Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) isa highlycontagiousviraldiseaseof cloven-hoovedanimals that can causeepidemicsandgreateconomic losses. Thedisease remains a huge problem in developing countries and poses a constant threat to developed countries. Detection of antibodies to FMD virus non-structural proteins in thebloodof susceptibleanimals isan important tool for thediseasecontrol. This is theonly way for reliabledifferentiation of vaccinatedanimals fromconvalescentandvirus-carrieranimals. Variousmodificationsof solid-phaseenzymeimmunosorbentassay (ELISA) havebeen developedfordetection of antibodies toFMD virus nonstructuralproteins. RecombinantFMD virus non-structuralproteins, mostly 3АВС or 3АВ, areusedasan antigen for such assay. In ashort time, recombinant FMD virusantigen-basedELISA hasevolvedfrom an in-houselaboratory methodtocommonlyavailablecommercial test systems, mostof which have high diagnostic specificityandsensitivity. Thesaid methodis widelyusedforFMD surveillance. In thecountriesandzones freefrom FMD withoutvaccination theELISA fordetection ofantibodiesagainstFMD virus non-structuralproteinsisusedasaprimarymethodforFMD serologicalmonitoring andretrospectivediagnosis. In thecountriesandzones freefromFMD with vaccination thisELISA isusedforconfirmation of thevirus infection absencein vaccinated herds. In South America, ELISA fordetection ofantibodiesagainstFMD virus non-structuralproteins wasusedfordetection of infectedanimalsduring thediseaseeradication. Currently, it isusedfor monitoringfor thevirus circulation in stillFMD infected Asian and African countries implementingprogressive FMD controlprogramme. In Russia havingzones where anti-FMD vaccination is carriedout this methodis a mandatory tool of thedisease surveillance. The review isbasedon theanalysisof 65 publications.

Currently fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, which is a cutting-edge technology in genetic diagnosis, is used in different areas of molecularbiology. Practicaladvantageofsimplicityaswellascombination of high speed, sensitivityandspecificitymadeitpossibletousethisanalysisfor nucleic acidquantitation. Thepaperpresentsgeneral information andrecommendedrules for thedevelopmentof real-timeqPCR. Thepublication isaimedtoacquaint theresearchersandreviewerswith necessaryrequirementstobefollowedin order toensure high accuracy, reliabilityandtransparencyof theexperiments, correct interpretation andrepeatabilityof thetest results. Currentapproachesaredescribedthatallow obtainingreliableandconsistent resultsbydifferentoperators, at differenttimesandin differentlaboratories. Basicrequirementsforreagentsused, nucleotidesequencesandvalidationmethodsaregiven. In general, thepublication givestheinformation neededtoachievethreeultimategoals: toprovidetheauthorswith abroadrangeoftoolsandrequirementsforthedevelopmentof real-time qPCR based-techniques; togivethepossibilitytothereviewersandeditorsofassessingthequalityofarticlesandguidelines/instructions in accordance with the requiredcriteria; toobtain consistentandreliableresultsof testsperformedusingthis method. 

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is induced by a small non-enveloped virus, which is highly stable in the outer environment. The infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) affects chicken’s immune system in a comprehensive and integrated manner thus destructing B-lymphocytes, attracting T-cells and activating macrophages. Being the RNA-virus, the agent is specified by high frequency of mutations, which result in the emergence of the strains with modified antigenicity and increased virulence. The molecular basis for the virus pathogenicity and exact cause of the clinical disease and death are still understudied as they are not clearly associated with the disease severity and degree of bursa of Fabricius lesions. Recent studies, however, demonstrated the role of the enhanced immune response at early stage of the infection along with increased production of cytokine storm-inducing promediators. In case of IBD, the immunosuppression is both direct consequence of specific target-cell infection and indirect consequence of the interactions occurring in the bird’s immune network. Infection with highly virulent virus strain or chicks’ infection at early age after recovery or subclinical infection results in immunosuppression with more severe consequences. Since immunosuppression induced by IBD agent is targeted mostly at B-lymphocytes, effect on the cell-mediated immunity was also demonstrated and it enhances the virus pressure on the immunocompetence of the chicks. The recent progress in avian immunology allowed for better understanding of the immunological mechanisms involved in the disease development. This review focuses on the role of the innate immunity in IBD pathogenesis as it is the first line of protection against the virus replication and can predetermine the disease outcome.

Anthrax is a highly dangerous disease of animals and humans caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Currently, the disease is widespread in many countries of the world. Many regions of the Russian Federation are anthrax-endemic. A large number of anthrax treatment, diagnosis and prevention tools are developed using hyperimmune serum. Currently known commercial hyperimmune sera areproduced by 2-month long immunization of horses, which is a long and expensive process. This suggests the need to develop faster and cheaper ways to produce anti-anthrax hyperimmune sera; such possible ways became the objective of this study. A live culture of Bacillus anthracis 55-VNIIVViM vaccine strain, used to produce live vaccines against animal anthrax, was used in the experiments. Rabbits were used as animal models. Based on the findings the method of rabbit immunization was selected. The optimal method included intravenous injection of the antigen in increasing amounts according to the following scheme: injection I – 0.5 cm3 ; injection II – 1 cm3 ; injection III – 2 cm3 at a dose of 100 million mc/animal in 1 cm3 , with 4-day interval between injections. This scheme made it possible to produce the serum with a high antibody titer equal to 14 log2 . For long-term storage of the serum produced, the freeze-drying modes were optimized, giving 2% residual moisture content of the finished product. The analysis of the freeze-dried serum storage terms showed that the initial activity and physico-chemical properties of the product are maintained for 30 months. 

Specific antibodies against сhlamydia weredetectedusingcomplement fixation test and сhlamydiagenome wasdetectedusingpolymerase chain reaction in pregnant rabbits experimentally infected with Chlamydiapsittaci. The infectedrabbitsdevelopeda fever andrespiratory signs andthe infection was confirmed by specificantibodiesagainst сhlamydiadetectedin theirbloodandbyabnormalities in rabbitkindling. Complement fixation testofpairedrabbit serarevealed an increasein thetitersof specificantibodiesagainst сhlamydia, which on Day 7 post infection varied within 1:7.5; on Day 14, mean concentration was 1:40 and by Day 30 mean titer increasedto 1:60. However, when pathological materials from theurogenital tractof theexperimentalanimals weretestedin polymerase chain reaction andin smear microscopy, it was impossibletoconfirm that thereisan etiological linkbetween сhlamydiaandkindlingproblems in experimental animals. At thesametime, molecularandgenetictestsof internalorgans (liver) sampledfromstillborn babyrabbitsrevealedthe сhlamydiagenome, thus, proving сhlamydia involvement into thepathological kindling. Therefore, such a retrospective methodas complement fixation test with a сhlamydia antigen is of high diagnosticvaluefor lifetime сhlamydiadiagnosis.

The effective management practices of dairy farming are inextricably linked with the production of high quality milk, while the mastitis is one of the causes of reductions in milk yields and quality. The aim of the work was to study the microbiological profile of milk, the sensitivity of isolated microorganisms to antibiotics and metabolism features of cows with mastitis in the Amur Oblast. The following microorganisms were identified in the milk samples from cows with mastitis: Staphylococcus epidermidis (34.69%); microbial associations: Streptococcus agalactiae + Escherichia coli (32.65%) and Staphylococcus saprophyticus + Streptococcus agalactiae + Escherichia coli (30.61%); Staphylococcus haemolyticus (2.05%). Microorganisms isolated from the milk of mastitis-affected cows were susceptible to the following antimicrobials: Escherichia coli to cefotaxime (28.00 ± 2.00 mm) and ceftriaxone (27.50 ± 0.35 mm); Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus to cefotaxime (35.50 ± 0.18 mm) and amoxicillin (35.10 ± 0.35 mm); Streptococcus agalactiae to tetracycline (27.60 ± 1.17 mm) and gentamicin (26.40 ± 0.99 mm). Metabolic disorders were observed in cows with mastitis. The albumin-globulin ratio was reduced (0.41), which is typical for various inflammatory processes; and a low albumin levels (29.00 ± 0.89%) suggested a decreased protein synthesis in hepatocytes. A moderate increase in gamma globulins (47.60 ± 1.05%) was associated with stimulation of the phagocytic mononuclear system. Water and mineral metabolism disorders were confirmed by low levels of calcium (1.80 ± 0.03 mmol/L) and magnesium (0.70 ± 0.02 mmol/L), which is a sign of many pathological conditions, and is associated with heavy lactation. Calcium-phosphorus ratio was reduced (0.82). Hematological indicators suggested hypochromic anemia (hemoglobin level – 100.60 ± 1.28 g/L, globular value – 0.60 ± 0.01). The leukogram was indicative of lymphocytopenia (36.90 ± 2.60%) and neutrophilia (rod-shaped neutrophils – 1.80 ± 0.13%, segmented neutrophils – 51.80 ± 2.51%). 

A comprehensive serological monitoring is currently underway in the Republic of Kazakhstan to detect the circulation of the infectious bovine rhinotracheitis pathogen. To conduct a full-fledged and resultful study, the principles of sampling size representativeness provision and mathematical calculations were observed.

The sampling size of the total number of epizootological units included mainly the raions and settlements in which (or near which) infectious bovine rhinotracheitis cases had been previously recorded. The sampling size of livestock population included in the study was determined in accordance with the recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health. Thus, the study covered 7 (out of 13) raions of the Karaganda Oblast in 2021 and 2022. The other 6 raions and cities of regional significance will be included in the research in 2023. The paper presents the results of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis retrospective analysis and own studies conducted in 2021–2022. Statistical analysis and graphical visualization of investigation results were performed using Statistica, Excel, and QGIS programs.

It was established that the epizootic situation for this disease was unfavourable in the Karaganda Oblast in 2021–2022. The data and results of serological studies presented by the Veterinary Control and Surveillance Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan confirm the circulation of the infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus in the following raions of the Karaganda Oblast: Abay, Aktogay, Bukhar-Zhyrau, Karkaraly, Nura and Osakarov.

African swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs; however, no vaccines are available to control it. Currently the disease causes significant economic damage in many countries. The Republic of China is the first country in Southeast Asia, which officially reported the African swine fever outbreak in 2018. The disease further spread to all provinces of the country with 200 outbreaks in domestic pigs and 10 outbreaks in wild boar in total; herewith the overall population of pigs de-creased dramatically, approximately by 180 million animals. Following the confirmation of the first African swine fever outbreak, the PRC Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs launched the “African Swine Fever Contingency Plan and Emergency Response”, w hich facilitated the disease eradication and already by 2023, no new infection outbreaks had been reported. The country with the largest swine population in the world achieved rather moderate spread rates if compared to Europe.

In addition, the virus strains, which circulated in the Chinese territory, were genetically diverse and different in virulence, leading to a wide range of clinical signs manifested by diseased animals. Such aspects were supposed to complicate the eradication measures, but instead, they proved their effectiveness. The experience gained from the disease control in China is most certainly of interest for the Russian Federation, infected with African swine fever since 2008.

The paper demonstrates how a joint use of polyvalent serum and immunomodulators affects morbidity, survival, and resistance of calves in the early postnatal period.

The objectives of the research are: to study how a joint administration of polyvalent serum and immunomodulators changes dynamics of morpho-biochemical and immunological blood parameters in calves; to determine an optimal ratio between the polyvalent serum and immunomodulators and frequency of administration so that to increase overall body resistance, ensure survival of calves in the early postnatal period; to assess cost-effectiveness of the joint use of polyvalent serum and immunomodulators. Research and production testing was done in Simmental calves. For this purpose one control group and five experimental groups were formed (at least 5 animals in each group). Polyvalent serum (20.0 mL) was once administered subcutaneously to the control calves on the first day of life and the animals of the experimental groups received the serum and immunomodulators according to the relevant dosing instructions. The obtained results demonstrate that the optimal protocols include a single administration of “Ribotan” in combination with serum on the first day of life, as well as a double administration of a polyvalent serum 7 days later, alternating “Fosprenil” with “Immunophane”. Administration of polyvalent serum together with an immunomodulator to newborn calves can reduce the morbidity by 70.0% and achieve 100.0% survival, improving this indicator by 22.3% compared to the control. Cost-effectiveness assessment of the veterinary measures specified in these protocols shows that each rouble spent on the measures saves 25.29 roubles. To increase nonspecific resistance of calves in the early postnatal period, preference shall be given to those veterinary medicinal product that can not only normalize the immune system, but also have a combined positive effect on homeostasis in general, stimulate the growth and development of young animals at the early stages of ontogenesis.

Despite numerous studies, the problem of escherichiosis in newborn calves remains one of the most urgent due to the extensive spread of the disease and high mortality of young animals. This paper presents results of experimental studies carried out at the FSBSI “All-Russian Veterinary Research Institute of Pathology, Pharmacology and Therapy”.T he aim of the work was to conduct complex morphological studies using modern methods for a deeper understanding of escherichiosis etiology and pathogenesis. For that, pathological samples were collected from 28 1–10 day-old calves diagnosed with colibacteriosis at the initial disease stage, demonstrating pronounced clinical signs and having the terminal stage of the disease. Samples from 6 clinically healthy calves of a similar age were used as control.

It was found that newborn calves at the initial stage of escherichiosis demonstrated early structural changes in the ultrastructure of mucosa cells of the rennet and small intestine, as well as in the liver parenchyma, and mild changes – in the exocrine part of the pancreas. The most profound morphofunctional changes were observed in digestive organs with apparent clinical signs of the disease. As the condition developed, the range of pathological processes expanded and involved the structural organization of the rennet, small and large intestines, liver and pancreas. At the terminal stage of escherichiosis, deep inflammatory processes occurred not only in digestive organs, but also in other systems of diseased calves. Structural changes in digestive organs had an alterative nature at the initial disease stage, whereas in case of clinically pronounced disease signs there were manifestations of catarrhal-necrotic inflammation with multiple hemorrhages n the gastrointestinal tract and parenchymal organs. Digestive organ pathology plays the leading role in formation of the clinical and morphological picture at the initial stage of escherichiosis in calves. As the disease developed, the calves demonstrated changes at molecular and subcellular levels that were detected using histochemical and ultrastructural tests.

Dermatophytoses are diseases of skin and its accessory structures that are widely spread worldwide. They are most commonly caused by fungi of the genera Micro- sporum and Trichophyton. The identification of the agent’s species has a great epidemiological significance and is essential for effective therapy. The aim of the study is the identification and phylogenetic analysis of dermatophytes isolated from dogs and cats in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation by means of molecular techniques. The fungal isolate species were confirmed by sequencing using two rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) primer pairs, and this allowed for their deposition to the GenBank database. Based on the sequencing results, Microsporum canis (12 strains) and Trichophyton benhamiae (2 strains) were identified. The nucleotide sequences were analysed, and phylogenetic trees were constructed, taking into account the results of the dermatophyte identification using two primer pairs. The constructed phylogenetic trees reflecting the relationships of dermatophytes showed that, irrespective of the primer pairs used, the Microsporum and Trichophyton pathogens are in all cases reliably assigned to different clades. The analysis of ITS4F/ITS5R sequence fragment structures enabled the establish- ment of genetic relatedness between the Trichophyton benhamiae strains first isolated from cats in Russia and the Russian strain recovered from a guinea pig. The comparative analysis of the genomes of the Microsporum and Trichophyton fungi and reference strains revealed a relatively low level of intraspecies polymor- phism and point mutations of the sequences. The data analysis demonstrated a high percentage of nucleotide sequence homology, and this allows using the primers for PCR tests intended for dermatophytosis diagnosis in cats and dogs.

Remuneration is one of the main factors that can motivate an employee to work productively, as well as influence the prestige of a profession. The paper presents the results of analysis of remuneration of the veterinary specialists of the State Veterinary Service for the country as a whole, for the federal districts and 85 regions of the country, as well as at various organizational levels within the Veterinary Service for 2021. The assessment of the veterinary specialist salary level as compared with that throughout the economy of the Russian Federation Subjects is presented. The veterinary specialist average monthly salary for the State Veterinary Service as a whole varies within a wide range: from 16.3 to 114.9 thousand rubles. The minimum and maximum salaries at different organizational levels within the State Veterinary Service differ 5–8-fold. The veterinary specialist salary level is lower than that for the economy of the relevant Russian Federation Subject: for the State Veterinary Service as a whole – in 69 regions of the country, for treatment and preventive care institutions – in 71 Subjects, in laboratory diagnosis institutions – in 72 Subjects. Of all the federal districts, the North Caucasian Federal District has the lowest veterinary specialist salary level both in absolute terms (about 21 thousand rubles) and as compared with the average for the economy of the Subjects of this federal district (64%). The paper also examines veterinary specialist modal and median salary values, which allow for the assessment of remuneration of this category of the State Veterinary Service staff from different viewpoints.