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Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is a widespread, tick-borne, canine disease, caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium, Ehrlichia canis. The main vector, a brown-dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is widely distributed, especially in areas with tropic, subtropic, or Mediterranean climates (Central and South America, Eastern and Western Asia, Africa, Australia and Southern Europe). The study performed in 2012, by Stefanovska et al., determined a seroprevalence of 18.7% of E. canis among the Macedonian dog population. Up to date, the presence of E. canis, using molecular diagnostic methods, has not been investigated in Macedonia. Therefore, this study aimed to confirm the presence of E. canis, in the pet-dog population on the territory of the city of Skopje, North Macedonia, using a highly sensitive multiplex Real-Time PCR method (qPCR). Whole blood samples from 80 dogs of different breeds and ages, with clinical symptoms of CME and positive serology result for the presence of antibodies against E.canis, were collected for analyses. Out of 80 dogs, 36 (45%) were found as positive. The present work reports the first molecular detection of E. canis in pet dogs on the territory of the city of Skopje, Macedonia.

Aim of this study was to characterize pigeon variant of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolated from backyard poultry using classical and molecular methods. In standard hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test both polyclonal NDV antiserum and monoclonal antibodies 161/617 specific for pigeon variants of NDV showed inhibition of heamagglutination of the isolated virus. Intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) has shown that the isolate is mesogenic virus (ICPI = 0.81). One-step RT-qPCR for detection of M gene was performed indicating a presence of NDV and RT-qPCR for discrimination between lentogenic and velogenic strains based on F gene was also performed indicating a presence of virulent NDV. A portion of the F gene was amplified and sequenced for determination of virulence and phylogenetic characterization. The F protein cleavage site sequence of the isolate had multiple basic amino acids at residues 112–116 and a phenyl alanine at residue 117 (112RRQKR*F117) which is typical for velogenic strains. The nucleotide sequence of 374 bp was aligned to begin at nt 47 and finish at 420 immediately after the cleavage site and compared with other reference strains from the region and worldwide. In the phylogenetic tree, the isolate clustered into genotype VIb, typical for PPMV-1. This strain is phylogenetically very similar to other PPMV-1 isolated from pigeons in Macedonia. Poultry infected with PPMV-1 can spread the virus in the absence of clinical signs, thus PPMV-1’s are constant threat to domestic poultry. This is the first report of evidenced spillover of PPMV-1 into poultry in Macedonia.

The aim of the study was to determine the presence and distribution or to confirm the absence of avian influenca viruses in farmed poultry in the poultry production systems 1 and 2 from the eight statistical regions in R. Macedonia. Total number of 1215 cloacal swabs from poultry were sampled. Each sample was processed and analysed by both molecular (RRT-PCR) and classical virology methods (virus isolation and identification). All samples gave negative result for presence of avian influenza viruses. Commercial poultry production systems have biosecurity measures preventing the entry of pathogens i.e avian influenza viruses, therefore resulting with no circulation of these viruses in the sampled farmed poultry flocks.

Maedi-Visna in sheep and CAEV in goats are diseases caused by lentiviruses with very similar antigenic characteristics. This diseases are very important for the animal husbandry because of the economical losses they cause (reduced milk yield, lower body weight, deaths, therapy expenses). The results in this article, represents the first serological confirmation for the existence of this diseases in Macedonia. Investigations showed high percent of seroprevalence in the examined herds. The seroprevalence ranges from 60.3% for Maedi-Visna to 55.8% for CAEV. Despite the presence of clinical signs of the disease, the mortality is low, witch is related to the presence of the causal agent in the field i.e. the endemic character of this diseases.