Data on the incidence of brucellosis and main trends in the development of situation on this infection in countries around the world under current conditions are provided in the review. A detailed analysis of epizootiological and epidemiological situation regarding brucellosis in the Russian Federation over the last decade and a forecast for human brucellosis incidence for 2024 are given. It is established that global situation on brucellosis in different regions of the world has undergone changes over the past 15–20 years. One can observe an almost twofold increase in the number of countries affected by brucellosis in the world. A relatively high brucellosis morbidity rates were recorded in some countries in Africa, Central Asia, South and South-East Asia, Central and South America. In countries of the European Union, there is a trend towards an increase in the number of human brucellosis cases associated with travel to enzootic countries. In the Russian Federation, an unstable epidemiological situation has been observed over the past 10 years. 3537 cases were identified. In 2022–2023, an emerging trend towards an increase in incidence of brucellosis among population by 30–50 % as compared to long-term average values was recorded, linked to occurrence of cattle epizooties, including at large livestock enterprises; formation of group epidemic foci in previously relatively brucellosis-free territories of the Central, Volga and Southern Federal Districts; and the deterioration of epizootic situation on brucellosis in the Republic of Dagestan and a number of constituent entities of Siberian Federal District. Situation on brucellosis in the Smolensk and Bryansk Regions requires closer attention. There are signs of rooting (enzooty) and further spread of brucellosis among cattle there in 2023. In 2024, incidence rate can be predicted to be 35–40 % higher than the long-term average values. The number of human brucellosis cases may be approximately 480–530 (0.32–0.36 per 100 000 population).

The review features the situation on Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in the world and the analysis of the epidemiological and epizootiological situation in the Russian Federation in 2023. The number of CCHF cases (26) in Russia was 2.3 times less than in 2022, and 71.6 % lower than the long-term average (in 2013–2022 – an average of 88.8 cases per year, mortality (8 %) is 2.4 times higher than the long-term average (3.3 %). The epidemically significant indicator of the abundance of the main vector of the CCHF virus, ticks Hyalomma marginatum, was 5 times higher than the threshold value (abundance index for cattle – 15.5) at long-term observation points in April. For the first time, one case of CCHF disease was registered in a new epidemically active territory – in the Botlikh and Novolaksky districts of the Republic of Dagestan. For the first time in the Zaporozhye Region, RNA of the CCHF virus was detected in ticks H. marginatum and Rhipicephalus rossicus. Markers of CCHF virus were found in 0.67–18.27 % of samples, CCHF virus variants of the genetic line Europe 1 were circulating on the territory of Russia in 2023. According to the forecast of the epidemic situation for 2024, CCHF morbidity is likely to increase in the south of the European part of Russia. The recommendations for undertaking preventive measures have been provided.

An epizootological inspection of the liberated territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions was carried out. It was established that the faunal complex of small mammals, hare-like and ectoparasites, as well as their number, make it possible to ensure the circulation of natural focal infections identified by the results of laboratory studies: tularemia, Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CHF), West Nile fever (WNF), ixodic tick-borne borreliosis (ITB), rickettsiosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), leptospirosis, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), Q fever, intestinal yersiniosis, Batai, Inco, Sindbis, Tyaginya fevers. For the first time, the PCR method in field material from the Zaporozhye region (Berdyansk and Melitopol regions) detected the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, on the territory of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in the populations of small mammals (rodents and insectivores), the circulation of viruses Inco, Sindbis, Tyagin, Batai was established. In the territories of Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, the presence of combined and conjugated natural foci of ixodic tick-borne borreliosis, rickettsiosis and human granulocytic anaplasmosis is determined. According to the results of molecular genetic analysis, it was shown that the causative agents of natural focal infections (Crimean hemorrhagic fever, West Nile fever, ixodic tick-borne borreliosis, rickettsiosis) identified in 2023 are genetically close to strains circulating in the regions of the south European part of Russia.

The results of a review of the epizootiological and epidemiological situation on anthrax around the world in 2023 and the forecast of morbidity in the Russian Federation in 2024 are presented. In 2023, a complication of the epizootiological and epidemiological situation on this infection was recorded in Russia. Seven outbreaks of anthrax with infection of 14 farm animals and 19 humans were registered in five constituent entities of three federal districts (Volga, Siberian, and Central Federal Districts). Epizootiological and epidemiological instability due to the anthrax was detected in four neighboring countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Anthrax among farm and wild animals was recorded in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. Cases of human disease were reported in Africa, Asia and Europe. Human infections occurred during contact with infected animals, products of animal origin, consumption of meat from sick/fallen livestock and wild animals. The incidence rate of anthrax in animals and humans in Russia in 2024 will correlate with the completeness of registration and specific immunization coverage of susceptible animals and persons from groups with high occupational risk of infection. With proper implementation of all preventive measures and effective surveillance of infection, anthrax incidence in the entities of the Russian Federation will amount to isolated cases.

The aim of the study was to assess the current epidemiological situation on Ixodidae tick-borne borreliosis (ITBB) (2017–2022) on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory, to study the species composition of Borrelia.Materials and methods. Ixodidae ticks, Ixodes ricinus, Haemaphysalis concinna, H. inermis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, were examined for infection with tick-borne borreliosis pathogens, followed by DNA sequencing of isolates. Species identification of Borrelia was carried out based on analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene fragment using BLAST algorithm. Additionally, the OspC genotype was determined for isolates of pathogenic genovariants through comparing the obtained sequences with reference ones in the MEGA 5 program. The data were processed applying the cartographic method using the QGIS 2.18 software.Results and discussion. Between 2017 and 2022, 101 cases were registered on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory, which accounted for 1.6 % of all ITBB cases in the Krasnodar Territory. The number of complaints with tick bites in Sochi was up to 191.4 per 100 thousand population. During the study, the predominant Borrelia geno-species on the territory of the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory was determined using sequencing – Borrelia lusitaniae (78.1 %). The circulation of geno-species B. garinii (6.8 %), B. valasiana (5.7 %), B. afzelii (3.6 %), B. miyamotoi (2.6 %), B. tanukii, B. bissettii (1.6 % each) was also observed. For Borrelia pathogenic species, appurtenance to OspC geno-groups was ascertained: four isolates were assigned to invasive OspC geno-groups, of which three B. afzelii isolates were genogroup A8, one B. garinii isolate was G7. High rate of infection of ticks with Borrelia was recorded in the surveyed area (up to 94.5 %). Borrelia of pathogenic species account for only 10.4 % of the total number of isolates studied. Mostly, genovariants that rarely cause diseases in humans (B. lusitaniae, B. valasiana, B. bissettii) and non-pathogenic Borrelia (B. tanukii) were found, which indicates a low risk of infection with ITBB pathogens.

The aim of the work was to characterize sporulation genes and proteins in Bacillus anthracis strains of major genetic lineages.Materials and methods. Genome analysis was carried out in silico using the genome of the Ames Ancestor strain as a reference one, 47 B. anthracis strains from the GenBank NCBI database, belonging to the main lineages A, B, C, the genome of the CI strain Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis, 7 strains from the collection of Stavropol Research Anti-Plague Institute of the Rospotrebnadzor, as well as the NCBI Protein Database resource. Identification of polymorphisms was performed in BLASTn, BLASTp, MEGA X, MAUVE, and Tandem Repeat Finder software. Gene and protein sequences were aligned using MEGA X program.Results and discussion. A comparison of polymorphisms in sporulation proteins and genes of three major genetic lineages has showed that the number of all forms in B. anthracis strains of B, C lineages and Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis exceeds those in strains of lineage A by 4,5–10, 6,8–92 and 160–2078 times, respectively. A larger number of non-synonymous SNPs in sporulation genes with changes in the amino acid composition and function of proteins in B. anthracis strains of the major genetic lines B, C and B. cereus biovar anthracis than in strains of lineage A suggests their limited adaptive capabilities and may be one of the explanations for their lower prevalence as compared to line A.

The aim of the work was to conduct a comparative phylogenetic analysis based on wgSNP of complete genomes of Brucella melitensis strains circulating in the territory of the Russian Federation.Materials and methods. wgSNP typing of 412 B. melitensis strains of the main genetic lineages of brucella from different regions of the world, including 64 strains isolated in the regions of the European and Asian parts of the Russian Federation, was performed. DNA sequencing was conducted on the “Ion GeneStudio S5 Plus” platform (“Life Technologies”, USA) using the “Ion Plus Fragment Library Kit library preparation” (“Life Technologies”, USA), according to the “Ion 520™ & Ion 530™ Kit – Chef” protocol (Revision D.0).Results and discussion. It has been established that the strains circulating in Russia belong mainly to genotype II, which has a wide geographical distribution across the territory of Eurasia. At the same time, subgenotype IIh prevails in the regions of Siberia, and Iii – in the European territory of the country. For the first time, sets of specific SNPs have been identified that allow for intraspecific differentiation of B. melitensis strains. The obtained results made it possible to determine the probable routes of introduction of the causative agent of brucellosis into the territory of the Russian Federation from China and the countries of the Middle East. The prospect of using an optimized wgSNP typing scheme to solve urgent problems in the field of molecular epidemiology of brucellosis is demonstrated. It includes determining the genotype and subgenotype of the pathogen associated with the probable geographical region of origin of infection, and identifying the genetic relations between strains with high accuracy.

An epizootological inspection of the liberated territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions was carried out. It was established that the faunal complex of small mammals, hare-like and ectoparasites, as well as their number, make it possible to ensure the circulation of natural focal infections identified by the results of laboratory studies: tularemia, Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CHF), West Nile fever (WNF), ixodic tick-borne borreliosis (ITB), rickettsiosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), leptospirosis, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), Q fever, intestinal yersiniosis, Batai, Inco, Sindbis, Tyaginya fevers. For the first time, the PCR method in field material from the Zaporozhye region (Berdyansk and Melitopol regions) detected the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, on the territory of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in the populations of small mammals (rodents and insectivores), the circulation of viruses Inco, Sindbis, Tyagin, Batai was established. In the territories of Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, the presence of combined and conjugated natural foci of ixodic tick-borne borreliosis, rickettsiosis and human granulocytic anaplasmosis is determined. According to the results of molecular genetic analysis, it was shown that the causative agents of natural focal infections (Crimean hemorrhagic fever, West Nile fever, ixodic tick-borne borreliosis, rickettsiosis) identified in 2023 are genetically close to strains circulating in the regions of the south European part of Russia.

Introduction. The current anthrax situation in Russia is characterized by instability. In 2023, there was an increase in the number of infection outbreaks compared to the long-term average (for five years). The aim of the study is to assess the epizootological and epidemiological situation regarding anthrax in the Russian Federation in 2023 and the reasons for its deterioration, and to analyze data from genomic epidemiological surveillance of this infection. Materials and methods. The information of the territorial bodies of Rospotrebnadzor on the investigation of anthrax outbreaks, reference materials about anthrax stationary hazardous areas and anthrax burials were used. The phylogenetic position of the identified Bacíllus anthracis strains and genomes structure were determined based on whole-genome sequencing data. Results. In 2023 anthrax outbreaks were registered in the Chuvash Republic — Chuvashia (1), the Tyva Republic (1), Tambov (1), Ryazan (1) and Voronezh (3) regions. 14 farm animals and 19 people fell ill. The infection of animals not vaccinated against anthrax, as well as vaccinated long before contact with the source of infection, occurred mainly during grazing in the territories of old (unregistered) anthrax soil foci. Human disease is caused by contact with sick animals during care, forced slaughter, cutting, transportation of carcasses and meat, cooking processing of contaminated meat and offal, and consumption of insufficiently heat-treated liver. 17 patients were diagnosed with a cutaneous form of anthrax, while 2 had an oropharyngeal form combined with a cutaneous form of the disease. In all cases, the genome structure typical of the B. anthracis species has been established. The phylogenetic relationship of B. anthracis isolates with B. anthracis strains previously isolated in Russia is shown. Conclusion. The reason for the trouble in anthrax in 2023 was a number of violations of veterinary and sanitary-epidemiological regulations against the background of the presence of soil foci of infection. Stabilization of the situation can be achieved only in full range of regulated preventive measures are constantly implementated. The results of molecular genetic typing of B. anthracis strains isolated during the epidemiologic investigation of seven anthrax outbreaks in the Russian Federation in 2023 allow us to conclude that they are of local origin and have a genome structure typical of the species. Genetic analysis of the isolated strains demonstrated the effectiveness of the developed wgSNP typing system in the epidemiologic investigation of outbreaks.

The aim of the review was to assess the epidemiological situation in natural plague foci in the Russian Federation, near and far abroad countries in 2023 and to forecast their epizootic activity for 2024. In 2023, cases of plague were registered in five countries worldwide: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (60 cases), the Republic of Madagascar (14), the United States of America (2), the People’s Republic of China (3), and Mongolia (5). A total of 84 cases of plague were recorded, of which 22 (26.2 %) were fatal. In the Russian Federation, in 2023, epidemic risks in epizootically active natural foci were significantly reduced due to the implementation of a set of preventive measures carried out by Rospotrebnadzor institutions, which was the guarantor of ensuring epidemiological well-being as regards plague. Plague epizootics were detected on the territory of two (Gorno-Altai high-mountain and Tuva mountain) out of 11 natural plague foci in the Russian Federation in 2023. Epizootics were reported on the territory of the Kosh-Agach district of the Altai Republic and the Mongun-Taiginsky kozhuun of the Tuva Republic. The total area of epizootics was 731.2 km2 (in 2022 – 248.3 km2). In total, 55 cultures of the antique biovar of the main subspecies Yersinia pestis pestis were isolated in 2023 (19 in 2022). The forecast for continuation of the tense epidemiological situation in the territory of the Altai and Tuva Republics in 2024 is substantiated. The trend of sustained growth in the epizootic potential of the East Caucasus high-mountain and Dagestan plain-piedmont plague foci is outlined. The prospects for introducing an automated electronic system for assessing the epidemic potential of natural plague foci into practice are explained.

Objective: analysis of the current epizootological and epidemiological situation on anthrax and characteristic of stationary hazardous for this infection areas (SHAs) in the South of Russia.Materials and methods: we used data on SHAs and anthrax burials from the Rospotrebnadzor Directorates for the subjects of the Southern (SFD) and North Caucasus (NCFD) federal districts, regional Veterinary Directorates, official data from Rospotrebnadzor and Rosselkhoznadzor on morbidity in humans and livestock.Results: anthrax is almost ubiquitous in the regions of the SFD and NCFD. According to data updated in 2023, in the South of Russia, 3845 SHAs were taken into account, in which 9815 outbreaks were registered. In 1999-2023 92 SHAs showed activity, 23 of which are new. There are 350 anthrax burials located in the SHA’s territories. Over 25 years, there were 104 outbreaks affecting at least 269 livestock and 134 people, with 4 deaths. Human infection occurred mainly during the forced slaughter of sick cattle, unvaccinated against anthrax, through contact with contaminated meat.Conclusion: the epidemiological and epidemiological situation on anthrax in the South of Russia continues to remain unstable. The problem is due to the presence of a significant number of soil hotspots against the backdrop of incomplete implementation of preventive measures. Stabilization of the anthrax situation can only be achieved by implementing a full range of preventive and anti-epidemic measures in the format of interdepartmental interaction.

Relevance. Molecular surveillance, aimed at obtaining up-to-date information on the genetic variants of pathogens circulating in the studied region, is an important element of the surveillance of natural focal infections (NFIs). The Stavropol Territory is one of the main recreational regions in the Russian Federation; it is endemic for a number of NFIs, including: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Q fever, tularemia, Lime disease, etc. The aim of the work is is genomic profiling of NFIs causative agents circulating in the Stavropol Territory in 2016-2021. Materials and methods. Microbial strains and samples of field and clinical material containing genomic DNA/RNA of pathogens were used as material for the study. Genetic typing of strains and isolates of DNA/RNA NFIs causative agents was performed by MLVA (Francisella tularensis and Coxiella burnetii) and genome fragment sequencing (Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, West Nile virus, orthohantaviruses, Borrelia burgdorferii s.l., Ricckettsia sp.). Results. As a result of molecular genetic typing in the ST in 2016-2021 confirmed circulation of strains of F. tularensis of genetic subgroups B.I, B.III, B.VI, genetically identical strains of C. burnetii (VNTR-профиль 4-6-6-4-7-6-3-12-3-11), rickettsia belonging to 5 species: R. raoultii, R. aeschlimannii, R. slovaca, R. massiliae, R. helvetica , Borrelia belonging to the species: B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. miyamotoi, B. bavariensis, B. lusitaniae, B. valaisiana, RNA isolates of the CCHF virus of the Europe-1 and Europe-3 genetic lines, Tula orthohantaviruses, West Nile virus genotype 2. For the first time on the territory of the CT, in insectivore lung samples, RNA isolates of orthohantavirus genetically close to Camp Ripley virus (RLPV) were detected. Conclusions. New data have been obtained on the distribution of genetic variants of NFIs causative agents in the S, also in the recreation areas. Genetic structure of the population of NFIs causative agents in the ST in 2016-2021 did not change significantly, which indicates the relative stability of the natural foci of NFIs in the region.

The review presents current data on the history of distribution, phylogeography, population structure, features of the evolution of the causative agent of anthrax. The results of foreign publications and our own original materials on the territorial distribution of genetic lines of Bacillus anthracis, the genetic relationship of variants isolated in Russia and abroad, the ways of distribution of variants of the pathogen in Russia and neighboring countries summarized. Based on the limited possibilities of spreading anthrax infection with sick animals and the high stability of pathogen spores in the environment, the leading role of human activity in the spread of B. anthracis shown. The probable ways of spread of the pathogen over long distances described, determined by the historical migration of people, the routes of conquerors, trade routes and the import of livestock products. The spread of the causative agent of anthrax on the territory of the Russian Federation began with Eastern Siberia and through the south of Siberia reached the European part of the Russian Federation, including the North Caucasus.

АНАЛИТИЧЕСКИЕ ОБЗОРЫЭ ндотелиальная дисфункция является патологическим процессом, ведущим к системной воспалительной реакции в ответ на повреждение, что считается ключевым звеном в патогенезе инфекционных заболеваний [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].Цель работы -анализ опубликованных научных исследований об эндотелиальной дисфункции при бруцеллезной инфекции. Материал и методыВ базах данных Index Medicus, Cochrane Library, PubMed, с использованием терминов, индексированных MeSH, проведен поиск публикаций по проблеме дисфункции эндотелия при бруцеллезе.Стратегия поиска и отбор опубликованных статей определены попыткой ответить на вопрос: какова патофизиологическая взаимосвязь дисфункции эндотелия с заболеванием бруцеллезом? Значение дисфункции эндотелия в патогенезе бруцеллезаФедеральное казенное учреждение здравоохранения «Ставропольский научноисследовательский противочумный институт» Федеральной службы по надзору в сфере защиты прав потребителей и благополучия человека, 355035, г.Ставрополь, Российская Федерация Бруцеллез -системное инфекционное заболевание, особенностью патогенеза которого является внутриклеточное паразитирование, что определяет высокий риск перехода в хроническое течение, ведущее к инвалидизации

Background: The active spread of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, epidemiologically important vectors for the transmission of dangerous arboviruses, on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Region necessitates prompt analysis of the results of their monitoring using modern geographic information systems. Objective: To analyze the results of practical application of the ZikaMap web portal for tracing migration of tiger mosquitoes along the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Region in 2016–2022. Materials and methods: We used Aedes albopictus migration monitoring data for 2016–2022 from the ZikaMap web portal. Mosquito counts were taken in Novorossiysk, Anapa and Tuapse districts, and Sochi with the total of 476 objects and 2,366 stationary points examined. Results and discussion: Tiger mosquitoes were found on the territory of epidemically significant objects four times (in the years 2018–2019 and in 2021) and once (in 2017) at a distance of 500 m from them (within the flight range of the Aedes mosquito). Immediately after that, emergency local disinfestation treatment was carried out. The highest abundance of Ae. albopictus (both in absolute numbers and catch per trap per hour) during the entire study period was registered in the Central District of Sochi, with a decrease observed since 2020. Results of the annual comparative cartographic analysis for 2016–2022 indicate the expansion of the boundaries of the Ae. albopictus habitat on the territory of the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Region 122 km northwards and 83 km westwards. Conclusion: It is expedient to continue developing real-time geographic information technologies in order to optimize approaches to monitoring and assessment of the current epidemic potential of natural foci of vector-borne and zoonotic infections and to improve the efficiency of response to potential worsening of the epidemic situation.

The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the developed anthrax magnoimmunosorbents (MIS) for the selective concentration of Bacillus anthracis spores and to increase the sensitivity of anthrax agent detection techniques, including when testing soil samples.Materials and methods. We used 10 vaccine strains of B. anthracis and 30 strains of closely related bacilli of the genus Bacillus (B. cereus – 15, B. thuringiensis – 10, B. megaterium – 5) with typical species properties. The work was performed on three experimental batches of magnoimmunosorbents. DNA extraction and PCR setting was carried out in compliance with the instructions for reagent panel for B. anthracis DNA detection “ApliSens Bacillus anthracis-FRT”.Results and discussion. It is shown that when using MIS, the sensitivity of the cultural method is increased by at least 7 times (taking into account the possibility of sorption of 1–10 or more spores on a sorbent particle). The sensitivity of the PCR method is improved by 10 times and amounts to 50 B. anthracis spores per 1 ml for the samples concentrated with the help of MIS. The sensitivity of the bacteriological method using MIS increases by a factor of 7.5 when testing the artificially contaminated with B. anthracis soil samples. Hence, application of the developed MIS makes it possible to significantly enhance the sensitivity of anthrax agent detection methods and can be considered as an effective means of sample preparation for the investigation of environmental objects (soil).

Relevance. The peculiarities of the course of the COVID-19 epidemic process in the regions of the world, as a rule, are determined by the epidemic risks characteristic of them. Identification and evaluation of the latter is necessary to improve measures to counter infection in a particular area. Aim. To study the features of the COVID-19 epidemic process in the regions of the North Caucasus, to identify and assess the impact of epidemic risk factors on the epidemic situation. Materials and methods. The data of the Departments of Rospotrebnadzor for the subjects of the North Caucasus, Internet resources: stopkoronavirus were used Russia, Johns Hopkins University and Our World in Data project. Statistical processing was carried out using methods of variation statistics and MS Excel software package (2016, USA). Correlation analysis was performed using Spearman's coefficient. Results. As of 01.12.2021, the incidence of COVID-19 in the Caucasus was lower than the Russian average (3890.0 and 65921.8 per 100 thousand population), and the mortality rate was higher (4.8 and 1.9%, respectively). The dynamics of the epidemic process as a whole repeated the situation in the Russian Federation, but with a delay of each phase by 2–3 weeks and had 4 periods of rising morbidity (waves), with the exception of the Stavropol Territory, the Republics of Adygea and Ingushetia, where three waves of morbidity were observed. In the Republics of Dagestan, Chechen and Adygea, a high proportion of community-acquired pneumonia was noted - 58.8, 47.0 and 34.1%, respectively. The mortality rate from a new coronavirus infection was higher than the national average in Dagestan (in the period of the 1st wave – 4.7%), Krasnodar Krai (in the period of the 2nd wave – 5.0%; 3 – 12.6%, in 4 – 9.9%), Karachay-Cherkess Republic (in the 3rd period of the rise – 9.0%) and in Stavropol Krai (in 4 – 7.6%). The lowest mortality from COVID-19 in the 3rd and 4th periods of the rise in morbidity in the North Caucasus was registered in Ingushetia – 2.2 and 2.1%, respectively. The exceptional situation in the Republic of Dagestan is due not only to a large proportion of community acquired pneumonia and high mortality from COVID-19, compared with other regions of the North Caucasus and Russia as a whole, but also to an increase in excess mortality in the republic. The excess of the average annual (over the previous 5 years) number of deaths in the Caucasus in 2020 was +19.8%, in 2021 +32.7%, in the Russian Federation as a whole 14.8 and 31.4%, respectively. Conclusion. The general epidemic risks of COVID-19 for the North Caucasus region have been identified – the level of vaccination, the implementation of non–specific prevention measures, as well as local risks for specific regions: in Dagestan – adherence to local mass ceremonies, as well as insufficient control over the implementation of restrictive measures, in Ingushetia – relatively high population density.

The aim of the work was to compare the discriminating capacity of the canSNP13 genotyping and MALDI‑TOF mass spectrometry methods based on the results of the study of anthrax pathogen strains belonging to the two main genetic lines A and B. Materials and methods. 73 Bacillus anthracis strains from the collection of microorganisms of the Stavropol Research Anti-Plague Institute of the Rospotrebnadzor were investigated. Protein profiling was carried out using a Microflex mass spectrometer, data processing – in the environment of the statistical programming language “R”. Results and discussion. It has been experimentally confirmed that the proposed approach for differentiating proteotypes of B. anthracis strains with a discrimination index of 0.952 exceeds the one for the canSNP typing method and is comparable to the discrimination index for the MLVA31 method. The correlation of the results of strain clustering during typing by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and canSNP genotyping reaches 95 % as regards the division into the main genetic lines A and B. The studied strains of anthrax microbe, which mostly fall under phylogenetic groups of lineage A, represent more than a dozen protein profiles, which may be due to differences in the level of protein expression in strains of each canSNP genotype. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry makes it possible to obtain the results comparable with genetic tests, has a better discriminating capacity compared to canSNP typing, and is easier to perform.

The paper provides the results of analysis of the epizootiological and epidemiological situation on anthrax in the world in 2022, also, the forecast of incidence rates for the Russian Federation in 2023 is presented. In 2022, two cases of anthrax in farm animals and two cases of cutaneous form of infection in humans were registered in Russia, in the constituent entities of the North Caucasian Federal District: the Republic of Dagestan and the Stavropol Territory. The tense situation on anthrax was reported in the neighboring countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine. Epizootics of infection with the highest number of affected farm and wild animals were recorded in the countries of Africa, Asia, North America and Europe. The incidence of anthrax among people in the far abroad (mainly in Africa and Asia) was mostly associated with consuming the meat of sick and fallen farm animals, contact with infected animals, animal products. The incidence of anthrax in animals and humans in the Russian Federation in 2023 will largely depend on the scale of coverage with specific immunization of susceptible animals and persons at risk of infection and, given the strict implementation of comprehensive surveillance measures, will be limited to the registration of potentially possible single cases of infection.

Introduction. Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax, a pathogen characterized by high genetic monomorphism that complicates differentiation of strains. Thus, molecular methods for pathogen typing require the improvement. The aim of the study. To select marker SNPs for new genetic groups of B. anthracis and to develop a method for their laboratory identification using HRM PCR. Materials and methods. The core genome of 222 strains of B. anthracis from the GenBank database and 66 strains from the collection of pathogenic microorganisms of the Stavropol Anti-Plague Institute was aligned using the parsnp software. A dendrogram based on 7242 core genome SNPs was built in MEGA X software. The strains for validation of the HRM method included representatives of various genetic groups. The HRM PCR reaction was performed using the "Type-it HRM PCR Kit" and "KAPA HRM FAST qPCR Kit" and a Rotor Gene DNA thermocycler with HRM function. Data analysis and visualization were performed using custom scripts in the Python and R development environments. Results and discussion. Marker SNPs for 6 genetic groups have been identified, which make it possible to determine whether strains belong to one of 7 new subclusters. Pairs of primers were selected for the loci containing them, HRM PCR parameters were optimized for discrimination of different alleles of SNP loci, and an analysis scheme was developed. Conclusion. Thus, marker SNPs were selected to determine the genetic subclusters A.Br.CEA, A.Br.STI, A.Br.Tsiankovskii, B.Br.Europe, B.Br.Siberia, B.Br.Asia, B.Br.018, and a new laboratory method was developed for molecular subtyping of B. anthracis using HRM PCR.