The aim of the work is to analyze the epizootological and epidemiological aspects of rabies in the last 20 years, to evaluate critically the achievements and problems in this direction, to point out the shortcomings and to outline the main ways of overcoming them. Epizootological and epidemiological methods of research were used in this work. The analysis of the epizootic situation with rabies for the period 1999–2018 showed that 33079 animals suffered from rabies, 19687 (59.5%) of them were domesticated animals, 13392 (40.5%) were wild. The percentage of sick animals with the highest rates of morbidity from the total number of patients is: for cats – 25.3%, for dogs – 19.3%, for cattle – 13%, for foxes – 36.7%. The disease was registered in 10 species of domestic animals and 18 species of wild ones. Among wild animals, the highest incidence was recorded among foxes – 12,136 animals or 90.6%, high incidence of rabies – raccoon dogs – 507 or 3.78%, martens – 363 or 2.7%, wolves – 158 animals, or 1.17%. The study of seasonality for this disease showed the maximum manifestation in the autumn-winter period. All regions with a high tense of epizootic situation with rabies are interconnected (mainly the eastern, northern and central regions of Ukraine). The low tenseness of the epizootic situation is observed mainly in the western regions. During the analyzed period in Ukraine, 58 people died from rabies. The number of bites animals suspected of developing rabies disease was estimated from 879 (2016) to 3983 (2007). Such a large number of bites in 2007 is logical, since the number of sick animals in this period was the highest. Antirabies assistance needed 6,373 people (2014) up to 110 202 (2003). Vaccination was subject to 14.8% (14,149 people in 2006) and 23.3% (16,131 people in 2017). The epizootic rabies situation among dogs and cats requires more active legislative intervention regarding the full coverage of these animals by vaccination. The seasonal component in the manifestation of the disease is partly due to the activity of young animals of stray dogs and cats. Although some successes have been achieved in the oral vaccination of wildlife (in some areas), however, for the most part, full coverage of the area has not been achieved. As the results of this work show, the proportion of animals covered by vaccines was insufficient to control and eradicate the disease in the wild. The authors of the article note that the mandatory vaccination of bovine animals in areas where such animals go to grazing in the warm season should be national. The number of cattle in patients with rabies during the analyzed period was 21.89% (third place after cats and dogs in the category of pets). Аналіз епізоотичної ситуації зі сказу за період 1999–2018 рр. (таблиця 1) показав, що загалом на сказ захворіло 33079 тварин, із них 19687 (59,5%) тварин – свійські, 13392 (40,5%) – дикі. Вивчення сезонності за цього захворювання показало максимальний його прояв у осінньо-зимовий період. За аналізований період в Україні від сказу померло 58 людей. Ситуація зі сказу серед собак і котів вимагає більш активного законодавчого втручання щодо повного охоплення цих видів антирабічними щепленнями. Проведення пероральної вакцинації серед диких м’ясоїдних тварин в Україні показало, що частка охоплених щепленнями тварин виявилася недостатньою для контролю й викорінення хвороби у дикій природі.

Serological prevalence of Leptospira serovars among pigs in Ukraine during the period of 2001–2019 | V Ukhovskyi, A Pyskun, L Korniienko, H Aliekseieva, O Moroz, O Pyskun, G Kyivska, A Mezhenskyi | Agricultural Journals

Emerging RNA virus infections are a growing concern among domestic poultry industries due to the severe impact they can have on flock health and economic livelihoods. Avian paramyxoviruses (APMV; avulaviruses, AaV) are pathogenic, negative-sense RNA viruses that cause serious infections in the respiratory and central nervous systems. APMV was detected in multiple avian species during the 2017 wild bird migration season in Ukraine and studied using PCR, virus isolation, and sequencing. Of 4090 wild bird samples collected, mostly from southern Ukraine, eleven isolates were grown in ovo and identified for APMV serotype by hemagglutinin inhibition test as: APMV-1, APMV-4, APMV-6, and APMV-7. To build One Health’s capacity to characterize APMV virulence and analyze the potential risks of spillover to immunologically naïve populations, we sequenced virus genomes in veterinary research labs in Ukraine using a nanopore (MinION) platform. RNA was extracted and amplified using a multiplex tiling primer approach to specifically capture full-length APMV-1 (n = 5) and APMV-6 (n = 2) genomes at high read depth. All APMV-1 and APMV-6 fusion (F) proteins possessed a monobasic cleavage site, suggesting these APMVs were likely low virulence, annually circulating strains. Utilization of this low-cost method will identify gaps in viral evolution and circulation in this understudied but important critical region for Eurasia.

African swine fever (ASF) is a viral disease, endemic to Africa, that causes high mortality when introduced into domestic pig populations. Since the emergence of p72-genotype II African swine fever virus (ASFV) in Georgia in 2007, an ASF epidemic has been spreading across Europe and many countries in Asia. The epidemic first reached Ukraine in 2012. To better understand the dynamics of spread of ASF in Ukraine, we analyzed spatial and temporal outbreak data reported in Ukraine between 2012 and mid-2023. The highest numbers of outbreaks were reported in 2017 (N = 163) and 2018 (N = 145), with overall peak numbers of ASF outbreaks reported in August (domestic pigs) and January (wild boars). While cases were reported from most of Ukraine, we found a directional spread from the eastern and northern borders towards the western and southern regions of Ukraine. Many of the early outbreaks (before 2016) were adjacent to the border, which is again true for more recent outbreaks in wild boar, but not for recent outbreaks in domestic pigs. Outbreaks prior to 2016 also occurred predominantly in areas with a below average domestic pig density. This new analysis suggests that wild boars may have played an important role in the introduction and early spread of ASF in Ukraine. However, in later years, the dynamic suggests human activity as the predominant driver of spread and a separation of ASF epizootics between domestic pigs and in wild boars. The decline in outbreaks since 2019 suggests that the implemented mitigation strategies are effective, even though long-term control or eradication remain challenging and will require continued intensive surveillance of ASF outbreak patterns.

The global market of special foods has grown by 75 % in 2003–2008, that indicating a trend towards individualized diets and healthy lifestyles. Gluten-free foods are popular today due to the increase in the number of people with celiac disease and the general idea of healthy lifestyle. Thus, the production of such products increases due to the intensification of marketing activities. Because the only treatment for celiac disease is a lifelong gluten-free diet, people with this problem need to carefully read food labels for wheat, barley and rye, as well as so-called “hidden” gluten – barley-made malt and hydrolyzed vegetable protein (often contains wheat), as well as to exclude from the diet foods containing these cereals and select alternative foods for full life. However, given the number of people with individual gluten intolerance in Ukraine, the difficult economic situation and the high cost of gluten-free products, not every consumer with this problem can afford to buy certified specialized products labeled “gluten-free”. The aim of the research was to evaluate meat and fish products for gluten content. The article presents information of the results of monitoring gluten in meat and fish products (sausages, canned fish) from different regions of Ukraine by molecular genetic method for 2018–2020 using R-Biopharm diagnostic kits. According to the results of research, fish products that were not labeled “gluten-free” and were not certified as “gluten-free” met the requirements of current legislation of Ukraine and EU Regulation № 41/2009 on gluten-free products. Gluten was not detected in 29.4 % of meat products of various producers; 58.8 % of meat products contained gluten in trace amounts – less than 2 mg/kg; and 11.8 % of meat products contained gluten – more than 20 mg/kg. Prospects for further research are to monitor gluten in sweets and dietary products of domestic production and analyze the results of research on compliance with current legislation and safety for people with individual intolerance to gluten.

Aim. This study aimed to develop a specific and sensitive multiplex real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) method for the detection and differentiation of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) genotypes GI.1 and GI.2 circulating in Ukraine, using primers and probes based on the ORF2 gene, encoding the minor capsid protein VP10. Furthermore, to perform an initial validation of this PCR. Methods. The assay was designed to amplify a conserved 101-bp ORF2 sequence, encoding the minor capsid protein VP10, assuming that it would be a less variable region compared to that of the traditionally targeted ORF1 sequence encoding the major capsid protein VP60. Sequence alignment was performed using 38 full-genome sequences of RHDV isolates of various geographic origins present in GenBank. Specific primers to RHDV and two genotype-specific hydrolysis probes (FAM for genotype GI.1 and HEX for genotype GI.2) were designed and partially validated both in silico (BLAST) and in vitro. RNA was extracted from 6 tissue samples (contaminated with RHDV and negative control), and two virus reference strains using the IndiSpin Pathogen Kit, followed by RT-qPCR using a one-step protocol. Analytical sensitivity and specificity were assessed by a 10-fold RNA serial dilution (from 10⁶ to 10⁰ copies). For specificity testing, non-target organisms were included: Myxoma virus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella multocida, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae. Results. After optimization, the developed RT-qPCR assay demonstrated high analytical sensitivity, detecting as few as 100 RNA copies/reaction with consistent amplification across three replicates. The limit of detection (LOD) was established at 1.0×10² RNA copies for both genotypes. Standard curves yielded slopes of -3.44 (GI.1) and -3.38 (GI.2), corresponding to amplification efficiencies of 95.4% and 97.5%, respectively. The assay showed excellent linearity (R² = 0.925 for GI.1, R² = 0.881 for GI.2) and intra-assay variability (%CV) below 3.5%. No cross-reactivity was observed with non-target pathogens. Conclusions. The developed multiplex RT-qPCR assay demonstrated promising analytical performance for detecting and differentiating RHDV genotypes GI.1 and GI.2. These results provide partial validation of the method. However, limitations include testing only two genotypes, no internal amplification control, and lack of inter-laboratory comparison with WOAH-recommended VP60-based RT-PCR. Future studies should expand validation scope, incorporate internal controls, and perform multi-center validation before routine implementation.