Chiroptera as a Potential Reservoir of Dangerous for Humans Viruses in the territory of the Republic of Guinea. Part 1

Chiroptera is one of the largest in numbers orders of mammals which can take on the role of natural host and vector of various viruses, bacteria, and pathogenic fungi. Over the period of 2007–2013, 248 new viruses pertaining to 24 families were detected in chiropterans. Lately, a range of novel infections that provoked severe diseases in humans were associated with bats-carriers. Presently they are viewed as a potential reservoir of Ebola, Marburg, and Hendra viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome agents, as well as many other lethal diseases. Chiropterans started drawing particular attention after establishment of the fact that they are involved in circulation of ebolavirus Zaire and possibly participate in the formation of natural foci of this infection. Currently chiropterans are considered to be natural reservoirs of ebolavirus Zaire and some other filoviruses (Filoviridae). Accept from filoviruses, other significant for public healthcare viruses were isolated from chiropterans on the African continent – lyssaviruses (Rhabdoviridae, Lyssavirus), henipaviruses (Paramixoviridae, Henipavirus), and coronaviruses (Coronaviridae, Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus) that can also circulate among chiropterans in West Africa. The data available from literature sources on dissemination of chiropterans in the territory of the African continent, their species diversity, peculiarities of ecology and behavior are analyzed in this paper. The information on the infections for which chiropterans can serve as potential reservoirs is also provided. Specifics of interaction between the population residing on African continent and bats of different species are described too. The review is devoted to the assessment of results of studies on population, ecological, and epidemiological factors contributing to maintenance of circulation of a number of dangerous for humans viruses (filoviruses, lyssaviruses, henipaviruses, and coronaviruses) among African chiropterans. The need for further investigation of the mentioned factors affecting chiropteran populations in the Republic of Guinea is substantiated

Chiroptera as a Potential Reservoir of Dangerous for Humans Viruses in the Territory of the Republic of Guinea. Part 2

Among the viruses transmitted by Chiroptera, filoviruses, lissaviruses, henipaviruses, and coronaviruses pose the major threat to humans. The featured review is devoted to the analysis of the results of studies on the role of African Chiropterans in the circulation sustenance of the viruses. Chronology of investigations on the search of natural reservoir of Filoviruses and the evidence of Chiroptera participation in their circulation are described in the paper. Presented are summarized data on the involvement of chiropterans in the circulation of lissaviruses on the African continent. Given is the information concerning the role of African species of Chiroptera in the circulation of henipaviruses - dangerous for humans viruses of Paramyxoviridae family, associated with chiropterans of South-Eastern Asia. Considered is the possibility of SARS and MERS-like coronaviruses circulation in the populations of certain species of African Chiroptera. Engagement of the Chiroptera from Guinean Republic in maintenance of circulation of the mentioned above viruses in potential natural foci in the territory of the country and possibility of occurrence of dangerous human infection outbreaks is also assessed. The necessity for further investigation of the role of Chiroptera as carriers of the stated viruses to clarify the current epidemiological and epizootiological situation on the viral pathogens in the Republic of Guinea is substantiated

Differentiation of the Pre-Caspian Sandy Plague Foci on the Basis of the Frequency of Epizootic Manifestations

Displayed are the results of epizootiological differentiation of the Pre-Caspian sandy plague focus in the territory supervised by Astrakhan and Elista plague control stations (Volga-Kumsk Interfleuve). This differentiation is significant for further development of epizootiological monitoring practice in the enzootic regions. Using circular extrapolation method, designed is the map of the persistent epizootic region within the last period of the focus activation since 1979 till 2010. Depicted is the dislocation of focus activity nucleuses and areas where short-term epizootic process is registered. Identified are their qualitative characteristics. Determined is the fact that density of plague-positive samples in the nucleuses is much higher, than in the areas with non-recurring manifestations. This cartographic differentiation model can be used for justified and substantiated planning of epidemiological control measures and further investigation of problems related to plague epizootiology

Circulation of Lyssaviruses (Lyssavirus) among the Small Mammals in the Territory of the Republic of Guinea

Objective is to study the role of small mammals, habitant in the Republic of Guinea, in Lyssavirus circulation. Materials and methods. Investigations were conducted using RT-PCR; nucleotide sequence of Lyssavirus cDNA fragments was identified with the help of sequencing with further phylogenetic analysis. Results and conclusions. Tested have been 356 brain samples from small mammals for the presence of Lyssavirus RNA using RT-PCR with genus-specific primers. The animals were caught in the suburbs of Kindia city in 2016. The samples were obtained from wild animals pertaining to Rodentia, Chiroptera, Eulipotyphla, and Carnivora orders.Lyssavirus RNA was detected in 31 samples (8.7 %). For 14 PCR positive samples the appurtenance to Lyssavirus was confirmed through identification and analysis of nucleotide sequences of the collected short cDAN fragments of viral genome. The presence of rabies virus RNA in positive tests was excluded from PCR with the help of species specific primers. The pool of samples from black rats, Rattus rattus, positive for Lyssavirus RNA, contained RNA characteristic of Mokola lyssavirus species. Specified has been nucleotide sequence of matrix protein M gene fragment of Mokola virus. Genetic material of Mokola virus was detected in the Republic of Guinea for the first time ever

Results of a Joint Epizootiological Survey of Transboundary Natural Plague Foci of the Russian Federation and Potentially Focal Territories of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2019–2022

Consolidation of the efforts in implementation of epidemiological surveillance and control over plague and other dangerous natural-focal infections is an essential aspect in ensuring epidemiological well-being as regards particularly dangerous infectious diseases in the territory of natural plague foci and potentially focal territories located within the borders of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan. The aim of the work was to carry out a joint epizootiological survey of the transboundary territories of the Volga-Ural sandy natural plague focus and the territory of the East Kazakhstan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) potentially focal for plague over the period of 2019–2022. Materials and methods. Samples of field materials, collected during the epizootiological survey of the territory of Kazakhstan, were studied using bacteriological, molecular-genetic, and immune-serological methods. Results and discussion. We have obtained the current evidence on the spatial-biocenotic structure, the circulation of pathogens of dangerous natural-focal infectious diseases in the transboundary territories of Eastern and Western Kazakhstan. It has been established that the conditions that contribute to the possibility of human infection with plague and other dangerous infectious diseases in case of the aggravation of epizootic situation in the foci or importation of the pathogens into the territory are in place

Outbreak of Pneumonic Plague in 2017 on Madagascar

The causes of emergence and development of pneumonic plague outbreak in 2017 on Madagascar were analyzed. Summarized were the literature data, characterizing the spatial and biocoenotic structure of natural plague focus on Madagascar, assessed were the risk factors of plague infection among rural and urban population of the island, as well as the properties of Yersinia pestis strains isolated there in the XX century. It is substantiated that the distinctive type of plague outbreaks on Madagascar is a rural one. It is demonstrated that one of the main causes of wide spread of plague in 2017 is importation of the infection from central regions of the Republic of Madagascar into big cities with further formation of multiple epidemic foci. Confirmed was the circulation of Y. pestis strains that belong to the third branch of irradiation of oriental biovar (1.ORI3). Discussed are the issues of diagnostics and treatment of plague in epidemic foci in the territory of the Republic of Madagascar. The evidence is provided to the fact that the plague outbreak in 2017 on Madagascar is the consequence of a lower surveillance level, first and foremost undervaluation of specific and non-specific prophylaxis capacities regarding this infection

Enhancement of Epidemiological Surveillance in Natural Plague Foci of the Russian Federation and Forecast of Epizootic Activity for 2022

The aim of the research was to assess epizootic activity of natural plague foci in the Russian Federation in 2021 and provide a prognosis for 2022. Activation of epizootic process has been detected in Central-Caucasian high-mountain natural plague focus after a recess since 2007. Local epizootics persist to develop in Tuva Mountain and Gorno-Altai highmountain plague foci. Total area of epizooties in Russia in 2021 amounted to 1649.5 km2. 28 plague microbe strains were isolated. Animals infected with plague were not found in Tersko-Sunzhensky low-mountain, Dagestan plain-piedmont, Precaspian north-western steppe, Volga-Ural steppe, Trans-Baikal steppe, Volga-Ural sandy, Caspian sandy and EastCaucasian high-mountain natural plague foci. It is demonstrated that epidemiological welfare as regards plague in Russia in 2017–2021 was achieved through annual epizootic monitoring of plague-enzootic territories, timely epizooty detection and preventive activities aimed at reducing the risk of infection. Substantiated has been the forecast for tense epidemiological situation on the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Altai Republic and Tuva Republic in 2022. A new Epitracker application has been proven to be prospective for rapid assessment of actual epidemiological situation in natural plague foci

Factors that Predetermined Activation of Plague Epizooties in the Pre-Caspian Sandy Natural Focus in 2014

In 2014, in the central coastal part of the Pre-Caspian sandy natural plague focus, activation of epizootic process in the complex rodent settlements occurred. Objective of the study was to identify the factors that predetermined the development of intensive and extensive plague epizooties. Utilized were operational data from the Astrakhan, Elista, and Dagestan plague control stations, and personal investigation records gathered in the focus. Consequently to the high baseline numbers of rodents and fleas, mild winter weather in 2013-2014 population density of the vectors and carriers of the infection significantly exceeded long-term average annual indexes in the following spring. Total abundance rates reached up to 31.1 specimens per a hectare, being lowered up to 17.8 by the fall. Stock of the main vector of plague, N. laeviceps flea, amounted to 350 and to 120 per a hectare in the spring and autumn, respectively. All in all, in the course of the three rolling seasons isolated were 56 Y. pestis cultures: 17 strains - from the rodents, and 39 - from the fleas. The overall epizootic area totaled to 2300 km2. Plague epizooties were registered in the zone of sustained natural focality within the bonds of the Ilmen-Pridelta, Primorsky, and Chernozemelsky landscape-epizootic regions in the administrative territory of the Limansky District in the Astrakhan Region, Lagansky and Chernozemelsky Regions of the Republic of Kalmykia, and Tarumovsky Region of the Republic of Dagestan. Results of monitoring over the epizootic manifestations and plague carrier and vector abundance dynamics provided the basis for scheduling and performance of anti-epidemic activities, as well as for forecasting of the epidemic situation development in the focus

Coordination of Measures of Plague Control Institutions, Aimed at Rehabilitation and Sanitation of Gorno-Altai High-Mountain Natural Plague Focus in 2016

Objective of the study is to sum-up the results of prophylactic (anti-epidemic) measures associated with elimination of epidemic focus in Kosh-Agach Region of the Republic of Altai in 2016. Materials and methods. Utilized were the data of reporting and source documentation from Altai Plague Control Station, Rospotrebnadzor Administration in the Republic of Altai, RusRAPI “Microbe”, and Irkutsk RAPI. Results and conclusions. It is pointed out that carried out in 2016 complex of organizational, anti-epidemic, and sanitary-prophylactic activities against plague is the importnant stage of rehabilitation of Gorno-Altai high-mountain natural plague focus, the final goal of which is maximally possible decrement of risks of primary human infection with plague, and in case of occurrence of such – performing of prompt response measures on localization and elimination of epidemic focus. It has been substantiated that for epidemic risk minimization in 2017 it is necessary to continue prophylactic vaccination, desinsection and deratization in the areas of predictive epizootic situation aggravation, which is contained in “Complex Action Plan of the Rospotrebnadzor Institutions for Sanitation and Rehabilitation of Gorno-Altai high-mountain natural plague focus in Kosh-Agach Region of the Altai Republic in 2017”. It is also necessary to provide for implementation of the Program on lowering risks of importation from cross-border Sailyugemsky natural focus and spread of plague in the territory of the Russian Federation, within the frames of RF Government Order No 1864-p, dated 05.09.2016