Biological Characteristics of Schmallenberg Virus - an Overview

Schmallenberg virus disease was originally reported in Germany in 2011. The new disease was diagnosed in the UK in January 2012. Currently, little information has been collected about the pathogen of the Schmallenberg virus. The virus genetically belongs to the Bunyaviridae family (Orthobunyavirus genus and Simbu serogroup). The clinical symptoms of acute SBV infection are unspecific in sheep and goats. This study characterized the origin, emergence, transmission, spread in Europe and Azerbaijan, clinical signs, and the diagnosis of this virus. Currently, the Shmallenberg disease is known to be a serious threat to Veterinary Public Health.

Molecular Genetic Analysis of the Rabies Virus Genome Isolated in Azerbaijan

Rabies virus is a high pathogenic disease for humans and animals. In July 1885, Louis Pasteur obtained his first success against rabies by vaccinating Joseph Meister, a 9-year-old boy presenting with multiple deep bite wounds. After more than 700 successful inoculations, Pasteur launched an international subscription and opened the world’s first research institute dedicated to the prevention of rabies and other infectious diseases (Lontai, 2004; European Commission, 2011; Picard-Meyer et al., 2007; Heaton, et al., 1997). However, the rabies is still neglected for developing countries. Rabies virus is particularly useful for the study of neuronal circuits because of its ability to spread transsynaptically in the retrograde direction. RABV is distributed worldwide among specific mammalian reservoir hosts comprising various carnivore and bat species (William, 2013; Conrad, et al., 2011; Johnson et al., 2016)

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Disinfectants

The disinfection process in poultry farming is the most important direction in the control of pathogens of infectious diseases. Currently, many farms carry out disinfection based on standard rules: manure transportation, dirty washing, clean washing, disinfection, fumigation. This study was conducted in order to determine whether disinfectants for poultry houses of poultry farming are effective for reducing bacteria, viruses and fungi. Poultry houses for breeding were selected for field tests. The disinfectants evaluated were chloride, glutaraldehyde and formalin. In order to determine the total number of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as the number of yeast and mold fungi, samples were inoculated into the nutrient medium. The tests were mainly carried out to determine E.coli, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. As a result of research conducted at the ”Saba" poultry farming, a significant decrease in the number of microorganisms was observed. The results show that the percentage and type of disinfectants may vary depending on the type, degree of application, duration of storage and the strength of the effect of organic substances on common aerobic bacteria

Biosurveillance study of Schmallenberg disease in Azerbaijan in 2012-2017

ObjectiveSchmallenberg virus (SBV) is an orthobunyavirus that primarily infects domestic and wild ruminants and causes symptoms such as transient fever, diarrhea, reduced milk production, congenital malformations and abortion. The first virus was identified in 2011 at the onset of a major outbreak in Europe (Germany, Hungary, and France).IntroductionIn 2012 - 2017 in Azerbaijan there was an unexpected increase of abortions in cattle and sheep that was unrelated to brucellosis or chlamydia infection. The first confirmed case of Schmallenberg disease was received from Beylagan district of Azerbaijan in October 2012. The import of cattle from Europe to Azerbaijan has commenced in 2012. Therefore, the surveillance study was launched to determine spread of infection among cattle and sheep and to monitor the situation in the country.MethodsState Veterinary Control Service notified 42 Regional Veterinary Offices of Azerbaijan to commence the monitoring of Schmallenberg disease. Blood samples were collected from sheep, and cattle and biopsies of heads or necks from aborted fetuses were sampled too.. The collected samples were tested in the Republican Veterinary Laboratory. ELISA was used to investigate the presence of specific antibodies against Schmallenberg virus in the blood samples using IDEXX Schmallenberg Ab Test Kit. The commercially available real-time PCR kits (VetMAX™ Schmallenberg Virus Kit) were applied to test the biopsy samples. Both tests were recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health.ResultsTotal, 40,257 blood samples were collected from suspicious cattle and sheep. 671 biopsies samples were taken from fetuses. 4,281 cattle and 999 sheep with antibodies against SBVwere detected. The PCR results showed that the 77 biopsies samples were positive for SBV. The highest numbers of seropositive animals were found in Ganja, Aghdash, Barda, and Baku.ConclusionsThis biosurveillance study determined SBV in the samples of cattle and sheep in Azerbaijan, therefore, it is important to carry out annual seromonitoring and start the vaccination program. It is essential to check the passport of imported cattle, which has the disease history and seroprevalence of SBV.ReferencesLaloy, E., Breard, E., Sailleau, C., Viarouge, C., Desprat, A., Zientara, S., Klein, F., Hars, J., Rossi, S., 2014. Schmallenberg virus infection among red deer, France, 2010-2012. Emerg. Infect. Dis. 20, 131–134. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2001.130411Larska, M., Krzysiak, M.K., Kesik-Maliszewska, J., Rola, J., 2014. Cross-sectional study of Schmallenberg virus seroprevalence in wild ruminants in Poland at the end of the vector season of 2013. BMC Vet. Res. 10, 967. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-014-0307-3

Epizootology and Molecular Diagnosis of Lumpy Skin Diesease Among Livestock in Azerbaijan

Signs of LSD in Azerbaijan were recorded for the first time in the Region (rayon) of Bilasuvar in May of 2014 and reported to OIE [3]. LSD was quickly suspected, as Bilasuvar neighbors Iran which had recently reported LSD. The same clinical signs were subsequently recorded in cattle in the regions of Jalilabad and Aghdash. Some of the cases resulted in death. A PCR assay was set up in the Republican Veterinary Laboratory in Azerbaijan in order to test livestock samples for the disease while an epizootological study was conducted to determine the extent of disease spread within the three affected rayons

Epizootology and Molecular Diagnosis of Lumpy Skin Diesease Among Livestock in Azerbaijan

Signs of LSD in Azerbaijan were recorded for the first time in the Region (rayon) of Bilasuvar in May of 2014 and reported to OIE [3]. LSD was quickly suspected, as Bilasuvar neighbors Iran which had recently reported LSD. The same clinical signs were subsequently recorded in cattle in the regions of Jalilabad and Aghdash. Some of the cases resulted in death. A PCR assay was set up in the Republican Veterinary Laboratory in Azerbaijan in order to test livestock samples for the disease while an epizootological study was conducted to determine the extent of disease spread within the three affected rayons

The prevalence of rabies cases in the territory of Azerbaijan, January 2015-June 2016

Objectiveto show the instability of an epizootic situation on rabies casesof animals in the Republic of Azerbaijan, on the example of thecases analysis in Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System(EIDSS) electronic reporting systemIntroductionRabies is an infectious disease which was and remains to be oneof the most serious diseases of all species of hematothermal animalsand humans, in many regions of the world. The epizootic situation onrabies in the Republic of Azerbaijan has been unfavorable for manyyears, which is confirmed by scientific data and the veterinary casesreporting in the EIDSS system. This system was introduced in thecountry in 2009 and is the electronic System of disease control. Theprogram allows to provide monitoring and prevention of diseaseswithin the concept “One World - One Health System” by integrationof systems of observation of animal diseases, human diseases, anddisease carriers.MethodsOn the basis of the data on rabies cases entered in special formsand also aggregative data collected on anti-rabies vaccination, theanalysis of information on quantity of cases and their prevalence onadministrative and territorial units (rayons) of the country is carriedout. The graphical analysis (charts and the map) on the basis ofnecessary criteria are constituted in the analyses module, visualizationof the AVR reporting and in the Microsoft Excel program.ResultsThe analysis of the rabies cases confirmed at the Virologydepartment of the Republican Veterinary Laboratory shows thatrabies has been identified in 36 cases in 2015, 25 cases in January- June, 2016, in total 61 cases has been registered for the periodof “January 2015 – June 2016”. An epizootologically unfavorablesituation is revealed in 27 regions. The most unfavorable situation isthe northwest regions of the country, the most part of which is coveredwith mountainy-forest area with domination of wild fauna. Specificstructure of animals: dogs – 31 cases in 19 areas (51%), cattle – 21cases in 12 areas (34%), a small cattle-1 case (2%), wild animals(specify types) - 8 cases in 8 areas (13%) that is visually shown oncharts 1 and 2. The cattle were bitten by wolves and jackals.ConclusionsThus, prevalence of rabies cases of different species of animalsin the country, once again proves natural and focal character of thedisease: the reservoir of rabies is in the wild nature and geographicalconditions impact the spread of rabies.Cases of rabies in animals are registered annually. In 2015,vaccination captured about 250000 dogs, and 244400 dogs werevaccinated in the first 6 months of 2016. Despite a huge group ofvaccinations, restriction of rabies spread isn’t observed and thetendency is trending to the increase of rabies case indicators amongstthe dogs.It is necessary to pay close attention to preventive vaccination ofdomestic (including non-productive) animals. If materiel resourcesare available, it is possible to carry out the vaccination of the cattlein the territories adjacent to the forests. In the threatened territorieswith woodlands, there is no alternative to oral vaccinations, whichis confirmed by positive experience of many countries. There is anextreme need of carrying out of oral vaccination of wild carnivorousanimals with obligatory control of the immune status

The prevalence of rabies cases in the territory of Azerbaijan, January 2015-June 2016

Objectiveto show the instability of an epizootic situation on rabies casesof animals in the Republic of Azerbaijan, on the example of thecases analysis in Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System(EIDSS) electronic reporting systemIntroductionRabies is an infectious disease which was and remains to be oneof the most serious diseases of all species of hematothermal animalsand humans, in many regions of the world. The epizootic situation onrabies in the Republic of Azerbaijan has been unfavorable for manyyears, which is confirmed by scientific data and the veterinary casesreporting in the EIDSS system. This system was introduced in thecountry in 2009 and is the electronic System of disease control. Theprogram allows to provide monitoring and prevention of diseaseswithin the concept “One World - One Health System” by integrationof systems of observation of animal diseases, human diseases, anddisease carriers.MethodsOn the basis of the data on rabies cases entered in special formsand also aggregative data collected on anti-rabies vaccination, theanalysis of information on quantity of cases and their prevalence onadministrative and territorial units (rayons) of the country is carriedout. The graphical analysis (charts and the map) on the basis ofnecessary criteria are constituted in the analyses module, visualizationof the AVR reporting and in the Microsoft Excel program.ResultsThe analysis of the rabies cases confirmed at the Virologydepartment of the Republican Veterinary Laboratory shows thatrabies has been identified in 36 cases in 2015, 25 cases in January- June, 2016, in total 61 cases has been registered for the periodof “January 2015 – June 2016”. An epizootologically unfavorablesituation is revealed in 27 regions. The most unfavorable situation isthe northwest regions of the country, the most part of which is coveredwith mountainy-forest area with domination of wild fauna. Specificstructure of animals: dogs – 31 cases in 19 areas (51%), cattle – 21cases in 12 areas (34%), a small cattle-1 case (2%), wild animals(specify types) - 8 cases in 8 areas (13%) that is visually shown oncharts 1 and 2. The cattle were bitten by wolves and jackals.ConclusionsThus, prevalence of rabies cases of different species of animalsin the country, once again proves natural and focal character of thedisease: the reservoir of rabies is in the wild nature and geographicalconditions impact the spread of rabies.Cases of rabies in animals are registered annually. In 2015,vaccination captured about 250000 dogs, and 244400 dogs werevaccinated in the first 6 months of 2016. Despite a huge group ofvaccinations, restriction of rabies spread isn’t observed and thetendency is trending to the increase of rabies case indicators amongstthe dogs.It is necessary to pay close attention to preventive vaccination ofdomestic (including non-productive) animals. If materiel resourcesare available, it is possible to carry out the vaccination of the cattlein the territories adjacent to the forests. In the threatened territorieswith woodlands, there is no alternative to oral vaccinations, whichis confirmed by positive experience of many countries. There is anextreme need of carrying out of oral vaccination of wild carnivorousanimals with obligatory control of the immune status