Introduction: Efficacy of rabies immunoprophylaxis has been convincingly proven, but establishing the links between vaccination coverage and changes in rabies incidence in practice can be difficult if epizootics continue. Objective: To identify associations between animal and human vaccination and rabies incidence at the regional level. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive epidemiological study for the years 2011 to 2024 using data from the veterinary service and the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) on confirmed rabies cases (n = 326), vaccination coverage, and emergency department visits for animal bite injuries. We compared the periods before and after the introduction of oral fox vaccination (2011–2018 vs 2019–2024). The chi-square test, Spearman correlation, and confidence intervals for p < 0.05 (95 % CI) were used in the statistical data analysis while the Natural Earth electronic map and QGIS 3.2.1 software were used for mapping. Results: Until 2011, only dogs were vaccinated. Following the onset of epizootics among foxes (Vulpes vulpes), vaccination coverage was expanded to include farm, pet, and wild animals. Compared to 2011–2018, the growth rate of the number of doses of vaccines for various purposes was +167.3 % in 2019–2014. At the same time, the number of rabies cases decreased at a rate of –59.5 %. The share of farm animals decreased to 13–45 %, while that of wild animals increased to 45–68 %. Rabies in dogs and cats remained sporadic. A high posterior probability (p < 0.001) was demonstrated for the relationship between animal rabies and vaccination coverages of livestock and wild animals. Mapping revealed a reduction in the area of rabies-affected areas. We observed that 5,700 people received post-exposure prophylaxis annually, and 3,600 people received preventive vaccination. The incidence of animal bites ranged from 266.4 to 338.6 per 100,000 population. No cases of human rabies were registered. Conclusion: A significant correlation was established between increased vaccination coverage and the spread of rabies among animals. A change in the type of epizootics and systematic vaccination of the population contributed to the decreased risk of human rabies.
The aim of the review was to conduct a comparative analysis of the epidemiological situation regarding rickettsioses in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for the period of 2013–2024, and to provide a forecast of the incidence for 2025. In total, 1,380 rickettsiosis cases were registered in the Russian Federation in 2024, of which Siberian tick-borne typhus (STT) accounted for 938 cases, Astrakhan spotted fever (ASF) – 73 cases, rickettsiosis caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum – 12 cases, rickettsiosis caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia muris – 8 cases, Marseille fever – 6 cases. 57 (4.1 %) cases of rickettsiosis remained unidentified. In 2024, STT was recorded in 17 regions of the Russian Federation with an incidence rate of 0,64 0/0000. The greatest contribution to STT morbidity came from the Siberian and Far Eastern Federal Districts. The calculated projected indicator for 2025 in Russia is expected to be 0.67 0/0000. The ASF morbidity rate in Russia in 2024 was 0.05 0 /0000, while the calculated projected ASF morbidity rate for 2025 remains at 0.05 0/0000. In 2024, it was possible to verify the causative agent of STT in autopsy material from three deceased individuals from Tyumen Region (n=1) and Novosibirsk Region (n=2). As a result of phylogenetic analysis, a new genovariant (genome isolate) of Rickettsia sibirica was identified in one sample.
The aim of this study was to provide an epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection spread among female population of the Siberian Federal District (SFD). Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the territory of the constituent entities of the Siberian Federal District for the observation period from 2009 to 2023. The material for the study was the data from federal statistical observation forms No. 2, No. 61, No. 4 from all ten constituent entities of the SFD. The traditional algorithm of descriptive and evaluative observational epidemiological study was used. Results. A total of 105,110 women (the average long-term rate was 75.4 cases per 100 thousand female population) were diagnosed with HIV in the Siberian Federal District from 2009 to 2023. A change in the trend of the epidemic process of HIV infection in the female population was observed – the period of growth and stabilization of incidence at a high level was followed by a trend towards a decrease in incidence since 2019. A 1.3-fold increase (from 34,8% in 2009 to 46,0% in 2023) in the proportion of women among new cases of HIV infection was noted alongside the decrease of the incidence of HIV infection in women in the Siberian Federal District. The share of heterosexual route of transmission of HIV among females increased to 81,6% cases. The age structure of newly diagnosed cases of HIV in women was characterized by an increase in the proportion of the age group over 35 years. The proportion of women of reproductive age among HIV cases decreased from 95,6% in 2009 to 80,9% in 2023. The decrease in the number of HIV-infected pregnant women and HIV detection rate in pregnant women to 1,16 cases per 1000 examined were noted. Conclusion. The Siberian Federal District was characterized by a complicated epidemiological situation. Feminization of the HIV epidemic in modern conditions requires the revision of approaches to the implementation of the strategy of counteracting HIV infection at the regional level along with strengthening of preventive programs and measures that could prevent the spread of infection.
The aim of the study was to assess the epidemiological situation and to characterize the potential epidemic hazard in the foci of Siberian tick-borne typhus (STT) in the Minusinsk Basin (Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia). Materials and methods. The analysis of the STT incidence rates per 100 thousand population in administrative districts of the Minusinsk Basin between 2013 and 2022 was carried out. Ticks (n=182) collected on a flag in the territory of the Minusinsk basin and sectional material from the patient were studied using the PCR method with a set of genus- and species-specific primers to identify various types of Rickettsia followed by sequencing of the obtained amplicons. Results and discussion. The average long-term incidence rate of STT in the Minusinsk Basin is 11.8 0/0000 (95 % CI 11.4–12.2). The maximum incidence of STT occurs in May and June, which is determined by early seasonal activity of the main vector, the Dermacentor nuttalli tick. The PCR analysis has revealed a total DNA detection of Rickettsia at 79.2 %. Rickettsia sibirica, R. helvetica and R. raoultii DNA has been detected in D. nuttalli. Haemaphysalis concinna contains DNA from R. heilongjiangensis, R. sibirica and R. raoultii. In the study of the Ixodes persulcatus ticks, Candidatus R. tarasevichiae has been identified in all positive samples. D. silvarum specimens contained DNA from R. sibirica, R. raoultii, and Ca. R. tarasevichiae. DNA from R. sibirica subsp. sibirica was identified in sectional material from a STT case with fatal outcome. The activation of the epidemic process in in the Minusinsk Basin (Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia) is due to epidemiological risks (high activity of D. nuttalli ticks and the total rickettsiophority of R. sibirica vectors, documented fatal cases, circulation of highly virulent strains of R. sibirica) with their transition from potential to actual.
The aim of the review was to characterize the epidemiological situation on Ixodidae tick-borne borreliosis (ITBB) in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in 2024, to forecast the development of the ITBB epidemic process in 2025 based on the analysis of its trends over the period of 2010–2024 with the exception of 2020–2021 – the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. An assessment of the epidemic potential of ITBB in Russia and other countries, where there is an increase in the activity of foci and an expansion of the range of pathogens, is provided. An analysis of the incidence of ITBB in the Russian Federation in 2024 has been conducted in comparison with the average long-term indicators for 2010–2019. In 2024, a total of 7 365 cases of ITBB were registered in the Russian Federation. The morbidity rate of ITBB in 2024 was 4.84 per 10 000 population, which is statistically significantly lower than the similar figure for 2023 (6.25 per 100,000 population), however it lies within the range of average long-term values between 2010 and 2019 (4.99 per 100,000 population). In 2024, the indicator in the majority of the federal districts (Northwestern Federal District, Volga Federal District, Ural Federal District, Siberian Federal District, and Far Eastern Federal District) either did not reach or remained within the average long-term incidence rates of ITBB observed in 2010–2019. In contrast, the Central, Southern, and North-Caucasian Federal Districts reported ITBB incidence rates that were above the mentioned long-term averages. The epidemiological situation regarding ITBB in the Russian Federation remains tense. Based on projected ITBB incidence rates, its decrease is expected in the Central, Northwestern, and Volga Federal Districts in 2025. Effective control of the ITBB epidemic situation is possible provided that the volume of preventive measures is maintained, and zoological-entomological monitoring of the activity and structure of natural foci is strengthened.
