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An attack of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) on human was detected in November, 2014 in the Barabash village (Khasan region of the Primorski krai) located in close proximity to the national park Land of the Leopard. The bear was shot. The deviant behavior of the bear indicated the possibility of rabies. The diagnosis was confirmed by means of laboratory methods. The strain RABV/Ursus arctos/Russia/Primorye/PO 01/2014 (further PO 01) was isolated from the brain of the bear. PO 01 is the first completely sequenced Far Eastern strain of RABV. It can be considered as topotypic. PO 01 considerably differs from the vaccine strain RV 97 (GenBank EF542830) that is the basis of attenuated vaccine applied in the Land of the Leopard. At the same time, the immunodominant sites in PO 01 and RV 97 proteins differ slightly. It can be recommended to continue application of the vaccine. The analysis of the PO 01 genome (GenBank KP997032) revealed its belonging to the Eurasian genetic subgroup of the genotype 1 (street rage). Thus, this genetic subgroup stretches to the East. Expansion of the cross-border protected territories of Russia and China in the Far East demands the correct statistics of circulation of the lyssaviruses to be kept.

Introduction: The main approach to the rabies prevention is the vaccination of domestic and wild carnivores. For the routine evaluation the anti-rabies vaccination effectiveness, World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recommends various enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).The aim of the study was to design and validate a competitive ELISA (cELISA) test system for the detection of antibodies to the rabies virus (RABV)., Materials and Methods: The development of the cELISA was carried out following the OIE recommendations., Results: The repeatability of the cELISA results within one laboratory was satisfactory (coefficient of variation 7.95-13.61%). The coefficient of determination (CD) between the results of the virus neutralization reaction (FAVN) and cELISA was 0.988, p < 0.001. The lower threshold for antibody detection was less than 0.02 IU/ml. The cELISA did not demonstrate cross-reactivity against antibodies to canine distemper virus, parainfluenza virus, parvovirus, coronavirus, and canine adenovirus (types I and II). During the study of 137 dog blood sera, diagnostic specificity (DSp) and diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) for the cELISA were 83.1% and 94.9%, respectively, and CD between the cELISA and FAVN results was 0.968, p < 0.001., Discussion: Indirect ELISA test systems for determining the level of antibodies to RABV are not sensitive enough compared to reference tests, unlike cELISA. The developed test system is not inferior for its DSp and DSe to the commercial cELISA BioPro ELISA Rabies Ab (DSp 66.7%, DSe 94.4%)., Conclusion: The developed cELISA test system can be used to detect antibodies to RABV in the blood serum of dogs for evaluating the effectiveness of mass vaccination programs.

Introduction: Most cases of human rabies are caused by dog (Canis lupus familiaris) bites. Therefore, the implementation of vaccination programs of these animals is one of the urgent tasks.The work aims to identify the factors influencing the production of antirabies virus-neutralizing antibodies (VNAs) in vaccinated dogs, and to formulate recommendations for adjusting the vaccination schedule using mathematical modeling (MM)., Material and Methods: We used a fixed-effects modeling procedure to estimate the two-compartment model parameters using log-transformed data (obtained by RFFIT, rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test; and FAVN, fluorescent antibody virus-neutralization test) on the VNAs levels in the serum of vaccinated dogs., Results: More vigorous immune response after a two-dose primary vaccination is formed in juvenile dogs at the age of 3 months to 1 year compared to the adult dogs. Following the primary vaccination and revaccination 1 year after, VNAs were produced more intensively in adult stray dogs than in domestic dogs., Discussion: The short-term immune response observed in dogs aged up to 3 months is due to the presence of colostral antibodies and the active growth of the organism at this age. The results of our study confirm that most of the dogs have a level of antirabies VNAs of ≥0.5 IU/ml up to two or more years following immunization. However, only regular annual revaccination ensures the protective VNAs level in animals that responded poorly to vaccination due to various factors., Conclusion: The following antirabies vaccination schedule is recommended: primary vaccination of the dog at the age of 3 months up to 1 year with 1-2 month intervals, then revaccination annually. This work also demonstrates the possibility of a wider application of MM methods for solving problems of vaccine prevention.

The virologists' attention to bats (Сhiroptera) changed in the late 20th century as the concept of emerging infections grew in popularity. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of publications on bat viruses has increased profoundly.History of the problem; biodiversity of Chiroptera and related viruses; medical and veterinary significance of some viral genera and subgenera (Lyssavirus, Henipavirus, Marburgvirus, Ebolavirus, Sarbecovirus, Merbecovirus), as well as problems of bat protection, are addressed in a concise form. Literature search was carried out in electronic databases, mainly for the period of 2000-2021. Publications in Russian that are poorly represented in English-language reviews are also included. The purpose of the review is to substantiate the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in the context of increased interest in the study of viral infections in bats. This review was written for researchers who have not previously dealt with this problem.Since the beginning of this century, the number of known virus species associated with bats has increased by an order of magnitude (>200). The families Rhabdoviridae, Coronaviridae, Paramyxoviridae are in the first ranks according to the number of findings, and the highest diversity of viruses has been established for the families Vespertilionidae, Pteropodidae, Molossidae. Interdisciplinary cooperation positively influences the efficiency, biological safety and practical significance of the ongoing research. The best results were achieved by multidisciplinary teams with good cross-training in several specialties. Many papers emphasize the need to balance health and conservation interests.The analysis of scientific publications indicates a change in research approaches in this area: from collecting individual facts within the framework of narrow specialties to a comprehensive assessment of new knowledge from ecological, evolutionary and socio-economic positions. Results of the research emphasize the need to maintain complex approaches addressing public health needs and environmental protection. The importance of bat-borne viral infections determines the necessity for correction and interdepartmental coordination of scientific research and surveillance of wildlife zoonoses in the Russian Federation.

Seven hundred sixteen blood serum specimens from residents of presumable foci of phlebotomus fevers in Turkmenia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Moldavia were examined by the neutralization, complement fixation, hemagglutionation-inhibition and indirect immunofluorescence tests for the presence of antibody to viruses of the group of phlebotomus fevers (Sicilyan, Neapolitan, and Karimabad) and to rhabdovirus isfahan transmitted by phlebotomus papatasi. For the first time, antibody to Karimabad and Isfahan viruses were found in residents of the Central Asian republics. Antibody to Sicilyan and Neapolitan fevers were found in residents of all the republics examined. Data have been obtained indicating probable pathogenicity of Isfahan virus for man.

Several immunological and haematological indices as well as infection of carp with ectoparasites of the Dactylogyrus genus have been studied in fish that have been subjected to methylene blue treatment, to infection with Rhabdovirus carpio and Aeromonas hydrophila in different combinations. A dosage of 0.05 mg/l (exposure lasting for 3 days) over 20 days increases most of the immunological indices. A treatment of the carp with drug (dosage of 100 mg/l) for 4 hours has a stimulating effect on the immune system over a period of 40-60 days. The infection of the carp with virus immediately after the drug treatment (dosage 100 mg/l) gives rise to a disease of a certain part of fish. In connection with this a problem on terms of the methylene blue treatment is discussed taking into account the development of the disease.