Identification of Pathogens of Natural Focal Infectious Diseases of Bacterial Origin in Certain Areas of the Kherson and Zaporozhe Regions in 2023

The aim of the study was to determine the species affiliation and genetic diversity of pathogens of bacterial natural focal infections in order to refine the spectrum of circulating agents in certain areas of the Kherson and Zaporozhe Regions.
Materials and methods. An epizootiological survey of the territory of Verkhnerogachik, Genichesk, Novotroitsk districts of the Kherson Region, Akimov, Berdyansk, Vasilievsk, Veselovsky, Melitopol, Pologovsky districts of the Zaporozhe Region was conducted. The study of field material was carried out by molecular-genetic, serological, and biological methods. Sequencing of Borrelia DNA isolates by a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene, fragments of genes (gltA, ompB) of Rickettsia spp. DNA isolates, MLVA-25 typing of Francisella tularensis strains were performed. Statistical analysis of the laboratory test results was performed using Microsoft Excel 2010. The data were analyzed using the cartographic method applying ArcGIS 10.3.
Results and discussion. The circulation of pathogens of tularemia, leptospirosis (Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae, L. grippotyphosa), rickettsiosis (Rickettsia aeschlimannii, R. heilongjiangensis, R. conorii, R. slovaca, R. vini), Ixodidae tick-borne borreliosis (Borrelia afzelii, B. miyamotoii) in individual areas of the Kherson and Zaporozhe Regions has been established. Markers of Anaplasma phagocytophilum have been identified in the Zaporozhe Region. The data obtained indicate a possible joint circulation of pathogens of leptospirosis, tick-borne rickettsiosis, Ixodidae tick-borne borreliosis in the Genichesky district of the Kherson Region; tularemia, leptospirosis, tick-borne rickettsiosis, Ixodidae tick-borne borreliosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis in the Melitopol district of the Zaporozhe Region; leptospirosis, tick-borne rickettsiosis, Ixodidae tick-borne borreliosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis in the Berdyansk district of the Zaporozhe Region. Based on the results of the conducted studies, information on the circulation of pathogens of tularemia, leptospirosis, rickettsiosis, Ixodidae tick-borne borreliosis in certain areas of the Kherson and Zaporozhe Regions has been obtained, which suggests the presence of foci of combined infections. Outbreak and sporadic incidence of natural focal infections is possible in the surveyed area. To assess the epidemic potential of territories, further epizootiological examination, assessment of the number and species composition of carriers and vectors of pathogens of natural focal infections, and an analysis of morbidity are required.

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