AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF THE PATHOGEN, EPIZOOTIOLOGY, CLINICAL SIGNS, DIAGNOSIS, AND MONITORING MEASURES (REVIEW ARTICLE)

Abstract

The paper presents a review of scientific literature about the epizootic situation with the African horse sickness. It gives current information on characteristic features, ways of transmission, and disease processes. The paper outlines the following key avenues of pathogen transmission: by vectors, by wild or domestic host animals transporting, and by sick (infected) animals in the early stages of sickness. The paper gives special attention to clinical signs, course, and pathological changes caused by the disease, and serological and molecular-genetic diagnostic methods. It reviews global experience in the localization and prevention of this disease and gives the reasons for implementing an active system of epidemiological surveillance of horses to find manifestations of the disease which is crucial for transition and spread prevention and early outbreak detection in Ukraine.