Search

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. Monocitna erlihioza pasa (CME) je široko rasprostranjena bolest pasa, koja se prenosi krpeljima, a uzrokuje je obligatno-intracelularna bakterija Ehrlichia canis. Glavni vektor, smeđi krpelj pasa, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, široko je rasprostranjen, posebno u oblastima sa tropskom, subtropskom ili mediteranskom klimom (Centralna i Južna Amerika, Istočna i Zapadna Azija, Afrika, Australija i Južna Evropa). U Studiji izvedenoj 2012. godine, Stefanovska i saradnici su utvrdili da među severnomakedonskom populacijom pasa, seroprevalencija E. canis iznosi 18,7%. Do danas, prisustvo E. canis, koristeć i molekularne dijagnostičke metode, nije istraženo u Severnoj Makedoniji. Stoga je ova studija imala za cilj da potvrdi prisustvo E. canis u populaciji kuć nih ljubimaca na teritoriji grada Skoplja u Severnoj Makedoniji, koristeć i visoko osetljivu multiplex Real-Time PCR (qPCR). Za analize su prikupljeni uzorci pune krvi od 80 pasa različitih rasa i uzrasta, sa kliničkim simptomima CME i pozitivnim serološkim rezultatom na prisustvo antitela protiv E.canis. Od 80 pasa, 36 (45%) je ocenjeno kao pozitivno. Ovaj rad izveštava o prvom molekularnom otkrivanju E. canis kod pasa kuć nih ljubimaca na teritoriji grada Skoplja, Severna Makedonija.

Background Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), Sheeppox (SPP) and Goatpox (GTP) are contagious diseases of ruminants with a devastating impact on the livestock industry and trade, also affecting the living conditions of poor rural and small farmers. LSD, SPP, GTP were mainly confined to Africa, the Middle East and Asia, with some sporadic incursions of SPP in Greece and Bulgaria. However, in 2015 the first incursions of LSD occurred in the European Union. Due to their potential for rapid spreading, a highly sensitive and specific serological method for active and passive surveillance of SPP, GTP and LSD is needed. In addition, such a tool could serve for post-vaccination monitoring. Objective The aim of this work was to evaluate recombinants proteins of the capripoxvirus virion for use in an indirect ELISA (iELISA) to detect anti-capripox antibodies in vaccinated and naturally infected small ruminants and cattle sera. Method We have identified, characterized, expressed and purified capripox-virus virion surface protein (CVSP) that react to positive SPP, GTP and LSD sera samples by Western Blot and iELISA. The iELISA was further optimised and evaluated using sera samples from vaccinat-ed, experimentally and naturally infected sheep, goat and cattle. Results Twenty experimentally infected positive and 130 negative LSD, SPP and GTP sera samples were tested and correctly identified using the CVSP iELISA. We tested sera collected at multiple time points from several LSD experimentally infected animals. We observed a time dependant increased in anti-LSD antibody production after day 14 post infection. For specificity, five ORF positive sera were tested. None of the ORF positive sera was positive in the CVSP iELISA. A number of field sera collected during capripoxvirus outbreaks and vaccination campaigns from animals with known infection/vaccina-tion status were tested by the CVSP iELISA and compared to the virus neutralization assay. The complete dataset and results of the field test evaluation will be presented. Conclusion As capripox diseases spread, and to strengthen disease surveillance and control programmes, there is an ever-increasing need for rapid and effective antibody detection assays. The CVSP tested in the pres-ent study demonstrated to be good antigen candidates for the de-velopment of sensitive and specific serological assays. The prototype iELISA developed has the potential to be used as an effective and rapid method for capripoxvirus antibody detection in vaccinated, experimentally and naturally infected sheep, goat and cattle sera.

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.