The current epizootic and epidemiological situation of coxiellosis in the territories of the Southern, North Caucasian Federal Districts, Donetsk, Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions

Abstract

Objective: to characterize the dynamics and intensity of the incidence of Q fever for the period from 2015 to 2022, to determine the risk areas for human infection in the Southern and North Caucasian Federal districts and in the new subjects of the Russian Federation.Materials and methods: for epidemiological analysis, materials from analytical reviews "The epidemiological situation of natural focal infectious diseases in the Southern and North Caucasus Federal Districts" and state reports "On the state of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population" for 2015-2022, reporting data from the Rospotrebnadzor Department for the Rostov region, «Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in Russia Rostov region» and the Departments of Rospotrebnadzor for the DPR and LPR. From 2022–2023 PCR study was conducted for the presence of Coxiella burnetii DNA in samples of ixodic mites and small mammals in the Rostov region and in 2023 – in the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions.Results: the analysis of the territorial distribution of cases of Q fever in the Astrakhan region and Stavropol Territory revealed a cluster of the most disadvantaged areas. An analysis of the conditions of infection of patients with Ku fever in the Rostov region has established that the most likely transmission factors are environmental objects in private farms. The circulation of C. burnetii in natural biotopes of the Rostov region, DNR and LNR regions.Conclusions: the epidemic process of Ku fever is mainly local, limited in the context of municipal districts of Astrakhan and Rostov regions, Stavropol Territory. The sporadic incidence of Ku fever does not reflect its actual level. There is no convincing evidence indicating the leading role of farm animals as a primary link in the formation of the epizootic process of Q fever in anthropurgical foci.