Experience of Russian-Malagasy Cooperation in the Fight against Plague: Results of the First Joint Expedition

The paper is devoted to the first experience of Russian-Malagasy cooperation in ensuring the sanitary-epidemiological well-being of the population on the island of Madagascar. It describes the results of the first expeditionary work on studying the activity of natural plague foci in the Amoron’i Mania region of the Republic of Madagascar.

The aim of the work was to summarize the experience gained during the joint expedition, as well as to develop recommendations for improving the system of epidemiological surveillance and prevention.

Materials and methods. During the expedition, methods of epidemiological analysis, epizootiological monitoring, and laboratory diagnostics (PCR, LAMP, ELISA, bacteriological method, and sequencing) were used.

Results and discussion. As part of the epizootiological monitoring, 22 communes of the Amoron’i Mania region were surveyed and 116 small mammals of 6 species were captured. 232 combined samples of small mammals’ organs (liver/spleen and kidneys/lungs), 82 samples of fleas, and 42 pools of ticks were tested for the presence of pathogens of various nature. The expedition has provided recommendations for improving plague monitoring in Madagascar. This work opens up opportunities for further collaboration between Russia and Madagascar in the field of plague surveillance, aimed at reducing the risks of infectious diseases and protecting the population from biological threats.

1. Ivanova A.V., Zubova A.A., Kas’yan Zh.A., Dmitrieva L.N., Chumachkova E.A., Zimirova A.A., Shcherbakova S.A., Kutyrev V.V. [Overview of current risks of introducing infectious diseases into the Russian Federation from African Countries]. Dezinfektsionnoe Delo [Disinfection Affairs]. 2023; (4):33–45. DOI: 10.35411/2076457X-2023-4-33-45.

2. Morelli G., Song Y., Mazzoni C.J., Eppinger M., Roumagnac P., Wagner D.M., Feldkamp M., Kusecek B., Vogler A.J., Li Y., Cui Y., Thomson N.R., Jombart T., Leblois R., Lichtner P., Rahalison L., Petersen J.M., Balloux F., Keim P., Wirth T., Ravel J., Yang R., Carniel E., Achtman M. Yersinia pestis genome sequencing identifies patterns of global phylogenetic diversity. Nat. Genet. 2010; 42(12):1140–3. DOI: 10.1038/ng.705.

3. Kutyrev V.V., Eroshenko G.A., Motin V.L., Nosov N.Y., Krasnov J.M., Kukleva L.M., Nikiforov K.A., Al’khova Z.V., Oglodin E.G., Guseva N.P. Phylogeny and classification of Yersinia pestis through the lens of strains from the plague foci of Commonwealth of Independent States. Front. Microbiol. 2018; 9:1106. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01106.

4. Popov N.V., Karnaukhov I.G., Kuznetsov A.A., Matrosov A.N., Ivanova A.V., Martsokha K.S., Magerramov Sh.V., Pospelov M.V., Korzun V.M., Verzhutsky D.B., Chipanin E.V., Kholin A.V., Lopatin A.A., Dubyansky V.M., Ashibokov U.M., Gazieva A.Yu., Kutyrev I.V., Ayazbaev T.Z., Bammatov D.M., Balakhonov S.V., Kulichenko A.N., Kutyrev V.V. [The epidemiological situation on plague in the world and the forecast of its development for 2025 in the Russian Federation]. Problemy Osobo Opasnykh Infektsii [Problems of Particularly Dangerous Infections]. 2025; (1):74–83. DOI: 10.21055/0370-1069-2025-1-74-83.

5. Ivanova A.V., Magerramov Sh.V., Sharova I.N., Senichkina A.M., Kondratiev E.N., Korobkin N.A., Shirshov A.V., Shcherbakova S.A., Kutyrev V.V. [Experience in organizing expeditionary work in plague foci in Madagascar]. In: Popova A.Yu., Kutyrev V.V., editors. [Collection of Materials of the VI International Scientific and Practical Conference on Infectious Diseases Control (December 11– 12, 2025, Saint Petersburg)]. Saratov; 2025. P. 121–3.

6. Girard G., Robic J. L’etat actuel de la peste a Madagascar et la prophylaxie vaccinale par le virus vaccin E.V. Bull. Soc. Pathol. Exot. 1942; 35(1-2):42–9.

7. Kutyrev V.V., Popov N.V., Eroshenko G.A., Merkulova T.K. [Plague on Madagascar Island]. Problemy Osobo Opasnykh Infektsii [Problems of Particularly Dangerous Infections]. 2011; (2):5–11. DOI: 10.21055/0370-1069-2011-2(108)-5-11.

8. Popova A.Yu., Kutyrev V.V., Shcherbakova S.A., Yezhlova E.B., Demina Yu.V., Pakskina N.D., Toporkov V.P., Popov N.V., Sizova Ya.V., Eroshenko G.A., Bugorkova S.A., Shchukovskaya T.N., Karnaukhov I.G., Osina N.A., Porshakov A.M., Sharova I.N., Udovichenko S.K., Ivanova A.V. [Outbreak of pneumonic plague on Madagascar island in 2017]. Problemy Osobo Opasnykh Infektsii [Problems of Particularly Dangerous Infections]. 2017; (4):5–14. DOI: 10.21055/0370-1069-2017-4-5-14.

9. WHO. Disease outbreak news – Madagascar. [Internet]. Available from: https://www.who.int/ru/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/plague---madagascar.

10. Kozakevich V.P., Varshavsky S.N., Lavrovsky A.A. [Natural foci of plague in Madagascar]. Problemy Osobo Opasnykh Infektsii [Problems of Particularly Dangerous Infections]. 1973; (1):26–32.

11. Duplantier J.-M., Duchemin J.-B., Ratsitorahina M., Rahalison L., Chanteau S. Résurgence de la peste dans le District d’Ikongo à Madagascar en 1998. 2. Réservoires et vecteurs impliqués. Bull. Soc. Pathol. Exot. 2001; 94(2):119–22.

12. Duplantier J.-M., Duchemin J.-B. Human diseases and introduced small mammals. In: Goodman S.M., Benstead J.P., editors. The Natural History of Madagascar. Chicago-London: The University of Chicago; 2003. P. 158–61.

13. Rahelinirina S., Harimalala M., Rakotoniaina J., Randriamanantsoa M.G., Dentinger C., Zohdy S., Girod R., Rajerison M. Tracking of mammals and their fleas for plague surveillance in Madagascar, 2018–2019. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2022; 106(6):1601–9. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0974.

14. Leger J.-P. Une saison de peste en brousse malgache. Annales de Médicine et de Pharmacie Colonials. 1934; 32:293–308.

15. Brygoo E.-R. Epidémiologie de la peste à Madagascar. Archives de l’Institut Pasteur de Madagascar. 1966; 35:9–147.

16. Arutyunov Yu.I., Moskvitina E.A., Lomov Yu.M., Mishankin B.L., Volokhonskaya N.L. [Some features of epidemic plague manifestations in Madagascar]. Problemy Osobo Opasnykh Infektsii [Problems of Particularly Dangerous Infections]. 2001; (2):61–8.

17. Atlas de la peste à Madagascar. Institut Pasteur de Madagascar; 2006. 53 p. [Internet]. Available from: http://www. pasteur.mg/IMG/pdf/Atlas-Peste.pdf.

18. Boisier P., Rasolomaharo M., Ranaivoson G., Rasoamanana B., Rakoto L., Andrianirina Z., Andriamahafazafy B., Chanteau S. Urban epidemic of bubonic plague in Mahajanga, Madagascar: epidemiological aspects. Trop. Med. Int. Health. 1997; 2(5):422–7.

19. Chanteau S., Ratsifasoamanana L., Rasoamanana B., Rahalison L., Randriambelosoa J., Roux J., Rabeson D. Plague, a reemerging disease in Madagasсar. Emerg. Infect. Dis. 1998; 4(1):101–4. DOI: 10.3201/eid0401.980114.

20. Tsuzuki S., Lee H., Miura F., Chan Y.H., Jung S.M., Akhmetzhanov A.R., Nishiura H. Dynamics of the pneumonic plague epidemic in Madagascar, August to October 2017. Euro Surveill. 2017; 22(46):17-00710. DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.46.17-00710.

21. Vogler A.J., Chan F., Wagner D.M., Roumagnac P., Lee J., Nera R., Eppinger M., Ravel J., Rahalison L., Rasoamanana B.W., Beckstrom-Sternberg S.M., Achtman M., Chanteau S., Keim P. Phylogeography and molecular epidemiology of Yersinia pestis in Madagascar. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 2011; 5(9):e1319. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001319.