In spite of current foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) preventive measures, the disease outbreaks are annually reported in different countries of the world. FMD tends to extensive spread and growing into epidemics. While being a transboundary infection according to the OIE/FAO classification, FMD severely affects the economy and international trade. The paper describes the analysis of the data on global spread of Type Asia-1 virus-induced FMD in 1999–2019. The virus of this type is most often reported in such Asian countries as Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Iran, Myanmar, from where it can spread to FMD free countries. In China, Asia-1 FMD outbreaks were reported from 2001 to 2009. Previously exotic for our country, the virus of this type was first reported in the Primorsky, Khabarovsk, Zabaikalsky Krais and Amur Oblast in 2005–2006. The results of the phylogenetic analysis of the recovered isolates demonstrated that FMD emergence in the Subjects of the Russian Federation was attributed to the virus introduction from the neighboring territories. Possible virus introduction from China resulted in significant economic expenditures on FMD containment and eradication. In view of the close trade and economic relations between the Russian Federation and such Asia-Pacific countries as China, India, Japan and Republic of Korea, one should place greater focus on the risk of FMDV introduction into the Russian Federation from these countries. Of key importance is intensification of the international cooperation with the Asian countries in the area of joint activities aimed at FMD freedom maintenance.

One of the raw milk quality criteria is the count of somatic cells, produced by the cow’s immune system to fight infectious diseases of the mammary gland. The paper presents the analysis of somatic cell count and total bacteria count of milk from cows, vaccinated against mastitis using Startvac vaccine. Tests were performed as a comparison between a dairy unit and a farm under different management conditions and using different milking techniques. Six months after the start of the vaccine application the somatic cell count at the dairy unit decreased by 60 thousand/ml, at the farm by 182 thousand/ml. The agent profile was represented by the following bacteria: Entеrococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Entеrococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Bacillus, Lactobacillus were also isolated from udder secretion. After a year of immunization somatic cell count both at the unit and on the farm decreased by 245 and 216 thousand/ml respectively; it is noteworthy that 43.75% of microflora isolated from mammary gland secretion was represented by Streptococcus spp. After two years of the vaccine use the somatic cell count was equal to 371 and 725 thousand/ml at the unit and on the farm respectively. Tests of mammary gland secretions revealed Streptococcus spp. in 27.27% of cases, Staphylococcus aureus and Entеrococcus faecium were isolated in 18.18% of tested samples. It was established that after three years of the vaccine use the major cause of mastitis in cows was Streptococcus spp. (55.00%). During four years of tests, a downward trend in somatic cell count of bulk milk from high producing dairy cows as well as in the number of agents responsible for inflammation in a mammary gland was detected. Somatic cell count of milk from vaccinated animals decreased by 286 and 432 thousand/ml at the unit and on the farm respectively. During the test period Staphylococcus aureus isolation rate declined by 19.41%.

Detection of animals with non-specific reactions to tuberculin is one of the major problems in bovine tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis. There is a need to find and improve methods for detection of the sensitization causes. This paper presents the results of comparative studies of different ways to stabilize red blood cells in order to obtain diagnosticums for indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test. The article describes the stages of red blood cells stabilization and sensitization and demonstrates the diagnostic significance of Fili stabilization method using formaldehyde as a fixative. The highest antibody titers (1:3000 and 1:4000) were received in hyperimmune sera of rabbits immunized with Mycobacterium bovis using a homologous diagnosticum. Practical importance of the sensitins homologous to the infection is shown during testing of 1,911 serum samples collected from animals of different categories (diseased; healthy and reacting to tuberculin; healthy and not reacting to tuberculin) with IHA test using diagnosticums produced from Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium fortuitum. Based on the positive results of the IHA test, TB was diagnosed in 87.5% of animals originating from an infected farm during post-mortem examination. The results of the IHA test agreed with those of the intradermal tuberculin test in 37.7% of cases. Diagnostic antibody titers were found in 206 TB infected animals with no reaction to the intradermal test. However, the post-mortem examination revealed TB changes in internal organs. The obtained data suggest a possibility to use the IHA test to detect TB infected animals with non-specific reactions to tuberculin.

Currently, the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer in pigs remains largely unexplored. The origin of this pathology is most often associated with the type and the technologies of feeding, stresses and disorders of homeostasis of the animal body. The possible involvement of bacteria of the genus Helicobacter in the development of chronic gastritis and gastric ulcer disease in pigs was suggested by the researchers relatively recently. The article comprises the results of investigations aimed at detection of Helicobacter suis bacteria and the contamination degree of porcine gastric mucosa in pigs of different age groups. The stomachs, obtained from suckling pigs, fattening pigs and sows in the slaughterhouse of the Mari El Republic, were examined. The study determined the dependence of pathomorphological changes in the gastric mucosa of pigs on the detection of H. suis in microscopic and biochemical tests as well as in PCR. Thus, no pathomorphological changes in the gastric mucosa of suckling pigs were detected. Severe hyperkeratosis, erosions, and ulcers were found on the stomach mucosa of fattening pigs and sows that were infected with H. suis bacteria. Sows also had ulcerative lesions in the non-glandular region of esophagus. In the biomaterial of suckling piglets the DNA of H. suis bacteria was found only in the pyloric region of the stomach, while in fattening pigs, the DNA of these bacteria was most often isolated from the fundal region, and in sows – from the fundal and cardial regions. This indicates a shift in colonization by helicobacters of the mucous membrane of the stomach from the pyloric to the cardiac sectionincreased with animal age. The obtained research data provide the additional evidence of the etiological role of H. suis in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer in pigs.

The article presents results of efficacy studies for a complex plant-based preparation for poultry mycotoxicosis. Feed additive fibralin contains polysaccharides (dried sugar beet pulp) and phospholipids (rapeseed lecithin) in the proportion 4:1. Eighteen-day-old “Ross-308” broiler chickens with average weight of (665.10 ± 4.28) g were tested, since such mycotoxins as T-2 toxin, zearalenone and aflatoxin B1 were detected in their feeds. Maximum admissible level of each toxin was not exceeded, however, their cumulative effect on poultry resulted in mycotoxicosis. Use of fibralin in the feed (3 kg per one ton) for 10 days reduced clinical signs of intoxication, increased flock survival by 13.5% and stimulated body weight gain by 15.8%. Pharmacological effect of fibralin was demonstrated by improvement of blood morphobiochemical parameters in poultry, i.e. reduction of leukocytes by 19.3% and cholesterol by 13.6%; and an increase in the number of erythrocytes by 19.4%, hemoglobin by 8.1% and calcium by 9.5%. Antitoxin therapy had a positive effect on liver structure and functions and that fact was confirmed by a decrease in aminotransferase level in serum and normal levels of total protein. The data obtained may justify the use of this natural bio-preparation as a product with antitoxic and hepatoprotective properties and the use of fibralin for mycotoxicosis treatment of poultry.

It is an urgent task today to seek and implement nature-like technologies in broiler production and obtain biologically complete and safe poultry products, thus refusing from antibiotic use in feed. Feed additives based on natural components can be an effective tool for implementation of preventive and therapeutic veterinary measures. The paper presents research study results of application of betulin-based phytobiotics in broiler farming. The tests were carried out on Ross-308 cross-breed broiler chickens within the production cycle at one of the poultry farms of the Sverdlovsk Oblast. Birds of the experimental group received compound feed supplemented with dry betulin at 2.5 mg/kg of live weight from day 21 to day 35 of growing. The introduction of betulin-based feed additive into the diet contributed to increase in live weight gain and 7.6% pectoralis muscle output as compared with the control group. It was established that the phytobiotic consumption resulted in reduced deposition of subcutaneous and abdominal fat, higher biological value of meat by increasing the ash content, improved technological properties of meat due to increasing water-holding capacity of muscle fiber and intensity of formation and maturation of muscle fiber. Histological studies of pancreatic tissue samples from broiler chickens showed increase in the mass of islets of Langerhans and insulin-producing cell complexes. The pancreas was activated due to effects of the betulin-based feed additive. The results obtained indicate that the use of betulin in broiler production is a promising trend.

Parvovirus enteritis is one of canine dangerous diseases which poses a particular concern for practitioners and dog owners around the world. Parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) can affect dogs at any age, but puppies between 6 weeks and 6 months old are most susceptible to infection. One of the main biological properties of parvovirus is its continuous genetic evolution, which led to the replacement of the original virus type by new antigenic variants – CPV-2a, CPV-2b and CPV-2c. According to the literature data, all three variants of the virus are currently circulating in the domestic dog population worldwide. The paper presents analysis of the epidemic situation and seasonal occurrence of canine parvovirus enteritis in certain regions of the Russian Federation in 2017–2019. It was shown that parvovirus enteritis was ranked first among the registered infectious diseases of dogs and accounted for 37% during the study period. It has been established that the disease is registered all year round, but the frequency of disease cases depends on the season. Canine parvovirus infection mainly occurs in spring, late autumn and early winter, which is probably associated with changes in daily temperature during these periods and decreased animal resistance. Despite extensive vaccination, the main reason for the wide spread of the virus is either interference with maternal antibodies in vaccinated puppies or low level of immune protection in adult dogs.

Animal mycotoxicoses caused by ingestion of toxicogenic micromycete-contaminated feed are of major concern for agricultural industry and of great importance for production of agricultural products. In 2017–2019, feed and raw feed materials produced in the Republic of Crimea were tested for mold fungi and genera composition thereof; the feedstuffs were tested for total toxicity by bioassay in rabbits. A total of 252 samples including 124 grain feed samples, 70 forage samples, 58 mixed feed samples were selected for testing. Tests showed that the major detected contaminants were members of the following genera: Mucor (67.9%), Penicillium (26.6%), Aspergillus (13.1%), Fusarium (9.1%), Alternaria (8.7%), Stachybotrys (3.6%) and Rhizopus (2.0%). It was revealed that feed were exposed to mold fungi contamination during vegetation and harvesting as well as during transportation and storage. Thus, in spring the feed were more often contaminated with micromycetes of Penicillium genus (37.8%) and Stachybotrys genus (6.7%); feed collected and tested in autumn were more often contaminated with toxicogenic mold fungi of Fusarium genus (14.9%), Alternaria genus (13.9%) and Rhizopus genus (3.0%); in winter members of Mucor genus (78.0%) and Aspergillus genus (22.0%) were most often detected in feed. Tests for determination of total toxicity showed that 9 (7.3%) and 10 (8.1%) samples out of 124 tested grain feed samples were low toxic and evidently toxic, respectively. Tests of mixed feed samples for toxicity showed that 5 samples (8.6%) and 2 (3.4%) samples out of 58 mixed feed samples were low toxic and evidently toxic, respectively. It was shown that the proportion of contaminated feed was the highest in spring (25.0%) as compared to proportion of the contaminated feed in winter (18.2%), in autumn (13.7%) and in summer (4.5%).

Preparation of immortalized cell lines obtained from organs and tissues of farm animals is an essential area of biotechnology. The paper presents results of continuous (immortalized) cell line preparation from a primary trypsinized cell culture of an adult rabbit kidney. Cytomorphologic analysis and karyotyping were performed during the process of subcultivation in the cell culture at passages 1, 3, 24, 31, 38, 56, 66, 75, 86, 101. Dynamics of spontaneous continuous cell line formation during long-term serial passaging was examined using standard nutrient media and fetal serum. Contrary to the known cell lines of rabbit origin (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.), immortalization was not accompanied with enhanced cell production and cell size reduction. The prepared continuous cell line in its adhesive phase was up to 200 µm in size and its productivity was about 7,000 cells/cm2. Significant differences (compared to the known cell lines) in the karyotype were detected during passaging. The formed genotype was found to be near-tetrapioid when the CCL cultural properties were stabilized at passages 66–101. The known cell lines – rabbit kidney (RK-13) and rabbit cornea (SIRC) – can be characterized as pseudotriploid basing on their karyotype. This culture demonstrated low sensitivity to viruses – causative agents of rabbit diseases and sensitivity to heterologous porcine and bovine viruses.

During FMD vaccine production, special attention is paid to the concentration of 146S particles bearing the critical biological features of FMDV and being the main components that have an effect on vaccine immunogenicity. For this reason, each batch of vaccine raw material is tested for 146S component concentration. The paper presents the results of the use of a spectrometric method for whole particle concentration determination during quantification of FMDV RNA extracted after immune capture. It is an inexpensive, easy-to-perform method allowing for determination of FMDV 146S particle concentration in the non-inactivated culture suspension. 146S particle concentration was found to depend on the number of RNA molecules extracted from virions after their strain-specific immune capture and quantitatively detected by the spectrometric method. The presented method allows for determination of 146S component concentration in the non-inactivated vaccine raw material using the proposed linear model. The spectrometric method showed 94.5–99.5% correlation with real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and complement fixation test based on the results of tests of 360 non-inactivated suspensions of FMDV of all types. Tests of the positive control demonstrated 99.0–99.6% compatibility of actual and expected results. FMDV genome and 146S particles were not detected in the negative control, and that was in line with expectations.

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of Afyokarahisar termomineral water in the treatment of nephritis. For this purpose, 40 Albino mouse at the same daily age were used. Nephritis was induced by adding adenine to their feed at a rate of 0.2% for 6 weeks. After nephritis was induced, a 21-day treatment period was started, and the mice were equally divided into two groups as control and study. While control group mice were received tap water daily and bathing in tap water, study group animals were given fresh Süreyya I hot spring water daily and bathing in this water. Clinical, hematological, blood biochemical and histopathological examinations were performed before the study, after nephritis formation, and on days of 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st of treatment period. Results of this study showed that WBC, NEUT and MCV levels increased significantly (p < 0.05) following nephritis formation, while RBC, HB, HCT, LYM, MCH and MCHC levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05). It was also determined that AST, GGT, GLU, BUN and IgG levels of blood biochemical parameters were significantly increased (p < 0.05) and TP, ALB levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after nephritis formation. At the end of the study, it was seen that all the measured parameters turned to the normal range in the study group animals, whereas problems still continuing with control group animals. Consequently, it was concluded that Süreyya I hot spring water was very successful in the treatment of nephritis and considered as an option in the treatment of nephritis.