Abstract
The epidemiological and epizootic brucellosis situation remains tense in many countries around the world. The territory of Ukraine is free of brucellosis in farm and domestic animals. However, there is a risk of contracting the disease from Russia, Georgia, Turkey, and other countries during export and import operations. The aim of this study was to survey for brucellosis in livestock farms and wild faun, and to assess the epizootic situation of brucellosis in Ukraine. The study was based on biological material from seropositive animals, aborted fetuses, stillbirths, and game meat samples. Brucellosis was monitored using bacteriological methods in accordance with the WOAH Terrestrial Manual 2009. Chapter 2.7.2. Caprine and ovine brucellosis (excluding Brucella dependent), WOAH Terrestrial Manual Chapter 2.7.8 and “Guidelines for brucellosis diagnosis in animals”, approved by the Ministry of Agro-Industrial Complex of Ukraine, State Department of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. For the period 2017-2021, the regional state laboratories of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumers Protection and the State Scientific and Research Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise tested 1,327 samples of biological material (aborted fetuses, stillbirths, game meat samples to rule out brucellosis). In 2017, 542 samples [(cattle - 416 samples (76.8%), pigs - 109 samples (20%), small cattle - 17 samples (3%)]. In 2018 - 160 samples [(cattle - 116 samples (72.5%), pigs - 39 samples (24.4%), small cattle - 5 samples (3%)]. In 2019, 210 samples [(15.8%) (cattle - 178 samples) (84.8%), pigs - 29 samples (13.8%), small cattle - 3 samples (1.4%)]. In 2020, 240 samples [(cattle - 175 samples (72.9%), pigs - 57 samples (23.8%), small cattle - 8 samples (3.3%)]. During 2021 - 175 samples [(cattle - 122 samples (69.7%), pigs - 49 samples (28%), small cattle - 4 samples (2.3%)]. No brucellosis pathogens were detected using bacteriological testing or guinea pig bioassays. Giv-n the danger of brucellosis to human health, through transmission of the pathogen through unpasteurized milk, cheese, butter, uncooked meat and offal, monitoring of livestock for brucellosis is mandatory.
