Background and Aim: Several reports described the detection of specific caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) antibodies in Russian goat populations, which indicates the circulation of CAEV in Russian goat farms. The aim of this study was to use a multi-target approach to testing with both serological tests and an in-house real-time (RT) molecular test to investigate the prevalence of CAEV in goats from three hobbyist farms in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. Materials and Methods: We applied a multi-target approach to testing with both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an in-house RT polymerase chain reaction test to investigate the prevalence of CAEV in goats. Animals from the three hobbyist farms were used in this study. The animals from two farms (n=13 for F1 and n=8 for F2) had clinical signs of arthritis and mastitis. In the third farm (n=15 for F3), all goats were home-bred and had no contact with imported animals. Results: CAEV antibodies (ELISA targets TM env and gag genes) were detected in serum samples from two farms (F1 and F2), indicating seroprevalence of 87.50-92.31%. Specific CAEV antibodies were also detected in milk samples. CAEV proviral DNA was detected in 53.85-62.50%. The results from all tests performed in the third farm (F3) were negative, indicating that all tests were 100% specific. Conclusion: The results showed that CAEV is circulating and present in small hobbyist goat farms in Russia. Serological and molecular tests could be important for programs to control and eradicate CAEV in Russia for hobbyist goat farms.

Introduction. Currently, there is evidence of a triggering role of environmental factors in developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this work was to investigate the role of oxidative stress in provoking the preclinical stage of RAf in susceptible individuals and its possible relationship with the effects of ecotoxicants. Materials and methods. Examination of cases collecting biosamples was carried out during rheumatologic examination of the persons in the regional hospitals of 45 administrative districts of the Republic of Tatarstan (RT), Russia. Serum markers of oxidative stress were measured, namely levels of oxidized proteins, oxidized lipids, oxyguanine, and antibodies to oxidized LDL. The environmental parameters of residences of the persons included in the project were measured. Information was collected on the parameters of the environmental situation in the administrative districts of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2008-2018 (from publicly available reports of the Ministry of Ecology of the Republic of Tatarstan). Results. There was performed a comparison of the levels of oxidative markers in samples from individuals living in regions with the highest and lowest concentrations of certain atmosphere ecotoxicants, including carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons (volatile organic compounds (VOCs) free), particulate matter, VOCs, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide. The levels of oxidized proteins and oxidized LDL were significantly higher in residents of areas with the highest carbon monoxide and VOCs compared to residents of areas with the lowest content of these substances. The contribution of environmental indicators to the provocation of the anti-LDG antibody production in groups with genetic and preclinical RA stages was revealed to account for 40%. According to the results of multiple regression analysis, in individuals from the above groups and individuals at early RA stage, the levels of oxidized LDL and oxidized proteins depended on the effect of a combination of certain environmental factors. Limitations. In this article, we limited ourselves to the analysis of the RA association with air pollution indices. The study of other environmental factors (soil, water pollution, radiation levels) is ongoing. This will allow clarifying the specific mechanisms of the influence of the exposome on the development of the disease in total. In addition, the conclusions presented are speculative since the identified patterns were obtained by analyzing data in the limited data samples. Conclusion. Since environmental factors can be considered modifiable to a certain extent, the study of their role in the RA development and specific mechanisms of the disease triggered by these factors on persons at risk are of fundamental and applied importance.

To ensure pollination services for agriculture and implement effective management strategies to protect honey bee populations, it is necessary to understand the prevalence of pathogens and pests and the factors that impact their occurrence. The aim of this study is to investigate potential links of nosemosis prevalence in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the following factors as potential risk factors for Nosema apis and N. ceranae PCR positivity: district, wintering type, honey bee breed, hive material, varroosis, ascosferosis or nosemosis observed in the previous year, colony strength, feeding in winter, and amitraz, fluvalinate, or thymol usage. Our results show that only the variable counting for thymol usage fits the data well, where the actual observed prevalence of N. ceranae infection is significantly higher in honey bee populations that use thymol compared to those that do not. Honey bee populations with thymol usage in the current study with decreased, but not eliminated, N. ceranae infection, possibly faced preventive, uncontrolled, and excessive use of miticide in beekeeping practice.

The aim of the study is to obtain genetic information on circulating haplotypes of A. woodi and V. destructor using exogenous DNA from selected apiaries in the Republic of Tatarstan. Objectives: to determine the level of V. destructor and A. woodi infection in selected apiaries in the districts of the Republic of Tatarstan using circulating haplotypes and to detect traces of infection in honey bee colonies using exogenous DNA from hive debris. The objects of the study were A. woodi and V. destructor in A. mellifera colonies in selected apiaries in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2024. Bees of the A. m. mellifera and A. m. carnica subspecies were collected in 13 districts of the Republic of Tatarstan from March to June 2024. Low levels of V. destructor mite infestation were recorded in one apiary in one district; one new haplotype similar to those isolated in other countries was detected; low levels of A. woodi mite infestation were recorded in two apiaries in two districts; one haplotype identical to those isolated in other countries and one unique haplotype were detected; despite high efficiency of beekeeping practices in the Republic of Tatarstan, exogenous DNA of hive debris allowed detection of traces of mite infestation (mtDNA cox1 gene) in honey bee colonies in six apiaries in six districts; a relationship was found between detection of A. woodi and V. destructor mtDNA cox1 gene in exogenous DNA of hive debris and the A. m. mellifera subspecies in the studied colonies.

Environmental factors are suspected of triggering rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One such factor is oxidative stress (OS), which is a step in ecotoxin detoxification and a damaging factor. The linkage of ecotoxin-triggered OS with clinical and laboratory RA indices in patients and individuals at the pre-RA stage was studied in patients with early (e) (n = 35) and advanced (a) stages of RA (n = 25) and individuals at pre-RA stages (FDR-First-Degree Relative(s), pre-RA, n = 72) in comparison with 52 healthy individuals without autoimmune and immunoinflammatory diseases in their family history (Controls). Ecotoxins within permissible concentration limits were associated with serum levels of OS markers in all cohorts, including Controls. Serum oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) levels in pre-RA and eRA cohorts exceeded Control values. Significant differences were found in anti-oxLDL antibody correlations and OS markers. In pre-RA and both RA cohorts, a relationship was found with regards to serum antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP) levels. Thus, ecotoxin-induced OS likely triggers pathogenic mechanisms at the pre-RA stage and RA onset.