Aim:First cases of clinically uncommon African swine fever (ASF), caused by virus genotype II are described in this article. These cases occurred in Armenia, Tavush region, Dilijan municipality in 2011. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the new pathogenic forms of ASF in Armenia.Materials and Methods:The isolation and identification of ASF virus (ASFV) were carried out using conventional techniques. Clinical signs of infection were recorded daily. Gross anatomical pathology characteristics were observed during routine postmortem examinations. Blood and serum were obtained by puncture of the jugular vein using a vacutainer system.Results:The presence of ASFV DNA in the spleens was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Sequenced sections of p72 showed phylogenetic identity to genotype 2. The pathology exhibits unusual manifestations of the main disease. The unusual form of ASF demonstrates characteristics of a subacute form of the disease, with the possibility of conversion to a chronic form. Decreased lethality, low level of hemorrhages, and absence of severe pancytopenia in smears from spleen, lymph nodes, and blood are common features of the new form of ASF. Unlike severe thrombocytopenia in the typical ASF, the unusual form exhibited moderate or minor decrease of this feature. Despite a moderate decrease in hemadsorption titers, the unusual pattern of the disease was characterized by viremia and the presence of the virus in the visceral organs, including the brain.Conclusion:Our data allow assuming that new nosological form of ASF (genotype II) may present as a transitional form of the disease with the possibility of chronization.

Aim: The aim of this research was to study the effect of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) on the host immune response by examining the cellular composition/pathology of lymphoid organs and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Materials and Methods: Nine adult rabbits were inoculated with 1 ml of 10% infected liver homogenate, and three rabbits served as controls. The rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD)-induced animals were studied on 3 consecutive days post-infection. Diagnosis of RHD was made through routine hemagglutination tests and the polymerase chain reaction. Blood smears and tissue samples from bone marrow (BM), spleen, lymph nodes, and liver were analyzed for cell composition and cytopathology. Serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: RHD showed a decreased absolute cell count of blood as well as lymph nodes, spleen, and BM cell populations with marked left shift. This was seen as a progressive rise in immature and blast cells. Quantitative cellular changes were accompanied by an increase in specific inflammatory cytokines. Immunocytopathological alterations were evidenced by: Vacuolized, hyperactivated tissue macrophages, finding of Dohle bodies in neutrophils, and activated lymphocytes with increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. Cytoplasmic eosinophilic viral inclusions found in tissue (liver, spleen, and BM) macrophages were shown for the 1st time in RHD. Megakaryocytic emperipolesis was a common feature of RHD. Conclusion: These studies suggest that RHDV induces pathology in leukocytes due to hyperactivation with left shift (toward immature stages of the different cell lineages). Macrophages are increased in number and show an expressed cytopathic effect often accompanied by viral eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions. They also developed a secretory activation (increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines). Keywords: cytopathology, emperipolesis, eosinophilic viral inclusions, immune response, macrophages, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus.

The present research summarizes the protective and immunomodulatory activity of hypothalamic proline-rich polypeptide galarmin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The protective effect of galarmin was shown on MRSA-infected animals' survival and weight loss recovery. The immunological impact of galarmin was evaluated in terms of immunocompetent cell recruitment, serum immunoglobulins, complement components C3 and C4, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1b, TNFa, and KC) secretion. Galarmin efficiently protects mice against lethal MRSA infection (100% of survival vs. 0% in the untreated group) when intramuscularly injected 24 h before infection and during the 1-h post-infection period at a concentration of 1 μg per mouse, while its higher concentrations (5 and 10 μg) were protective when injected in parallel to the infection process. The protective effect of galarmin was not due to a direct effect on MRSA, but should be attributed to an action on the host response to infection. Galarmin significantly increased and modulated the levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-1b, IL-10, and KC in both peritoneal lavages and blood, leukocyte and platelet counts, lymphocytes percentage, serum IgM and IgG, and complement C3 and C4 components secretion. The experimental results allow concluding that galarmin is a powerful immunomodulatory and protective agent for the in vivo prophylaxis and treatment of MRSA-induced infection.

Investigations on the swine brucellosis has been conducted for the first time within 2021-2022 throughout the recent 60 years. Probably, the infection carrier small and large cattle have become the cause of brucellosis infection. Joint housing and zoohygienic conditions, as well as the remnants of infected dairy products have served as predisposing factors formorbidity. Rose-Bengal test and agglutination reaction were used to detect antibodies in blood serum. As a result of epidemiological analysis, the indicators of morbidity and insecurity rates have amounted to 0.0025 (0.25 %), 0.0075 (0.75 %), respectively, while the economic damage has made AMD 1 mln 310 thousand.