SUMMARY The ability of complement in human menstrual blood and cervical mucus to kill Trichomonas vaginalis was compared with that of complement in serum, and 95 fresh trichomonal isolates obtained from vaginal wash material were evaluated for susceptibility to complement immediately after isolation. Only serum and menstrual blood with haemolytic activity produced total cytolysis of T vaginalis. The cytolytic abilities ofthese fluids were totally inactivated by treatment with heat or edetic acid (EDTA), which confirms the role ofcomplement in cytolysis. Most The considerable lytic effect of fresh non-immune vertebrate serum on T vaginalis has been known for many years.' The factor responsible for lysis has been identified as activation of the alternative pathway of complement by T vaginalis in the absence of specific antibodies.45Investigations have shown great variability in the surface protein and carbohydrate molecules of the parasite.'6 Plasticity of the surface membrane may be an important factor influencing the susceptibility or resistance of T vaginalis to host immune factors.We performed this study to characterise further the role of complement in the lysis of fresh T vaginalis isolates, to investigate whether menstrual blood and cervical mucus have complement that can destroy the parasite in vitro, and to ascertain whether different

Epitheliocystis is an emerging disease of wild and cultured fish caused by a number of bacterial species, characterized by the presence of cytoplasmic bacterial inclusions in the epithelial cells of the gills, which contribute to the merging of the gill plates, and in some cases also spread to the skin of fish. This disease may manifest as hypertrophy and inflammation of the gills, white nodular lesions of epithelial tissue in the gills or skin, gasping on the surface of the water, lethargy, poor swimming and stunted growth. Among the commercially important aquaculture species of Ukraine, such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), brown trout (S. trutta), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and gibel carp (Carassius auratus), Candidatus Clavochlamydia salmonicola and Candidatus Piscichlamydia salmonis are associated with epitheliocystis. There are currently no tools at the disposal of ichthyologists and veterinary laboratories in Ukraine to identify Ca. C. salmonicola and Ca. Piscichlamydia salmonis. Our basic concern was to develop a PCR assay of epitheliocystis diagnosis. We suggest the use of general primers for simultaneous detection of Ca. C. salmonicola and Ca. Piscichlamydia salmonis. The developed PCR assay for identification of Ca. C. salmonicola and Ca. Piscichlamydia salmonis has shown its suitability for amplifying control DNA. Confirmation of the amplification products identity was performed using selective recognition of the sequence by the TasI restriction endonuclease (Thermo Fisher Scientific, US). Analytical specificity verification of the PCR assay performed by amplifying the control DNA of 10 species of the Chlamydiales order showed the absence of PCR products, but observed in one. The designed PCR assay, after approbation on clinical material, can be used by researchers for extensive monitoring of epitheliocystis, doctors of veterinary medicine for diagnosis clarification, in addition to introduction into the practice of veterinary medicine laboratories and implementation in fish farm improvement programmes. The amplicon size of 197 base pairs theoretically permits application of this oligonucleotide primers pair for real-time PCR.

In the present study, we observed in vitro the rate and stages of exogenous development of the nematode Trichuris sylvilagi Tiner, 1950 isolated from the European hare, Lepus europaeus. The viability of eggs and embryos at different temperatures was investigated. It was found that the most favorable temperature for embryonic development of the species was 30 °C, with the formation of 88.67 % of viable eggs with a motile larva in 20 days at laboratory conditions. With a decrease in temperature to 20 °C, the embryogenesis occurred in 32 days. The viability of eggs cultured at 20 °C decreased: 68.0 % of eggs reached larval stage, and 32.0 % of eggs died. At 10 °C eggs did not develop to infective stage. On the 32nd day of cultivation at 10 °C, 27.33 % of eggs remained at the zygote stage, 52.0 % at the stage of blastomere cleavage and formation, and 20.67 % died. Embryogenesis was characterized by metric changes in egg parameters. At optimal temperature, the growth and development of eggs was accompanied by an increase in the egg and plugs' width with a simultaneous decrease in their length, as well as with thinning of the shell

(1) Background: African swine fever (ASF) has been present in Ukraine for more than ten years (2012–2022). The purpose of our study was to perform a retrospective analysis of the spread of ASF to assess the role of wild boar in the epizootic expansion in Ukraine. (2) Methods: Statistical materials were collected and the epizootic situation of ASF from 2012 to 2022 was examined. The potential sources of the African swine fever virus (ASFV) and transmission factors were analysed. The main factors exerting negative impacts on domestic pig production were also analysed. (3) Results: Consequently, from the results of the retrospective analysis of ASF outbreaks in Ukraine, the probability ratio of ASF outbreaks in the wild boar and domestic pig populations was determined. The data show a direct relationship between ASF outbreaks among wild boar and domestic pigs with the observed decay of wild boar outbreaks across the entire territory of Ukraine. At the same time, an increase in the number of wild boars has been observed in the Mykolaiv region, with a parallel spillover of outbreaks in domestic pigs. (4) Conclusions: The epidemiological situation observed for ASF in the wild boar population may suggest an endemic form of the disease. This may further complicate eradication programs and the protection of domestic pig farms from ASF outbreaks. An additional and major reason to control the ASF epizootic is the continuing military Russian offensive in Ukraine.

Geohelminths parasitizing sheep are widespread throughout the world and have a significant pathogenic effect on the animal body. Among them, one of the leading places in terms of distribution is occupied by helminths of the genus Trichuris. This is due to the high resistance of trichurises to the effects of chemicals and adverse environmental factors. The presence of viable eggs of trichurosis pathogens in the surface layer of the soil and a sufficiently long period of their storage in the environment represents a potential threat of parasitic invasion on the territory of sheep farms. The aim of the research was to determine the disinfestation activity of modern ecologically safe means for dry disinfection against eggs of non-invasive nematode eggs of Trichuris skrjabini parasitizing sheep. An experimental test of the preparations “Hemastal BIO” (AS – calcium hydroxide, calcium sulfate, calcium sulfite-semihydrate, calcium chloride) and “Staldren” (AS – calcium carbonate, pine oil, magnesium silicate, iron oxide) was carried out in laboratory conditions. In the experiment, test cultures of eggs isolated from the gonads of T. skrjabini nematode females were used. The results of the conducted research established a high level of disinfestation efficiency of “Hemastal BIO” and “Staldren” (DE – 100 %) relative to non-invasive eggs of T. skrjabini on the 54th day of cultivation – the period of formation of invasive eggs in the control culture. During the embryogenesis of trichurises, the effectiveness of dry disinfectants gradually increased with “Hemastal BIO” up to 88.84 % – on the 18th day and up to 98.36 % – on the 36th day, and “Staldren” up to 82.79 % – on the 18th day and up to 95.90 % – for 36th days. Their harmful effect was characterized by specific changes in the eggs of nematodes in the form of sticking of crystals of the agents around the causative agents, as a result of which there was a stop in growth and development and the gradual decay and resorption of the embryos. Such changes are also confirmed by the metric parameters of the width and length of T. skrjabini eggs. The obtained data allow to recommend dry disinfectants “Hemastal BIO” and “Staldren” for the purpose of effective maintenance of sanitary and epidemiological well-being in relation to trichurosis in sheep farms.