defned. Validation results for the method for indirect assessment of FMD virus titre with RT-PCRrt met the acceptance criteria.

The use of high quality nutrient media comprising protein hydrolysates as the main components for maintaining their nutrient value is a critical prerequisite for appropriate fnal product preparation in FMD vaccine biotechnology. The incoming control of raw materials, in particular testing blood protein hydrolysates of different batches for their quality, is of considerable importance. Currently, there are different methods for the determination of hydrolysate efcacy using cell cultures and unicellular organisms as test systems. We used suspended baby hamster kidney (ВНК-21) cell line as a model for testing blood protein hydrolysates in the raw materials intended for FMD vaccine production for their biological activity and toxicity. The validation of the proposed method was carried out to confrm the reliability of the test results obtained. The following main validation characteristics were determined through testing 560 blood protein hydrolysate samples: trueness, specifcity, sensitivity, as well as precision under repeatability and reproducibility conditions. The validation results for the proposed method demonstrated high reliability (Fisher’s criterion – 0.021; ≤0.050) and full compliance with acceptance criteria.

A decrease in therapeutic effect of some live lacto- and bifdobacteria-based drugs for veterinary use has been observed for the last 20 years that urges scientists to search for new microorganisms possessing probiotic properties. Many studies in this feld are focused on Bacillus subtilis that is widespread in the environment and non-pathogenic for animals and humans. Results of tests of Bacillus subtilis for its biological properties and antagonistic activity aimed at optimization of methodical approaches for detection of strain with the highest antagonistic effect on some opportunistic microorganisms and their further use as probiotics are described. Cultural morphological and biochemical characteristics of the tested strains conformed to the species characteristics of Bacillus subtilis. Tested strains were nonpathogenic for white mice. Tests showed that spore biomass could be prepared both in liquid and on solid nutrient media. Methodically, spore biomass preparation in liquid nutrient medium is preferable. The tests showed that spores emerged from anabiosis non-uniformly and it depended on original seed spore storage period. Spore cultures stored less than one year emerged from anabiosis more quickly. It was found that the spores formed more readily when the cultures were aerated with oxygen as well as that lag-phase culture medium had a stimulating effect on Bacillus subtilis spore germination. Bacillus subtilis strains were found to have antagonistic effect on Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus. Area of growth inhibition of the said bacteria was 15–20 mm. Tested Bacillus subtilis strains could be proposed for use as probiotics.

The paper deals with the assessment of the implied associations between the epizootic and epidemic components of the veterinary anthrax epidemiology of animals and humans, as well as with the epidemic risk factors. Analysis of the statistical data for 2007–2017, available in ProMED international database, demonstrated that African, Asian and Near Eastern regions are permanently infected with human anthrax at the incidence rate of 1.0. The disease is very rarely reported in Europe, and it is exotic in the USA and South America. During the study period, the overall incidence amounted to over 3,700 humans: at an average of 340 humans annually ranging from min 81 to max 856. Total mortality amounted to 234 humans with average annual mortality of 21 humans ranging from min 6 to max 58, average annual lethality (patients’ mortality %) – 9.8 ranging from min 3.3 to max 39.5. For the assessment of the genuine interrelation of the incidence in humans and mortality in animals, we compared the statistic samples of the annual infection incidence in a number of the most epidemically and epizootically affected African, Asian and Near Eastern countries as the basic features of the epidemic and epizootic components of the veterinary anthrax epidemiology. The analysis demonstrated no statistical relation between the reported disease incidence in animals and humans. Substantial share of the disease incidence in humans is accounted for unidentifed sources of the infection. Consumption of infected products from domestic (up to 70%) and wild animals prevails among the trivial risk factors of zoonogenous infection in humans, while consumption of meat from domestic animals and contacts with diseased animals prevail among the lethality risk factors. The obtained results are indicative of multiple unidentifed aspects of veterinary anthrax epidemiology.