This pioneering study is prompted by the imperative to enhance our understanding of a constituent within Ukraine's rabies control strategy, specifically focusing on the vaccination of free-roaming canines against rabies with a local vaccine in certain endemic rabies areas. The cross-sectional study encompassed the capture, sterilization, deworming, and rabies vaccination processes in 160 free-roaming dogs, followed by the collection of blood samples to examine RABV-specific neutralising antibodies in 16 dogs (10% of the vaccinated population), captured from sectors (territories) with a higher density of population and with higher density of previously vaccinated free-roaming dogs. Half of the targeted samples comprised males (n = 8), while the remaining half consisted of females (n = 8). The median of virus-neutralising antibody level was 0.58 IU/mL, with a minimum protective threshold of 0.5 IU/mL. Antibody titers below the 0.5 IU/mL threshold were detected in 25.0% (2/8) of the male group, and in 62.5% (5/8) of the female group. Notably, male dogs exhibited a higher median antibody level of 0.66 IU/mL, compared to females, who presented a median level of 0.26 IU/mL. However, no statistically significant difference was found between the male and female groups (P = 0.36). In general, more than half of the tested population (56.3%) exceeded the 0.5 IU/mL protective threshold 4 months post-vaccination. The inadequate levels of antibodies neutralizing the rabies virus are likely a result of a confluence of factors, including stressors such as nutritional and temperature-related challenges, along with variations in the responses of individual immune systems. Considering the endemic rabies situation and large population of free-roaming dogs in Ukraine, we suggest repeated vaccination for free-roaming dogs against rabies one year after the previous vaccination. In perspective, we suggest conducting large-scale epidemiological studies to assess the impact of animal-related, vaccine-related, and environment-related parameters on the efficacy of rabies vaccines used in Ukraine.

African swine fever is one of the most serious threats to the world pig industry due to high infectivity and mortality rates among pigs. To date, no effective means of active prevention of the infection have been developed. The only effective method of control is passive monitoring of the spread of the pathogen among the population of domestic and wild pigs, detection of infected animals and their depopulation. The study analyzes the spread of African swine fever in Ukraine from 2012 to 2024 and compares it with the countries that share a common border – Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova. In Ukraine, the first outbreaks were recorded in 2012 in Zaporizhzhia region among domestic pigs. In total, 619 outbreaks were detected during the study period: 482 among domestic pigs and 137 among wild pigs. The largest number of outbreaks was recorded in Odesa (64), Poltava (54), Mykolaiv (52) and Kyiv (46) regions. In Eastern European countries, African swine fever was detected later: in Poland – since 2014 (1304 among domestic and 17871 among wild pigs), Romania – since 2017 (6729 and 3649, respectively), Hungary and Slovakia – since 2018 (0 and 7875; 72 and 3645). In Moldova, the first outbreak was in 2020 (39 among domestic and 45 among wild pigs). The highest total number of outbreaks was recorded in Poland (19175), mainly among wild boars (93.2%). In Hungary, all detected cases involved wild animals. The analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in the number of African swine fever outbreaks between the analyzed countries. There is also a difference in the number of outbreaks within the analyzed time period. If we analyze the number of cases since 2018, there is no statistically significant difference. Prevention and control of African swine fever are complicated by the circulation of the pathogen among wild boars, non-compliance with biosecurity measures by owners of small pig farms and the movement of infected animals. Comprehensive monitoring with early detection of outbreaks and timely destruction of infected animals plays a key role. Key words: pigs, African swine fever, spread, viruses, epizootic analysis, epizootic situation.

Стаття присвячена вивченню ретроспективного аналізу спалахів транскордонних інфекційних захворювань тварин та птиці на основі наукових літературних джерел та матеріалів баз WOAH (OIE) та Pro Med. Висвітлено епізоотичну ситуацію, яка склалась у світі протягом останніх 7–15 років з африканської чуми коней, африканської чуми свиней, близькосхідного респіраторного синдрому, везикулярної хвороби свиней, везикулярного стоматиту, віспи овець і кіз, гарячки долини Ріфт, геморагічної септицемії, високопатогенного пташиного грипу, заразного вузликового дерматиту, катаральної хвороби овець (блутангу), класичної чуми свиней, контагіозної плевропневмонії великої рогатої худоби, ньюкаслської хвороби, чуми дрібних жуйних, ящура. Доведена необхідність контролю зазначених хвороб, адже вони завдають значних збитків міжнародній торгівлі внаслідок втрати довіри між торговельними партнерами, загрожують виробництву продовольства через недоотримання продукції тваринництва і небезпеки виникнення хвороб у людини, в наслідок зоонозного потенціалу останніх.

To improve our understanding and to develop strategies to control Lyme borreliosis, this study focused on assessing the prevalence of clinically relevant Borrelia genotypes in ixodid ticks collected from different regions of Ukraine. Ixodid ticks were collected from vegetation and animal hosts in Kyiv, Cherkasy, and Mykolaiv regions of Ukraine (2021). The ticks were then tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of the B. burgdorferi sensu lato complex and genotyped using primers for B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii, and B. garinii. In total, 1132 ixodid ticks were examined. In Kyiv region, Ixodes ricinus was the most common species (79.7%), in Cherkasy region, Dermacentor reticulatus was most common (72.7%), and in Mykolaiv region, Hyalomma marginatum was the most common species (76.4%). PCR analysis showed that I. ricinus and D. reticulatus are the main vectors of the B. burgdorferi sensu lato complex, especially in Kyiv and Cherkasy regions, where I. ricinus had a significantly higher total Borrelia infection rate (29.2%) than D. reticulatus (15.9%). In Mykolaiv region, Borrelia was not detected. Genotypic analysis revealed a significantly higher prevalence of the B. afzelii (15.6%) over the B. burgdorferi sensu stricto genotype at 9.3%. The B. garinii genotype was not detected in this study.This study analyzes the prevalence of ixodid ticks and genotypes of the Lyme borreliosis pathogen in Northern, Central and Southern Ukraine. In general, the results of the study indicate a widespread presence of borrelia in the northern and central regions, while no Borrelia were detected in the southern region. In addition, the B. afzelii genotype prevailed in Kyiv and Cherkasy regions.

Epidemiological and statistical methods were used to analyze the epidemiological situation regarding Lyme borreliosis in humans and domestic dogs in Ukraine. The data of the Central Health Service of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine on the incidence of Lyme borreliosis in humans over the last 20 years of passive epidemiological observation (2003–2022) were analyzed, and time trends and seasonal dynamics of incidence were studied. The prevalence of Lyme borreliosis among domestic dogs over the last decade (2013–2022) was analyzed based on data from a survey of veterinarians. Cross-regional geographic trends in the prevalence of Lyme borreliosis in humans and domestic dog populations are compared. The obtained data indicate an increasing trend in the incidence of Lyme borreliosis in Ukraine over the past two decades. The peak of incidence was recorded in 2018 – 12.77 cases per 100,000 population. Over the 5 years, from 2018 to 2022, Ukraine experienced the highest level of Lyme disease incidence, which was 45.16 cases per 100,000 population and statistically higher than the incidence rates in 2003–2007 (2.86 cases per 100,000 population) and 2008–2012 (13.33 cases per 100,000 population), confirming a trend of increasing disease prevalence over the years. Seasonal dynamics are observed, with the highest incidence rates occurring during the summer months, especially in June, July, August, and the early autumn month of September, as indicated by a seasonal disease index exceeding one. The study revealed geographical variations in the prevalence of Lyme borreliosis among both humans and domestic dogs. Over the past 10 years, from 2013 to 2022, regions of Northern and Central Ukraine, including Kyiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, and Poltava oblasts, have shown relatively higher rates of Lyme borreliosis in both humans and domestic dogs. Conversely, the southern regions of Ukraine consistently report lower incidence rates of Lyme borreliosis in both populations, especially in Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts. The similarity of the geographical distribution of Lyme borreliosis among humans and domestic dogs is confirmed statistically. The study findings highlight the growing public health burden of Lyme borreliosis and the importance of ongoing disease surveillance. In addition, they highlight the valuable contribution of veterinary data on the incidence of Lyme borreliosis in domestic dogs, providing a passive but important source of additional information. In addition, the study results provide valuable information on the geographic distribution of Lyme borreliosis in both humans and domestic dogs, which will aid in the development of targeted intervention strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of the disease in selected high-risk regions. A deeper understanding of the epidemiological aspects of the disease will contribute to the development of science-based strategies for the prevention and control of Lyme borreliosis, in accordance with the concept of One Health.

Coagulase-positive staphylococci are an important infectious agentcausing numerous infections in animals. Staphylococcus aureus andStaphylococcus pseudintermedius share a number of similar cultural andbiochemical characteristics, which makes their differentiation difficult.Since these species have different zoonotic potential, it is advisable todevelop rapid and specific schemes for species differentiation of pathogens.We have studied the cultural and biochemical characteristics ofStaphylococcus spp. isolated from dogs, cats and cows. In total, 103halophilic coccal cultures were isolated from companion animals and45 from cows, of which 55 and 30 cultures were coagulase-positivestaphylococci, respectively. The reactions that can be used to differentiateS. pseudintermedius and S. aureus were studied. Growth inhibition zonesaround the disk with polymyxin B antibiotic for S. pseudintermediuswere statistically higher (p<0.001) than for S. aureus. The determinationof acetone production to differentiate between these pathogens hasless specificity, as 30% of S. pseudintermedius showed a false-positivereaction. The belonging of two isolates to the species Staphylococcuspseudintermedius was confirmed by MALDI-TOF.The virulence of staphylococci is due to the presence of genesthat regulate the synthesis of various pathogenicity factors and causeantibiotic resistance. Molecular genetic methods can detect the presenceof gene specificity and help to assess the risk of a particular strain causinginfection. Using classical and real-time PCR, the mecA gene was detectedin 8 S. aureus strains and 1 S. pseudintermedius strain that showedphenotypic resistance to methicillin. The pathogenicity genes lukF andsiet were present in 100%, and the lukS gene in 90% of the studiedStaphylococcus pseudintermedius.The study highlights a number of aspects of the diagnosis anddifferentiation of coagulase-positive staphylococci. The possibility ofusing the Neonatal FAST well D-ONE microculture system for use inveterinary laboratories was also studied. The data obtained can be usedto develop methodological approaches to the identification of pathogenicstaphylococci using a combination of different methods. Key words: S. pseudintermedius, resistance to methicillin,pathogenicity genes, MALDI-TOF MS.

The analysis of monitoring studies for brucellosis among farm and wild animals for the period 2004–2021 in Ukraine was performed. The total number of tests on brucellosis during this period among cattle amounted to 62,917,946 animals, small ruminants – 10,898,075, pigs – 4,146,751, horses – 116,668, wild pigs – 22,306, roe deer – 11,548, hares (only the last two years were studied) – 430 animals. During the same period, camels, deer, dogs, cats, rabbits, poultry, zoo animals, wild animals including moose, foxes and badgers were examined in case of suspicion or request. During this period, seropositive animals were found among cattle – 607, small ruminants – 84, pigs – 219, horses – 4, dogs – 2, wild boars – 52, hares – 7. There were years when no positive animals were detected (2012, 2015), 1–3 animals were detected in 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017. The largest number of animals positive for brucellosis was detected in 2004 and 2006, respectively 107 and 328 animals. Some regions stand out among others with a significant number of positive results. Thus, in Sumy region, positive animals were isolated in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021 (a total of 45 animals), in Dnipropetrovsk region in 2004, 2016, 2017, 2018 (a total of 11 animals). The results of the analysis showed that human brucellosis in Ukraine is registered sporadically (single cases). During the analyzed period, 32 cases of human brucellosis were detected, during the period 1994–2021, the diagnosis of brucellosis was confirmed in 45 people. Approximately 50% of human brucellosis cases in Ukraine are introduced from abroad. The vector role of wild animals-reservoirs in the spread of the brucellosis pathogen in the direction of farm animals and from them to humans is confirmed. Among the regions, the most disadvantaged were Chernihiv (cases in 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015), Lviv (2005, 2011, 2021) and Kyiv (2008, 2014, 2021). During the period 1994–2021, the disease was not registered in people at all in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Volyn, Vinnytsia, Transcarpathian, Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, Rivne, Ternopil, Cherkasy regions.

У статті наведено аналіз сучасної епізоотичної ситуації щодо небезпечного пріонного захворювання овець, кіз і муфлонів – скрепі. Проаналізовані ветеринарні аспекти охорони здоров’я з урахуванням зоонозного потенціалу цього збудника. Наведено sc характеристику збудника хвороби – інфекційного пріону (PrP ), який є одним із етіологічних агентів групи трансмісивних губчастоподібних енцефалопатій, власне нейродегенеративних захворювань, спричинених пріонами, інфекційними білками, які реплікуються шляхом перетворення нормального клітинного білка в копії зміненого пріона. Наведені сучасні відомості про шляхи розповсюдження збудника та сприйнятливість до скрепі певних порід овець. Особливу увагу в статті присвячено діагностиці захворювання, а саме сучасним методам лабораторних досліджень. Детально описані клінічні ознаки і перебіг класичної та атипової форм скрепі, наведено порівняльну характеристику цих двох форм перебігу. Із урахуванням світового досвіду, висвітнені основні складові, на які потрібно звертати увагу ветеринарним працівникам під час організації заходів боротьби та профілактики цього захворювання. На основі аналітичного дослідження автори роблять висновок про те, що існує нагальна необхідність впровадження активної системи епіднагляду серед овець і кіз з метою виявлення випадків хвороби, що у свою чергу матиме рішуче значення для попередження занесення і розповсюдження хвороби на території України та раннього виявлення спалахів хвороби.

Staphylococcal biofilms are an important virulence factor that allows for effective infectious effects and colonization of the animal body. This study was devoted to the evaluation of the biofilm forming ability of different strains of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from animals in Ukraine. In addition, the presence of extracellular adhesin genes icaA and icaD in S. pseudintermedius strains was determined. The density of the biofilms was determined by culturing microorganisms in 96-well plates and staining the resulting structures with crystal violet. The genes responsible for biofilm formation were identified by classical polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers selected from the literature. The data obtained from this study showed a direct correlation between the density of the biofilm and the number of viable cells involved in its formation. Thus, 23.1% of S. pseudintermedius strains and 25% of S. aureus strains isolated from dogs demonstrated the ability to form a dense biofilm, while 46.2% of S. pseudintermedius strains and 50% of S. aureus strains formed a weak biofilm. The origin of the isolates had no significant effect on the biofilm characteristics. Coagulase-positive staphylococci obtained from cats did not form dense biofilms. 42.9% of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from cows with mastitis had moderate to strong biofilm forming properties. Isolates that showed resistance to three or more antibiotic groups tended to form denser biofilms. In addition, 73.3% of the studied S. pseudintermedius strains were found to contain the icaA gene, and 90% – the icaD gene. A genotypic profile combining both icaA and icaD genes was present in 66.7% of the bacteria, while one strain lacked both genes. Understanding the biofilm forming properties of staphylococcal isolates is important in the context of developing optimal treatment strategies and effective antibiotic use, which will contribute to better control of infections caused by these microorganisms.

Zoonotic leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira bacteria that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Animals, especially wild and domestic mammals, are reservoir hosts that carry and excrete the bacteria in their urine. A retrospective analysis of the incidence of leptospirosis in animals and humans in Ukraine from 2003 to 2022 was conducted based on reports from regional state laboratories of veterinary medicine and the Center for Public Health. GIS mapping was used to analyze and visualize the data. The incidence and prevalence of leptospirosis among different animal species, including farm, domestic and wild animals, were analyzed. These studies included a retrospective analysis of blood serum samples from different animal species for leptospirosis and analysis of the results to determine the level of seropositivity. The study analyzed a total of 6,543,934 samples, with an overall seropositivity rate of 3.3%. Among cattle, 4.1% of the samples were positive. For pigs, 2.1% were positive. Horses had a seropositivity rate of 7.9%, while dogs and cats had seropositivity rates of 17.5% and 13.1% respectively. Wild boars showed a positivity rate of 2.2%. The number of seropositive animals of different species in Ukraine showed different dynamics from 2003 to 2022. The highest number of positive cases was found among cattle, pigs and horses. However, the number of positive cases decreased significantly after 2015, which coincides with a significant reduction in the number of farm animals. Trends of increasing seropositivity among dogs and cats in the period 2007–2015 indicate that these species are also active carriers of Leptospira, as are the leading agricultural species. Wildlife species with stable seropositivity serve as both sources and reservoirs of Leptospira. Wild pigs are becoming the main bacterial carriers in all regions of Ukraine. There is a marked disproportion between the number of positive cases among farm animals and wildlife, indicating that seropositivity in these populations exists largely autonomously. A total of 7,937 people were infected in Ukraine between 2003 and 2022. Certain regions, such as Lviv, Kherson, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and Vinnytsia, account for a larger share of the total number of cases, ranging from 4.8% to 7.3%. The incidence of human leptospirosis has fluctuated over the years, peaking at 473 cases in 2014, followed by a decline: 301 cases in 2015, 323 cases in 2016 and 330 cases in 2017, and in subsequent years the number of cases remained relatively stable, ranging from 142 to 295 cases per year. The study emphasizes the need to improve preventive measures and raise public awareness of the disease, especially in rural areas. It is important to adopt a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach involving collaboration between veterinary medicine, public health and environmental authorities to better understand and address the complexities of leptospirosis transmission and reduce its impact on animal and human health.

The article presents the results of a molecular genetic study of two isolates of the Pseudorabies virus that were isolated from pigs in Ukraine. Bioinformatic analysis of the gE gene fragment of Aujeszky's disease virus (Pseudorabies virus) isolates was carried out in order to determine the phylogenetic relationships and homology of nucleotide sequences. Fragments of the Aujeszky disease virus genome corresponding to the C-terminal region of the gE gene were selected for sequencing and further analysis. As a result of the conducted studies, it was demonstrated that the nucleotide sequences of the analyzed samples differ from each other by the presence of ACG insert in the tandem repeats region. Comparison of the studied sequences with the sequences of strains/isolates of the Aujeszky's disease virus found in Europe and Asia, presented in the GenBank database, indicates that such an insert is characteristic for the Min-A and HNJZ strains (position 1487 in the gE gene) isolated in Asia. Analysis of the homology of nucleotide sequences showed that the sequence of the gE gene fragment of sample No. 1 is 100% identical to the sequences of strains 89V87 and 00V72 isolated in Belgium. The homology of the nucleotide sequence of the gE gene fragment of sample No. 3 with strains 89V87 and 00V72 was 99.13%. In order to clarify the analyzed samples belonging to a particular genogroup (genetic cluster), a phylogenetic dendrogram was constructed. This demonstrates the phylogenetic relationships between strains/isolates of the Aujeszky's disease virus. It was found that the analyzed samples belong to the genetic cluster uniting European strains/isolates, and the studied isolates are most genetically close to strains 89V87 and 00V72.

Lyme borreliosis, also known as Lyme disease, is a chronic multiorgan disease of humans and animals transmitted by ticks of the Ixodidae family and caused by a group of spirochetes Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Dogs are one of the most susceptible animal species to Lyme disease. Symptoms of the disease in dogs can range from mild lameness and fever to more severe and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as kidney damage and neurological disorders. Due to the variety of clinical manifestations and the lack of a universal diagnostic approach, veterinarians often face difficulties in accurately diagnosing the disease. Therefore, improving the algorithms for diagnosing Lyme borreliosis in dogs remains an urgent issue for practical veterinary medicine. The article describes and analyzes data on two cases of dogs from Kyiv (Ukraine) that presented with musculoskeletal disorders, including lameness, swelling of the knee joints, and tenderness, which raised suspicion of Lyme borreliosis. The diagnostic tests used to confirm the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis included clinical blood test, C-reactive protein test, cerebrospinal fluid cytology, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgM and IgG antigens to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, computed tomography and PCR analysis of synovial fluid for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA. As a result, the clinical blood test, C-reactive protein test, and cerebrospinal fluid cytology were not diagnostically important for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis. In both cases, serological tests for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato were not positive. Computed tomography showed the development of an inflammatory process in the knee joints with the formation of osteophytes, enthesophytes, sclerosis of the articular surfaces, and an increase in the volume of synovial bursa. The final diagnosis of Lyme arthritis in both dogs was established by PCR analysis of synovial fluid from the affected joints for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA. This study emphasizes the importance of considering Lyme borreliosis as a potential cause of musculoskeletal disorders in dogs. We also propose an expanded algorithm for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis in dogs with a pronounced symptom complex of Lyme arthritis using the method of PCR analysis of synovial fluid to detect the DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes. Key words: Lyme borreliosis in dogs, clinical cases, diagnosis, polymerase chain reaction, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.

Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease with constantly evolving pathogens, poses risks to both human and animal health. We investigated the prevalence of Leptospira spp. among horses in Ukraine from 2007 to 2021, encompassing clinical and subclinical cases. The study utilized data from the State Research Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise (2007–2021) to analyze leptospirosis prevalence in Ukrainian horses. Seroprevalence was calculated for each region. Equine leptospirosis outbreaks were retrospectively analyzed based on serological data from microagglutination reaction (MRA) studies using eight major serogroups. A geospatial analysis, utilizing quantile classification with five data classes, was conducted. Spanning 2007–2021, our analysis evaluated the prevalence and dynamics of equine leptospirosis in Ukraine. Serum samples tested for Leptospira antibodies exhibited varying dynamics over this period, with the highest and lowest rates observed in different years. Among the 125,101 horse serum samples analyzed, 10.8% tested positive for leptospirosis. The incidence rate fluctuated, peaking in certain years. The dominant serovars were Copenhageni (32.8%), Bratislava (16.1%), Grippotyphosa (15.4%), and Canicola (13.2%), while mixed reactions constituted 55.1% of positive cases. The analysis also revealed shifts in the prevalence of specific serovars over time. Geospatial analysis showcased the distribution of positive cases for each serovar across Ukraine's regions. The highest infection rates were observed in the eastern and northern regions, each characterized by distinct serovar prevalence. The etiologic composition map depicted varying serovar proportions among different regions. Furthermore, the density map delineated regions with different risk levels, with several regions falling into the "very high risk" category, while others like Odesa and Lviv were classified as low risk due to fewer positive leptospirosis cases. Detection of specific serovars like Tarassovi, Pomona, and Canicola in horses points to potential pathogen sources such as cattle, pigs, and dogs. The dominance of serovar Copenhageni (serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae), accounting for 32.8% of seropositivity, reflects close contact with rodents, recognized reservoirs of this serogroup. These findings illuminate the evolving prevalence and distribution of leptospirosis in Ukrainian horses, offering vital insights for targeted interventions and disease management strategies. The insights garnered from this study can hold significant value for equine veterinarians, aiding the development of tailored preventive and control measures adapted to specific regions with varying risk levels. Our research offers a comprehensive examination of equine leptospirosis from both ecological and geographical perspectives, unveiling pivotal observations.

This study describes for the first time in Ukraine the results of serological screening for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) in the population of pet and stray dogs. The study was conducted in the city of Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region, in 2021 and 2022. A total of 351 serum samples were examined, of which 168 were collected from pet dogs and 183 from stray dogs. The study included the use of serological methods, including immunochromatographic analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Line blot is a simplified form of Western Blot. The results of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that 14 positive samples from stray dogs had specific antibodies to B. burgdorferi s.l. In addition, 10 questionable serum samples were received, all from stray dogs. Further testing of the questionable samples using a Line blot assay showed that five of them contained antibodies to highly specific surface proteins of B. burgdorferi s.l., in particular to p100, VlsE and p18, confirming the presence of a natural infection. The remaining five samples were negative, indicating nonspecific immunoassay reactions. In contrast, the results of immunochromatographic analysis did not reveal any positive serum samples, which casts doubt on the possibility of using this method as a rapid screening tool for seroprevalence studies and requires further investigation. In summary, the study showed that the seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis among the studied population of stray dogs remained stable between 2021 and 2022, with rates of 10.2% and 10.7%, respectively, without a statistically significant difference (p=0.9164). In contrast, the studied population of pet dogs was consistently seronegative for B. burgdorferi s.l. in both years. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in seroprevalence between the stray and pet dog populations studied (p<0.00001). The stability of the seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis in the population of stray dogs indicates the constant presence and persistence of this zoonosis in the study region. This emphasizes the need to implement long-term surveillance to better understand the dynamics of the disease and the possibility of using dogs, especially stray dogs, as a «marker» species for predicting the risks associated with the spread of Lyme borreliosis. Continuous surveillance is crucial for the development of evidence-based strategies to combat vector-borne diseases within the framework of the One Health concept. Key words: Lyme borreliosis, seroprevalence, dogs, antibodies, B. burgdorferi sensu lato, Ukraine.

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and S. aureus are common infectious agents with zoonotic potential, capable of acquiring antibiotic resistance and causing hospital-acquired infections. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of S. pseudintermedius among dogs in Ukraine and explore the possibility of using chromogenic media for accurate identification and differentiation of S. aureus and S. pseudintermedius. The data obtained indicate a higher prevalence of nasal carriage (44.8%) of Staphylococcus spp. in healthy dogs compared to ear carriage (28.5%). Among the isolated strains in nasal swabs, S. pseudintermedius was most often detected (24.1%), S. aureus was detected less often (5.2%). Among the samples taken from sick dogs, 36.5% were found to be Staphylococcus spp., of which 20.5% contained S. pseudintermedius and 4.5% S. aureus. Among the studied cats, 36.8% were found to contain Staphylococcus spp., S. pseudintermedius – 10.5%, and S. aureus – 5.3%. Antibiotic resistance profiles were different: S. pseudintermedius was resistant to the combination of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, as well as to penicillin and erythromycin, while S. aureus was resistant to penicillin. It should be noted that only one coagulase-positive S. aureus isolate obtained from healthy animals was resistant to oxacillin. The use of chromogenic media demonstrated the possibility of successful differentiation of S. aureus and S. pseudintermedius based on differences in culture properties. In addition, various combinations of microbiological tests were evaluated, resulting in the development of two schemes that included specific media and additional reactions to improve identification accuracy. The combination of CHROMagar™ Orientation with the coagulase detection reaction demonstrated higher sensitivity (100%) for the detection of S. pseudintermedius compared to the combination of mannitol salt agar (MSA) with the coagulase detection reaction (75%). In addition, the PCR reaction was valuable for the definitive identification of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS). These comprehensive results shed light on the prevalence, species distribution, antibiotic resistance patterns, and diagnostic approaches for S. aureus in dogs and cats in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of developing reliable surveillance and control strategies.

The problem of zoonoses remains relevant in the context of reliable prevention of human disease and effective ways to achieve this result, in particular through the impact on susceptible animals by the efforts of veterinary medicine. Anthrax is an acute, particularly dangerous infectious disease of all species of farm, domestic and wild animals, as well as humans, which is caused by Bacillus anthracis microbes. The causative agent of anthrax belongs to the group of aerobic spore-forming bacteria and exists in two main forms: vegetative and spore. The vegetative form in the body of an infected animal can form a "capsule". In Ukraine, according to the provisions of the current "Instruction for the prevention and control of animal anthrax" (2000), the main method of preventing anthrax among animals is regular vaccination of animals susceptible to this disease. The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of the epizootic and epidemiological situation of anthrax in Ukraine for the period 1994–2021 and made a critical assessment of the performance of mandatory measures for specific prevention of susceptible animals. In order to find out the ecological and geographical features of the spread of anthrax, data on outbreaks of the disease in cattle, swine, small ruminants and humans on the territory of Ukraine were analyzed by regions for the time period under investigation. Over the past 28 years in Ukraine, animal anthrax was registered in in all areas except Zhytomyr region. In total, during the analyzed period, 177 affected points and 637 infected animals (cattle, small ruminants, pigs, horses, wild and fur-bearing animals, dogs) were registered (estimated at 3.59 animals per outbreak). Cattle were most often involved in the epizootic process, followed by pigs and small ruminants, while horses and other animal species were least infected. Ecological and geographical analysis showed that the largest number of affected points among animals during the analyzed period was found in Kyiv, Volyn, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Odesa, and Vinnytsia regions. A small number of affected points during the analyzed period were found in Zakarpattia, Ternopil, Kherson, Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. During the analyzed period, 68 people in 11 regions of Ukraine were infected with anthrax, 15 outbreaks were registered (4.46 people per outbreak). Most cases were reported in Donetsk, Kyiv and Odesa regions. The association between outbreaks of anthrax in animals and cases of anthrax among humans has been established, this dependency was 86.6% (the index of contiguity, which takes into account the number of years with simultaneous registration of animal and human cases, was 0.5). The authors thoroughly proved that it is vaccination among susceptible animals that will finally prevent the incidence of anthrax among people.

Determination of the infection rate of ixodid ticks with tick-borne borreliosis pathogens and determination of belonging to the pathogenic genotype by PCR is an important component for monitoring, risk assessment and control of the epizootic situation of Lyme borreliosis in different territories. The results of testing and optimization of the internal laboratory protocol of the classical polymerase chain reaction for the identification of Lyme disease pathogens are presented. Eight samples of extracted DNA from ixodid ticks collected from vegetation in the forest park tract "Golendernya", Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region, were examined by classical PCR. Samples were formed from pools of ten tick specimens: seven pools - ticks of the genus I. ricinus and one pool - ticks of the genus D. reticulatus. For detection of borrelia DNA, primer sets were used to detect DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex; Borrelia burgdorferi and pathogenic borrelia: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii. The protocol for nucleic acid extraction from ticks was modified using the commercial IndiSpin Pathogen Kit. Optimization of amplification temperature conditions was carried out by the annealing temperature gradient method for each primer pair. Based on the results of the study, internal laboratory protocols for classical PCR using specific oligonucleotide primers were developed. It was found that in each of the pools of I. ricinus and D. reticulatus there were infected tick specimens with the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex and Borrelia afzelii genus, and also identified the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto genus in one of the pools of I. ricinus and D. reticulatus, DNA of the Borrelia garinii genus was not detected. The developed internal laboratory protocols of classical PCR will be further used to study the infection of ixodid ticks with tick-borne borreliosis pathogens: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia afzelii. Key words: Lyme borreliosis, Ixodes ticks, polymerase chain reaction, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii.

The results of optimization of the Staphylococcus spp. identification protocol by polymerase chain reaction with agarose gel detection and approbation of the protocol with wild strains selected from dogs are presented. Determination of the parameters of specificity and sensitivity of the method was performed on museum strains of cocci S. epidermidis ATCC 14990, S. aureus ATCC 25923, S. aureus subsp. aureus UKM B-918, S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619 and E. faecalis ATCC 194433. DNA extraction was performed using the IndiSpin Pathogen Kit. The ready PCR mix NEB OneTaq® 2X Master Mix with Standard Buffer was used to prepare the reaction mixture. Primers targeted to the tuf gene region using an amplification product of 370 bp were used for the study. The reaction results were recorded in a 2% agronomic gel with the addition of ethidium bromide at a concentration of 0.5%. The optimal annealing temperature was determined by the temperature gradient method. In a study of the specificity of the method, three museum strains of staphylococci were identified as positive, while strains of other cocci did not give reaction products. The sensitivity study of the method was to detect the amplification product in seven dilutions of bacterial suspension that meet McFarland turbidity standards, the lowest concentration was further diluted 10, 100 and 1,000 times. The last dilution, which showed the presence of the amplification product corresponds to 2×106 CFU in 200 μl of saline used for DNA isolation. PCR protocol was tested on wild staphylococcal strains. Ear and nasal swabs of dogs, as well as washes from the transfer cage were selected for the study. The primary inoculation of the material was carried out on mannitol salt agar, on this medium only the growth of halophilic microorganisms is possible. Growth was found on 17 Petri dishes. The PCR washings of these cups indicated the presence of staphylococci in the test materials. The results of in-laboratory PCR testing indicate that the primer we used gives high indicators of specificity and sensitivity. Our tested technique can be used to confirm the presence of Staphylococcus spp. bacteria in the primary culture of smears taken from dogs. Key words: PCR, tuf gene, approbation of primers, optimization of primers, dog microflora, Staphylococcus spp.

The paper highlights the impact of two cross-border poultry infections with zoonotic potential (avian flu and Newcastle disease) on the functioning of industrial poultry farms in the former Soviet Union counties (Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan), where the poultry industry is fairly well-developed. Despite the permanent vaccination of poultry against Newcastle disease in industrial poultry farming, the disease still affects individual farms in Ukraine, the Russian Federation, and Kazakhstan. In case of outbreaks, the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan use inactivated influenza vaccines. In Ukraine, for almost 20 years, outbreaks of influenza have been confirmed mainly on individual farms, and one outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza was reported on an industrial poultry farm in 2020. In the Russian Federation, highly pathogenic influenza occurs on industrial poultry farms more often. In Russia, seven industrial poultry enterprises were affected by influenza in 2016-2017, and eight in 2018. Infection of poultry with influenza virus on poultry factory farms is an indication of shortcomings in compliance with biosecurity measures. Influenza and Newcastle disease are always likely to occur in the countries in question, as wild birds migrate through their territory, and they are a reservoir of pathogens, therefore outbreaks are often associated with spring and autumn migrations of wild birds. In all of said countries, a large number of poultry is kept by individual households, where basic biosecurity, sanitation and preventive vaccination measures are not applied. This component is often crucial in bringing viral infections such as influenza and Newcastle disease on large poultry farms. As a result, the virus is brought onto poultry farms by synanthropic birds, humans, transport, feed, etc.