CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RABIES EPIZOOTIC PROCESS IN THE ROSTOV REGION

Abstract

The aim of the work was to study the features of the rabies epizootic process manifestation in the territory of the Rostov region. To achieve the intended aim the comprehensive epizootological research and the retrospective epizootological analysis were carried out based on the veterinary reports of the Rostov Region State Budgetary Institution «Rostov Regional Station for Animal Diseases Combating, with Anti-Epizootic Squad» and the Rostov Region Veterinary Medicine Directorate. In the result of research it was found that for the period from 2018 to 2021, 35 rabies epizootic foci were registered within the territory of 24 municipalities of the Rostov region. During this period of time the disease was detected in 8 species of domestic and wild animals. The main reservoir and source of rabies infection causative agent in this territorial entity of the Russian Federation are dogs (31.4 %), foxes (22.8 %), cats (14.3 %), cattle (14.3 %) and jackals (8.5 %); single cases of the disease (8.7 % in total) were detected among wolves, martens and horses. When analysing the annual dynamics of the rabies incidence in animals, the clear-cut seasonality of the disease is discovered. The disease is mainly recorded in the autumn-spring period, whereby the seasonal dynamics has the two-peak character with two highest points in April and November. Such seasonal fluctuations are explained by the breeding biology of wild carnivores, such as foxes and jackals, with wolves and martens involved in the epizootic process. The unstable and tense rabies epizootic situation in the Rostov region indicates the need to regulate the number of wild carnivores on its territory and to carry out planned activities on their immunization.