Research activities

The mission of the Department of Epizootology, Microbiology and Virology is to train specialists with a higher education in the specialty "Veterinary Medicine" who are able to carry out organizational-management, information-analytical, consulting, educational, scientific-research activities at a high professional level at enterprises, primarily specialize in activities in the field of "Veterinary Medicine". Specialists who are able to compete in the modern labor market, to form professional and leadership qualities in future veterinary medicine specialists, as well as the ability to effectively increase and apply their professional potential, build their future and achieve the best results in the profession, become leaders.
    The scientific activity of the teaching staff, doctoral students, post-graduate students and students of the Department of Epizootology, Microbiology and Virology is the main component of improving their professional skills and successfully implementing the educational model implemented at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the university as a whole.
Within the framework of state topics, research was conducted to study the molecular genetic characteristics of circulating isolates in the global rabies control system, and a collection of street isolates of the rabies virus (1,300 isolates) was created, the conditions for their preparation for research and storage were optimized (Ivanov I.Y, Nedosekov V.V.).
    The biological properties of street isolates of the rabies virus belonging to different genetic variants were studied, and a higher percentage of the disease manifestation in white mice in the form of a paralytic form was established among the non-CVS genetic variant (89%) compared to the CVS-like genetic variant (54%). Territorial ranking of genetic variants of the rabies virus and its projection on the epizootic situation was carried out. It is shown that the CVS-excellent genetic variant circulates in the left-bank Ukraine in zones with high and medium intensity of the epizootic situation, and the CVS-like variant circulates in the right-bank Ukraine mainly in the zone with a low intensity of the epizootic situation (Ivanov I.Y, Nedosekov V.V.).
Experimental studies were conducted and the results of the analysis of the animal rabies epizootic situation in Ukraine and the spatio-temporal characteristics of the rabies epizootic in the Chernihiv region were presented, an assessment of the population of homeless animals and oral immunization against rabies of homeless dogs using the recombinant vaccine "Brovarabis V-RG" was carried out short-term forecasting of the spread of rabies in the territory of Chernihiv region for 2017-2021 (Golik M.O., Nedosekov V.V.)

Based on the ESRI ArcMap software, a geographic information system (GIS) for rabies monitoring was developed, based on the results of which the theory of uneven distribution of rabies in the Chernihiv region was formed. The nosological profile was established and the share of infectious diseases in the infectious pathology of dogs and cats in Kyiv was shown, which are formed from 15 nosounits in dogs and 13 in cats.
The study of the evolutionary and ecological features of the epizootology of animal rabies at the current stage was carried out, and the influence of unfavorable conditions of keeping animals on the formation of anti-rabies immunity was determined. For the first time, a unified "System for evaluating the immunogenic activity of inactivated antirabies vaccines" was developed, which includes the following methods: "peripheral" test, "serological" method, NIH test with street isolates of the rabies virus and NIH test on animals with induced immunosuppression (Nikitova A.P. , Nedosekov V.V.).
    For the first time, the technology for the production of an inactivated vaccine against infectious rhinotracheitis of cattle was scientifically and experimentally substantiated and developed, which differs from analogues in the use of the infectious rhinotracheitis virus, strain "BM", the accumulation of the virus in the MDBK cell culture, the use of ethyleneimine (an inactivant) and highly purified mineral oil in a mixture with aerosol (adjuvant) (Gulianych M.M., Nedosekov V.V.).
    For the first time in Ukraine, we have developed a method of oral immunization of homeless dogs with a recombinant anti-rabies vaccine, which involves a controlled experiment with serological control of post-vaccination anti-rabies immunity, determination of the population of homeless dogs in a locality, field trials of oral immunization of dogs according to the "wild nature immunization" model, and the characteristics of immunity to the rabies virus in stray dogs (Golik M.O., Nedosekov V.V.).
The development of the theoretical foundations of the design of highly effective biological drugs was carried out (2005 - 2010) (Skybitskyi V.G.). As a result of the implementation of the NDR, an experimentally substantiated methodology for obtaining modern probiotics and rational schemes for their use in veterinary medicine were proposed; strains of lacto- and bifidobacteria with distinct "probiotic" properties were selected, the effectiveness of their use in conditions unfavorable for gastrointestinal diseases of newborn calves in animal herds was proven; the expediency of including native and recombinant interleukins in probiotic preparations has been established.
    According to the results of the NDR, "Methodical recommendations on the design of probiotics and their use in veterinary medicine" were developed and implemented in the practice of veterinary medicine of Ukraine (NDI, educational institutions); deposited 2 strains of lactobacilli and 1 strain of bifidobacteria (Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology), obtained 3 patents for a useful model, published 8 scientific articles in professional publications.
Yersinia enterocolitica was studied in the plan of substantiating the technology of obtaining high-quality and safe livestock products (2011 - 2015) (Skybitsky V.G.). An ecological and biological study of the causative agent of intestinal yersiniosis was conducted, in particular, its distribution, biological and pathogenic properties of strains isolated from animals, livestock raw materials and products were studied, their sensitivity to drugs and disinfectants was studied, and laboratory diagnostics were improved. Based on the results of the research, "Methodological recommendations for laboratory diagnosis of intestinal yersiniosis in animals, detection of Yersinia enterocolitica in food products, animal feed and environmental objects" and "Yersiniosis toxicoinfection (methodological recommendations for diagnosis and prevention)" were compiled and implemented on the territory of Ukraine; 6 strains of antagonistic microorganisms against the causative agent of intestinal yersiniosis and other pathogens were deposited; the monograph "Yersinia toxic infection" (G.V. Kozlovska) was published, 15 scientific articles in specialized publications; defended the thesis for obtaining the scientific degree of Doctor of Science in Science in Vet. (Y.V. Khomenko).
The diagnosis and prevention of dermatomycosis in animals has been improved (Skybytsky V.G.). An epizootological analysis of dermatomycosis of cats and dogs was carried out in Kyiv and Mariupol. The etiological structure of diseases was characterized, the causative agents of trichophytosis and microsporia were isolated, their structure, cultural and pathogenic properties were investigated; the main sources of infection, the susceptibility of animals of different breeds and ages have been established; improved express diagnosis of microsporia; the therapeutic effectiveness of a number of agents for dermatomycosis, pyoderma and otitis in dogs has been characterized. According to the results of the NDR, Methodological recommendations "Malassezia in animals (diagnosis, prevention)" were concluded and implemented in the work of veterinary clinics and diagnostic laboratories; 5 articles were published, 1 patent of Ukraine was obtained, a candidate's thesis was prepared for defense (Tuyakhov M.F.).
In 2020, research focused on the latest approaches and the application of modern world-class technologies, and was based on the generation of available official data on rabies cases, the formatting and systematization of all positive rabies cases, the creation of a single national epizootological data base on rabies cases in all regions of Ukraine for 2012 - 2018, which has no analogues to date and contains data on the geographical coordinates of each case, dates of registration of cases, distribution by species of animals and belonging to regions, districts, settlements, villages, cities. During the formation of the database, for the systematization of the received materials, a unified system of registration of positive cases of rabies was developed according to the distribution of morbidity by region separately for each year.
In general, the conducted research made it possible for the first time to analyze the features of the spread of rabies simultaneously in space and time and to establish the features of the relationship between wild and domestic animals, the dependence on the location of each case and to reveal all the features of the epizootic process of the spread of rabies in Ukraine.