Episootological features of tularemia in the Donetsk region

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate epizootic monitoring of tularemia in the Donetsk region.Materials and methods: methods of retrospective, statistical, and comparative analysis were used. The sources of infection were investigated using serological and biological methods. The data of industry statistical reporting on form No. 40-annual of the department of especially dangerous infections of the Donetsk regional Sanitary and Epidemiological Station (since 2013 — SSESU, since 2015 — Republican Center for Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service of the Ministry of Health of the DPR) were used. 20 "Maps of epizootological and epidemiological examination of the focus of zoonotic disease" (F.391/y) were studied.Results: since 1987, the number of enzootic territories in the Donetsk region has increased annually: from 2 settlements in 1987 to 79 (in 4 cities and 16 districts) in 2023. With the beginning of active hostilities, the epidemic process of tularemia in Donbass has sharply intensified. Antibody titers (1:80 and 1:160) for tularemia were detected in environmental samples: in the North Steppe zone — 6.2%, Donetsk-Kryazhnaya — 10.4%, Primorsko-steppe — 15.8%. In the study of mouse-like rodents, 6 cultures of Francisella tularensis holarctica biovar II era R were isolated, resistance of the strain to ampicillin, cefotaxime, erythromycin, clindamycin, polymyxin was established; sensitivity to gentamicin, fluoroquinolones, rifampicin, doxycycline, levomycetin.Conclusions: the activation of epizootic processes of tularemia in the DPR is associated with the conduct of hostilities. High titers of antibodies to tularemia in environmental samples are noted in the south of the Donetsk region.