Rabies is a viral disease of the central nervous system of all warm‐blooded animals and one of the oldest and most important zoonoses. In the Republic of Serbia, rabies is controlled by compulsory ...vaccination of dogs and cats and oral vaccination of wild carnivores, which has been implemented since 2010. In the period 2009–2018, 367 rabies cases were recorded. The last rabies case in Serbia was recorded in 2018 in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes), while the last case in dogs was diagnosed in 2011. This study aimed to perform a retrospective phylogenetic analysis of G and N genes of the rabies virus from Serbia from 2009 to 2018 to understand sources and pathways of infection better and to enable molecular virus tracing in the future based on the association of rabies virus genetic lineages with the geographic distribution. For the phylogenetic analysis of the rabies virus, 14 historically positive brain samples of red foxes from 2009 to 2018, collected in central Serbia, were used. All field strains from Serbia were identified as classic rabies virus and grouped within the Cosmopolitan lineage. Phylogenetic analysis of N gene sequences revealed that 13 rabies virus strains (92.9%) from Serbia belonged to the EE sub‐lineage of isolates, while one virus (7.1%) ON988027 from 2011 clustered together with isolates from the WE sub‐lineage.
Parvoviruses are among the major animal pathogens that can cause considerable health disorders ranging from subclinical to lethal in domestic and wild animals. Golden jackal (
Canis aureus
), an ...expanding European species, is a reservoir of many pathogens, including vector-borne diseases and zoonoses. Given the importance of parvovirus infections in dogs and cats, this study aimed to unfold the virus prevalence and molecular characterisation in the golden jackal population in Serbia. The spleen samples from 68 hunted jackals during 2022/2023 were tested for the VP2-specific genome region of Protoparvovirus carnivoran 1 by PCR. BLAST analysis of partial VP2 sequences obtained from three animals (4.4%) revealed the highest similarity to Protoparvovirus carnivoran 1, genogroup Feline panleukopenia virus, which is the second report on FPV infection in jackals. Based on specific amino acid residues within partial VP2, the jackals’ Protoparvovirus carnivoran 1 was also classified as FPV. One jackal’s strain showed two synonymous mutations at positions 699 and 1167. Although species cross-transmission could not be established, jackals’ health should be maintained by preventing the transmission of viruses to native species and vice versa. Although jackals are considered pests, their role as natural cleaners is of greater importance. Therefore, further monitoring of their health is needed to understand the influence of infectious diseases on population dynamics and to determine the relationship between domestic predators and jackals and the direction of cross-species transmission.
This study provides the first comprehensive report on the molecular characteristics of African swine fever virus (ASFV) variants in Serbia between 2019 and 2022. Since its first observation in July ...2019, the disease has been found in wild boar and domestic swine. The study involved the analysis of 95 ASFV-positive samples collected from 12 infected administrative districts in Serbia. Partial four genomic regions were genetically characterized, including
B646L
,
E183L
,
B602L
, and the intergenic region (IGR) between the
I73R
-
I329L
genes. The results of the study suggest that multiple ASFV strains belonging to genotype II are circulating in Serbia, as evidenced by the analysis of the IGR between
I73R
-
I329L
genes that showed the most differences. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis of the
B602L
gene showed three different clades within the CVR I group of ASFV strains. Regarding the IGR, 98.4% were grouped into IGR II, with only one positive sample grouped into the IGR III group. These findings provide essential insights into the molecular characteristics of ASFV variants in Serbia and contribute to the knowledge of circulating strains of ASFV in Europe. However, further research is necessary to gain a better understanding of ASFV spread and evolution.
The role of wildlife in maintaining infectious diseases in veterinary medicine is often neglected, although the disease eradication process in domestic animals is continuously affected by the risk of ...pathogens transmission from wildlife as a primary source. The main aim of this paper was to estimate the prevalence and distribution of selected infectious diseases in wild ruminants in Serbia. In total, 259 sera from wild ruminants were tested for specific antibodies to bluetongue virus, Schmallenberg virus, Bovine viral diarrhea/border disease virus, Capripox virus, West Nile fever virus, Bovine herpes virus-1, Coxiella burnetii, Brucella spp., and Leptospira spp.
Specific Capripox virus and Leptospira spp. antibodies were not detected in any of the 259 wild ruminant samples. Although one animal was detected positive for BVDV/BDV specific antibodies, with 99.8% confidence, the prevalence of BVD within this population could be very low i.e. essentially free from BVD infection. One and three positive animals were detected for Brucella spp. and Coxiella burnetii antibodies, respectively. Bovine herpes virus-1 specific antibodies were detected in 20.85% of the samples. The estimated seroprevalence of vector-borne diseases was 20.5% for Schmallenberg disease, 34.3% for West Nile fever, and 38.6% for Bluetongue.
Considering the reported results, wildlife health status is a result of different factors in complex relation, such as the presence of disease in domestic animals, disease nature, pathogen characteristics, environmental factors, presence, and vector competence. Wildlife should be considered not only as a risk but as a source of important information on disease distribution and its indicators.
•CaPV and Leptospira spp. antibodies were not detected in wild ruminant sera, while one animal was seropositive for BVDV.•One and three positive animals were detected for Brucella spp. and Coxiella burnetii antibodies, respectively.•Specific antibodies against BoHV-1 were detected in 54 animals, representing a seroprevalence of 20.85%.•SBV seroprevalence was 20.5%, the seroprevalence of WNFV was 34.3%, and the seroprevalence of 38.6% was estimated for BTV.
Schmallenberg disease is an infectious disease of cattle, sheep, and goats of viral aetiology caused by the Schmallenberg virus that belongs to the family
and the genus
. Schmallenberg disease is a ...vector-borne disease transmitted by midges from the genus
but also by other hematophagous insects. The disease has a seasonal character and most often occurs in the warm months, from late spring to autumn. In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence of Schmallenberg disease in sheep in the epizootic area of Belgrade in the period from 2017 to 2022. A total of 600 sheep serums from the serum bank were tested, 100 serum samples from each year. Sera were tested by commercial ELISA test for the detection of specific antibodies against the Schmallenberg virus. The results showed an average annual seroprevalence of 24.5% in sheep in the Belgrade area in these six years with an increasing trend predicted for the next years.
Forty-six golden jackals (Canis aureus) were collected between November 2020 and February 2021 in five counties of Serbia. Lung samples were screened for the presence of Pneumocystis DNA by ...pan-Pneumocystis PCR on the mtLSU rRNA gene obtaining PCR products of 370 bp in length. Pneumocystis DNA was detected in the lungs from 6/46 (13.04%) golden jackals. Four were females and two were males; four were classified as adults and two as subadults. Positive samples were confirmed in 4/5 investigated counties. No gross pathologic lung lesions were observed in this study. The sequences of Pneumocystis spp. from golden jackals were identical to one another and showed the highest similarity with Pneumocystis spp. sequences of dogs (98% nucleotide identity). The genetic variation was comparable to Pneumocystis spp. of raccoon dogs (95-97% nucleotide identity), red foxes (91-95% nucleotide identity), ferrets (86% nucleotide identity), and another Pneumocystis type in dogs (P. canis Ck2, 81% nucleotide identity) was higher. Golden jackals may be carriers and may play a nonnegligible role in the spread of Pneumocystis spp. Although this finding cannot be directly related to any clinical manifestation or pathologic lesions, a possible role in the exacerbation of different pulmonary disorders should be considered.
Contrary to pig farming in developed Western countries, in a large part of the world, pigs are still traditionally kept in small backyard farms, usually for family needs. Their main characteristics ...are low biosecurity, swill feeding, natural breeding and uncontrolled trade. Given the high number of backyard farms in Serbia and the risk they are thought to pose to intensive pig farming, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of major viral diseases of swine among traditionally kept pigs in small holdings with low biosecurity. For this investigation, 222 serum samples from 69 backyard holdings were randomly selected and tested for antibodies to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV), Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV), Porcine Parvovirus (PPV) and Swine influenza Virus (SIV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The herd-level seroprevalence of PRRS, Aujeszky’s disease and PPV was 2.9%, 27.5% and 37.7%, respectively. Swine influenza seroconversion was not confirmed in any of the tested holdings. Despite widely distributed PPV and AD in backyard farms in Serbia, almost 50% of them are still negative for all the tested diseases. The backyard farms must be monitored, and owners must be educated as their role in eradication programs and obtaining country-free status may be crucial.
Swine influenza A viruses (swIAVs) are characterised by high mutation rates and zoonotic and pandemic potential. In order to draw conclusions about virulence in swine and pathogenicity to humans, we ...examined the existence of molecular markers and accessory proteins, cross-reactivity with vaccine strains, and resistance to antiviral drugs in five strains of H1N1 swIAVs.
Amino acid (AA) sequences of five previously genetically characterised swIAVs were analysed in MEGA 7.0 software and the Influenza Research Database.
Amino acid analysis revealed three virus strains with 590S/591R polymorphism and T271A substitution within basic polymerase 2 (PB2) AA chains, which cause enhanced virus replication in mammalian cells. The other two strains possessed D701N and R251K substitutions within PB2 and synthesised PB1-F2 protein, which are the factors of increased polymerase activity and virulence in swine. All strains synthesised PB1-N40, PA-N155, PA-N182, and PA-X proteins responsible for enhanced replication in mammalian cells and downregulation of the immune response of the host. Mutations detected within haemagglutinin antigenic sites imply the antigenic drift of the five analysed viruses in relation to the vaccine strains. All viruses show susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitors and baloxavir marboxil, which is important in situations of incidental human infections.
The detection of virulence markers and accessory proteins in the analysed viruses suggests their higher propensity for replication in mammalian cells, increased virulence, and potential for transmission to humans, and implies compromised efficacy of influenza vaccines.
