When the All-Union Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Institute was founded in 1958, an active search for relevant specialists and researchers was organized with a view to recruiting them as staff members. In the early days of its establishment, the All-Union Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Institute was mainly stuffed with the graduates of the Moscow Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K. I. Skryabin and the Kharkov, Leningrad, Vitebsk Institutes of Veterinary Medicine. Later they were joined by the graduates of the University of Gorky, the Kazan and Ivanovo Institutes of Veterinary Medicine, the Vladimir Pedagogical Institute and many others. In 1963, the All-Union Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Institute began to train research workers through postgraduate training programmes and thesis-based programmes. The leading scientists of the Institute were authorized by a decision of the Higher Attestation Commission of the USSR to provide academic supervision to postgraduate students. A specialized council for thesis defense started its activities in regard to Candidate of Science thesis defense in 1976 and in regard to Doctor of Science thesis defense – in 1996. The specialized council for Candidate of Science thesis defense comprised Candidates and Doctors of Sciences, staff members of the All-Union Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Institute, as well as Doctors of Sciences from the All-Russian Research Institute of Veterinary Virology and Microbiology (VNIIVViM) (N. I. Arkhipov, I. F. Vishnyakov, V. M. Kolosov, N. A. Lagutkin, Yu. I. Petrov, G. A. Safonov, G. G. Yurkov). In 1996, the specialized council for Candidate of Science thesis defense was enlarged, and the following reputable scientists were invited to participate in its activities as its members: two Doctors of Sciences from the VNIIVViM (Ye. M. Khripunov, M. A. Dymin), four staff members of the VGNKI (K. N. Gruzdev, A. N. Panin, V. I. Ulasov, K. V. Shumilov), the staff members of the Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation (O. I. Sukharev) and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (V. V. Makarov). The paper provides brief information on the training of scientific personnel for research and production laboratories of the institution, postgraduate school activities, thesis-based programmes, the council for Doctor of Science and Candidate of Science thesis defense.

The main trend in the development of dairy farming in the Russian Federation suggests maximising milk yield and reducing milk net cost. The economic effectiveness of industrial dairy farming is largely determined by adequate feeding, as well as effective system of measures to ensure animal health and prevent infectious and non-infectious mass diseases. The main reason for the premature retirement of highly productive cows is based on the factors typical of the intensive technologies used in dairy cattle breeding, which lead to the occurrence of metabolic diseases. It is established that the intensity of metabolism is directly linked to the high productivity of cows. With a highly concentrated, mainly silage-based type of feeding, an imbalance of nutrients is often recorded, in particular as regards the sugar/ protein ratio, leading to deep metabolic disorders and the development of immunodeficiency states. Metabolic disorders in highly productive cows occur as a result of unbalanced diets as far as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals are concerned. Acidosis, ruminitis and hepatosis are recorded in disordered cows and heifers. The service period exceeds 100 days in 70–75% of cows. Hepatosis and immunodeficiency states are often found in calves born to cows with signs of deep metabolic disorders. Metabolic disorders often remain unnoticed and become apparent only when pronounced pathological changes occur resulting in decreased productivity and ability to reproduce resistant young animals, as well as culling of animals. Metabolic diseases were recorded in 30–70% of cows examined in large dairy farms. The average lifetime productivity of high-yielding cows is (2.1 ± 0.15) lactations in Russia. The results of epidemiological investigations and laboratory testing of sera samples showed that emulsion inactivated vaccines administered to immunodeficient cattle induce higher titres of virus-specific antibodies than those in animals vaccinated with adsorbed vaccines. 

According to current concepts, ruminal and metabolic acidosis occur due to feeding cattle mainly with preserved acidic feeds such as silage and haylage. However, errors in feeding are not the only etiological factor leading to acidosis. In some cases, metabolic acidosis in cattle can develop along with respiratory infection caused by viral and bacterial agents. The main pathological processes resulting from acute respiratory diseases of cattle are bronchitises, tracheites and pneumonias. When the respiratory tract is affected in cattle, hypoxia occurs, causing intoxication and, thus, leading to ruminal acidosis. As a result, vasoactive substances (bacterial endotoxins, histamine, lactate) enter the bloodstream, the vascular endothelium is damaged due to the simultaneous expansion of arterioles and compression of venules, blood fluid is perfused from the vessels into the surrounding tissues, the blood flow in the microcirculatory bed is disrupted. An important role in the disturbance of blood circulation in small blood vessels is played by circulating immune complexes representing the «antigen-antibody» complex. Low molecular weight circulating immune complexes settle in various organs and tissues of the body, lead to inflammation and damage the normal tissue structure. Most frequently, immune complexes affect the endothelium of blood vessels, renal glomeruli and joints. Distal limb vessels are primarily affected in cattle, leading to disturbance of skin trophism of the limbs and hooves, development of laminitis, while the hoof horn is weakly keratinized and cannot resist aggressive mechanical and chemical environmental factors. Damaged hooves are the gateway of infection for the agents of necrobacteriosis (Fusobacterium necrophorum), staphylococcosis (Staphylococcus spp.), streptococcosis (Streptococcus spp.) and other pathogens. In addition, favorable conditions evolve for the development of mixed infection due to reduction in the overall organism resistance, which is observed for both respiratory and distal limb infections.

Specific prevention is one of the most effective methods for the control of infectious diseases causing considerable economic damage to commercial pig farms, among which is porcine pleuropneumonia. In order to improve the effectiveness of preventive vaccination, various immunomodulators that differ in their origin and mechanism of action are used. The paper presents the results of the study of the effect of such products as biferon-S and prostimul containing species-specific recombinant interferons on the immune status of piglets during specific prevention of porcine pleuropneumonia. Tests were carried out in clinically healthy 30–35-day-old piglets immunized with Ingelvac^® APPX vaccine (Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, Germany). It was found that the use of biferon-S and prostimul together with the vaccine administration is accompanied by immune status improvement in the animals, which is manifested as an increase, in comparison with vaccinated animals that received no interferon-containing products (base case), in serum levels of γ-globulins – by 34.6 and 53.7% (in case of prostimul and β-globulins – by 10.1%), total immunoglobulins – by 32.8 and 37.8%, large circulating immune complexes – by 37.5 and 52.6%, a less significant increase in the levels of small complexes and, as a result, pathogenicity coefficient reduction by 5.4 and 12.4%, respectively. Tests for post-vaccination immunity levels in piglets showed a 3.8-fold increase in the levels of specific antibodies against the antigen of porcine pleuropneumonia agent, and in case of the vaccine administration in combination with biferon-S and prostimul – a 4.0-fold and 4.9-fold increase, respectively. The use of prostimul was accompanied by a more considerable improvement of immune status in the piglets, and this is attributable to the fact that vitamins А, Е and С, which have antioxidant properties and improve the effectiveness of interferons, natural resistance and specific immunity, are included in its composition in addition to recombinant type 1 cytokine.

Swine vesicular disease (SVD) is a viral infectious disease, which, if acute, is manifested by the clinical pattern similar to a number of vesicular diseases including foot-and-mouth disease. In case of subclinical disease, there are no evident clinical signs, therefore the diagnosis is problematic, and there can be the risk of the disease introduction into the Russian Federation with the infected pigs. The key measure for the prevention of SVD introduction involves control diagnostic testing of all animals imported in the country that makes it necessary to keep updated the currently used methods and tools for the disease laboratory diagnosis. The paper demonstrates data on experimental infection of pigs with SVDV strain 2348 Italy/2008 that belongs to the most recent one of the four known phylogenetic groups. The virus was kindly provided by the World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Pirbright, Great Britain), and it was adapted to the monolayer continuous cell cultures of porcine origin (IB-RS-2 and PGSK-30). The pigs were intradermally infected with concentrated cultured virus at a dose of 109 TCID50. The infected animals demonstrated clinical signs typical for the acute disease. There was evidence that the virus was not transmitted to the intact animal in case husbandry conditions were met that allowed to avoid the infection transmission by the fecal-oral and contact mechanisms. As a result of the experiment, reference sera were collected at different time intervals post infection and their activity was determined using virus microneutralization test in cell culture and ELISA. Aphthae collected from the infected animals were deposited into the Strain collection of the Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease, FGBI “ARRIAH”.

The paper presents comparative test results of 12 domestically produced diagnostic kits/PCR test systems for DNA detection of the African swine fever virus with regard to the following parameters: completeness and correctness of instructions for use; labeling and package contents; convenience of using the kit; shelf life stability of reagents; stability of reagents after transportation and repeated freezing – thawing; batch-to-batch repeatability; sensitivity of various test materials and specificity of kits. The study of the instructions for use and kit contents revealed incompleteness of some instructions. It was noted that some manufacturers make serious errors in the instructions, which can significantly affect the interpretation of test results. It was also observed that there is insufficient control of the manufacturing process, which results in the production of faulty kits, as well as kits with poor-quality components and errors in the labeling. Thus, during the study, one kit showed its inactivity, demonstrating the absence of accumulation curves of the fluorescent signal during amplification of both positive controls and DNA of ASFV isolates. When the specificity was assessed, all the kits showed absence of non-specific reactions and acceptable sensitivity when testing various types of ASFV-containing material (blood, suspensions of pork spleen and pork casings used in sausage production). The stability test showed a sharp deterioration in the quality of operation of one kit within the shelf life period, and a significant decrease in the fluorescence signal was detected during repeated freeze – thaw cycles for another kit. Comparison of the repeatability results of different kit batches of the same manufacturer showed significant discrepancies for 41.5% of all kits. It was found that only 33% of the studied kits for ASFV DNA detection were compliant. The results of this study demonstrate the need for control of the manufactured diagnostic kits used in state programs for animal disease monitoring.

One of the measures used to control and prevent African swine fever spread in the Russian Federation involves testing pig and boar sera using inter alia serological tools based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-viral antibody detection. However, there is no unified regulatory document specifying storage conditions for sera used in the ELISA for anti-ASFV antibody detection. There are also lack of published data on the maximum admissible shelf life of the pig sera, and the effect of storage conditions on the serological status of the pig sera as for ASF is understudied. The paper demonstrates results of the experiment aimed at the determination of the effect of storage temperatures and shelf life on the serological status of ASFV seropositive and seronegative pig sera when tested by INgezim PPA Compac (Ingenasa, Spain) ELISA as well as on the possibility of false results. During the experiment and analysis of its results, the new data were obtained, and they indicated from none to non-significant effect of the simulated storage conditions on the serological status of sera used for ASFV detection, while hemolyzed sera demonstrated more significant changes proportional to hemolysis degree and storage duration. Although the results of detection of antibodies against the agents of some diseases cannot be used in case of other pathogens, this study has a substantial applied significance as it allows to specify the dependence of the valid results of ASF serodiagnosis on the storage conditions of the samples.

Due to the genetic diversity of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses of subtype H9N2, it deemed appropriate to study the potency of the vaccines based on the antigens of strains А/chicken/Amursky/03/12 and A/chicken/Chelyabinsk/314-1/20 that represent currently circulating in the Russian Federation genetic lineages Y280 and G1, respectively. While low pathogenicity of the agent does not allow demonstrating the vaccine protective properties by the direct methods generally used for potency assessment (e.g. morbidity and mortality), the indirect methods were used: determination of antigenic relatedness of the strains, level of the postvaccinal homologous and heterologous humoral immunity, analysis of the virus genome synthesis inhibition (reduction) in vaccinated birds following their challenge. The strains used in the vaccines were determined to have some antigenic differences, which were demonstrated in the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay during control of the postvaccinal immunity in birds. Both vaccines generally induced strong humoral immunity in vaccinated birds (9–10 log2 determined using HI assay) with some difference in the levels of the immune response following the use of homologous or heterologous antigens. It was also reliably determined that homologous immunity facilitated more expressed inhibition of the virus reproduction after the challenge. The level of inhibition (reduction) of the virulent LPAI virus genome synthesis in vaccinated birds following their challenge with H9N2 virus of genetic lineage G1 was higher in birds following homologous vaccination, while the time periods of the genome detection in the biomaterial samples were the same. It was demonstrated that due to antigenic and immunogenic differences between LPAI H9N2 strains, use of both antigenic components in the inactivated vaccines is appropriate.

The results of the studies of cytomorphological, karyological, cultural properties of continuous suspension ВНК-21/SUSP/ARRIAH subline of newborn Syrian hamster kidney cells intended for foot-and-mouth disease, rabies, bovine parainfluenza-3, Aujeszky’s disease virus reproduction, as well as for production of diagnostic veterinary biologicals are presented. When cultured in suspension, BHK-21/SUSP/ARRIAH cell subline undergoes selection towards hypoploidy: modal class is represented by cells with 41 chromosomes (32–40% of cells); the share of cells containing 40–42 chromosomes is 78–80%; the share of polyploids averages around 1%; the range of variation in the number of chromosomes is from 36 to 54. BHK-21/SUSP/ARRIAH cell subline cultured in suspension with cell seeding concentration of 0.6–0.8 million cells/cm³ demonstrates growth rate of 6.67–11.00 and 96–99% cell viability. After 48 hours, G1-phase (diploid-2n) cells prevail in the cell population of the new subline (30.0–75.0% of cells); cells that undergo preparation for mitosis (S-phase) and mitosis (G2+M-phase) account for 3.0 to 20.0% of the entire population; the number of meganucleated and multinucleated cells (>4n) at the beginning and at the end of the logarithmic phase increases to 2%. BHK-21/SUSP/ARRIAH cells recover rapidly after cryopreservation and demonstrate 95–99% viability and growth rate of 3.36–5.88 at passages 1 to 3 and 6.85–10.95 at passages 4 to 12. Continuous suspension BHK-21/SUSP/ARRIAH cell line ensures virus accumulation at the following titres: FMD virus – 7.30– 8.00 lg TCID₅₀/cm³, rabies virus – 7.25–8.00 lg CCID₅₀/cm³, bovine parainflunza-3 virus – at least 6.00 lg TCID₅₀/cm³, Aujeszky’s disease virus – 7.50–7.80 lg TCID₅₀/cm³.

The results of the study on effects of fishmeal on nutrient digestibility and intake in primates are given in the paper. Fishmeal is a feeding stuff, manufactured from fish, marine mammals, invertebrates not suitable for human consumption and by-products of their processing. Fishmeal nutrient composition includes natural substances and minerals, including phosphorus, calcium, iodine, selenium, several essential amino acids, as well as vitamins А, D and В complex. Fishmeal is known to be rich in digestible energy and proteins. One kilogram of fishmeal contains 700 grams of raw protein and up to 15 MJ of digestible energy. It should be noted that fishmeal is easily digested by animals. Nevertheless, there is a lack of data in publications on use of fishmeal as high protein feed in rations of primates. In this regard, the aim of the study was to analyze the effects of fishmeal on digestibility of mixed feed nutrients in male rhesus-macaques and to use the obtained results for understanding of prospects of fishmeal further use for feeding primates. The chemical composition and nutritional value of the total mixed ration was determined. The economic effectiveness of the fishmeal use in the rations of primates was calculated. Based on the experimental data, it was established that the inclusion of fishmeal (18% out of total) into the diet contributes to the improvement of feed intake in experimental primates and reduces the costs of complete granular feed.

The Veterinary Service of the Russian Federation takes measures to ensure regular control of livestock health status, to prevent infectious diseases and their introduction into the country; and if such diseases are diagnosed, it takes measures to prevent their spread and contain outbreaks as soon as possible. Success of the taken measures depends on the use of various diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic drugs. In order to produce such medicinal products, biofactories use production and reference strains with stable biological properties, which are stored in national collections of microorganisms. The only keeper of glanders strains is the Laboratory for Collection of Strains of Microorganisms in the FSBSI «FCTRBS-ARRVI», subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation. The following steps were taken due to the official request from FKP Kursk Biofactory – BIOK Company for the transfer of Burkholderia mallei production strain 5584 from the collection of the institution: the strain was passaged in golden hamsters, its viability was determined and biological properties of the culture were studied. The strain was transferred in accordance with the established procedure and in compliance with the biosafety requirements. As the work progressed, Burkholderia mallei strain 5584 culture was isolated and freeze-dried. Before the transfer, biological properties of the freeze-dried Burkholderia mallei strain 5584 were studied for their compliance with the passport data. The obtained results showed that the Laboratory for Collection of Strains of Microorganisms in the FSBSI «FCTRBS-ARRVI» provides optimal conditions to preserve the strain viability and initial biological properties after 5 years of storage. Analysis of the data obtained during the transfer of Burkholderia mallei strain 5584 allowed us to assess the actions taken at all stages of the procedure. It was established that the transfer procedure for the requested glanders production strain complied with the biosafety requirements and regulatory framework regulating the process.

The paper studies the effect of the RVI biocomposite material belonging to the group of osteoplastic biocomposite materials, the RV-2 immunomodulator – a synthetic dipeptide inducing an immunocorrective effect, and combinations of these drugs on the reparative histogenesis of bone tissue in femoral fractures in rats. It was found that the remodeling of the primary bone callus into the secondary one in the fracture of the studied animals was of a diverse nature. This process was the most pronounced in the group where the components were used in complex, i.e. the bone defect was filled with RVI during the surgery, as well as RV-2 was injected intramuscularly to rats at a dose of 10 mcg per 1 kg of live weight for five days, starting immediately after the surgery. Well-formed coarse-fibrous connective tissue callus was recorded in animals of this group. The connective tissue was stained more intensely which indicates a denser arrangement of fibers in the callus. Focal cartilage tissue spanning bone fragments was observed within the callus. At the periphery of the site the cartilaginous callus was subjected to endochondral ossification with replacement by coarse-fibrous trabeculae with elements of lamellar bone tissue having haversian canals in the center. The inter-girdle spaces were filled with elements of the myeloid bone marrow in the forming bone tissue. Markedly proliferated osteoblasts were visible in the cambial layer of the periosteum. The bone tissue ratio increased up to (60.21 ± 2.62)%, which significantly exceeded the same indicator in the control group and in all experimental groups. The low content of connective tissue and the high ratio of bone tissue indicated more active osteogenesis processes and reparative regeneration in comparison with other groups.

The paper represents the analysis of the key parameters specifying the food safety system in the Russian Federation as of January 1, 2020. Such issues as competence of the veterinary experts and laboratories in the field of veterinary and sanitary inspection as well as availability of the necessary equipment including equipment for radiometric tests were particularly considered. Implementation of the internal audit procedure by the veterinary and sanitary testing laboratories was assessed. Data on the availability of the slaughterhouses and slaughter units/facilities for emergency slaughter as well as their staffing with the veterinarians are demonstrated. The study results indicate that 39% of the laboratories are not equipped with the necessary laboratory equipment; 8% of the laboratories perform tests using non-calibrated laboratory equipment, and only 2/3 of the laboratories are covered by the regular internal audits. Evidence of insufficient control over the attestation of the veterinarians involved in the veterinary and sanitary expertise was identified. Moreover, insufficient number of slaughter facilities and veterinary and sanitary testing laboratories in the regions of the country was highlighted as well as inadequate staffing of the laboratories with the veterinarians responsible for the official control of the compliance with the veterinary rules and technical regulations and for the veterinary and sanitary inspections. Therefore, in some regions of the country the national veterinary services lack any capacities necessary to perform the emergency slaughter of the diseased and suspect animals in the isolated and controlled environment with the subsequent on-site storage and decontamination of the slaughter products or their disposal or destruction. The study results demonstrate a number of gaps in the veterinary and sanitary inspection system thus indicating the need for corrective actions to be taken both on the federal and local levels.