Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease of livestock that can cause cutaneous and internal lesions, affecting milk production, hide quality and in some cases death of the infected animal. After an outbreak in neighboring Iran, a working group from the Azerbaijan State Veterinary Control Service was sent to the border rayons (administrative districts) to determine if any cattle in southern Azerbaijan were infected. The Rayonal Veterinary Offices were contacted to look for and report any cases of LSD in their rayons. Animals exhibiting clinical signs consistent with LSD infection were first observed in the rayon of Bilasuvar and more cases were subsequently identified in Jalilabad, Ujar, and Aghdash rayons. Samples were collected from blood, and/or lesions of suspected infected animals and internal organs of cattle that died and were tested at the Republican Veterinary Laboratory in Baku using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). From June to November 2014, 2,762 cattle in Azerbaijan were reported to have clinical signs or gross necropsy lesions consistent with LSD. Of 269 samples tested for LSD virus by real-time PCR, 199 (74%) were positive. A total of 33 cattle died, which was 1.2% of those exhibiting clinical signs of disease. Samples from nodular cutaneous lesions were more frequently positive by PCR and had higher concentrations of virus than blood and pooled internal organ samples. Preventative measures including movement restrictions, vector control and vaccination were put into place to slow the spread of disease. Ongoing surveillance should continue as environmental persistence of the virus may lead to further outbreaks of disease.

SUMMARYEffective methods to increase awareness of preventable infectious diseases are key components of successful control programmes. Rabies is an example of a disease with significant impact, where public awareness is variable. A recent awareness campaign in a rabies endemic region of Azerbaijan provided a unique opportunity to assess the efficacy of such campaigns. A cluster cross-sectional survey concerning rabies was undertaken following the awareness campaign in 600 households in 38 randomly selected towns, in districts covered by the campaign and matched control regions. This survey demonstrated that the relatively simple awareness campaign was effective at improving knowledge of rabies symptoms and vaccination schedules. Crucially, those in the awareness campaign group were also 1·4 times more likely to report that they had vaccinated their pets, an essential component of human rabies prevention. In addition, low knowledge of appropriate post-exposure treatment and animal sources of rabies provide information useful for future public awareness campaigns in the region and other similar areas.

The Caucasus is a region of geopolitical importance, in the gateway between Europe and Asia. This geographical location makes the region equally important in the epidemiology and control of transboundary infectious diseases such as rabies. Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus, and although rabies is notifiable and considered endemic, there is little information on the burden of human and animal rabies. Here, we describe a cross-disciplinary international collaboration aimed at improving rabies control in Azerbaijan. Partial nucleoprotein gene sequences were obtained from animal rabies cases for comparison with those from surrounding areas. Reported human and animal rabies cases between 2000 and 2010 were also reviewed and analysed by region and year. Comparison of rabies virus strains circulating in Azerbaijan demonstrates more than one lineage of rabies virus circulating concurrently in Azerbaijan and illustrates the need for further sample collection and characterization. Officially reported rabies data showed an increase in human and animal rabies cases, and an increase in animal bites requiring provision of post-exposure prophylaxis, since 2006. This is despite apparently consistent levels of dog vaccination and culling of stray dogs.

The Azerbaijan State Veterinary Control Service (SVCS) has conducted active serological surveillance for avian influenza (AI) in poultry since 2006, when the first outbreak of AI H5N1 occurred in Azerbaijan. Samples are collected from September to May annually and tested using a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay to detect antibodies against H5 AI viruses. HI testing is also performed for Newcastle disease virus (NDV) upon request, but since this method cannot distinguish between natural infections and immune responses to vaccination, all positive results require follow-up epidemiological investigations. Furthermore, blood collection for the surveillance program is time-intensive and can be stressful to birds. In order to improve the national surveillance program, alternative sampling and testing methodologies were applied among a population of birds in the Barda region and compared with results of the national surveillance program. Tracheal and cloacal swabs were collected instead of blood. Rather than testing individual samples, RNA was pooled to conserve resources and time, and pools were tested by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Environmental sampling at a live bird market was also introduced as another surveillance mechanism. A total of 1,030 swabs were collected, comprising tracheal, and cloacal samples from 441 birds and 148 environmental surface samples from farms or the live bird market. During the same time, 3,890 blood samples were collected nationally for the surveillance program; 400 of these samples originated in the Barda region. Birds sampled for rRT-PCR were likely different than those tested as part of national surveillance. All swab samples tested negative by rRT-PCR for both AI and NDV. All blood samples tested negative for H5 by HI, while 6.2% of all samples and 5% of the Barda samples tested positive for exposure to NDV. Follow-up investigations found that positive samples were from birds vaccinated in the previous month. This study demonstrated that taking swabs was quicker and less invasive than blood collection. Results of rRT-PCR testing were similar to HI testing for H5 but also ruled out infection with all influenza type A viruses and not just H5. In addition, rRT-PCR testing was able to rule out active infections with NDV.

Objectiveto show the instability of an epizootic situation on rabies casesof animals in the Republic of Azerbaijan, on the example of thecases analysis in Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System(EIDSS) electronic reporting systemIntroductionRabies is an infectious disease which was and remains to be oneof the most serious diseases of all species of hematothermal animalsand humans, in many regions of the world. The epizootic situation onrabies in the Republic of Azerbaijan has been unfavorable for manyyears, which is confirmed by scientific data and the veterinary casesreporting in the EIDSS system. This system was introduced in thecountry in 2009 and is the electronic System of disease control. Theprogram allows to provide monitoring and prevention of diseaseswithin the concept “One World - One Health System” by integrationof systems of observation of animal diseases, human diseases, anddisease carriers.MethodsOn the basis of the data on rabies cases entered in special formsand also aggregative data collected on anti-rabies vaccination, theanalysis of information on quantity of cases and their prevalence onadministrative and territorial units (rayons) of the country is carriedout. The graphical analysis (charts and the map) on the basis ofnecessary criteria are constituted in the analyses module, visualizationof the AVR reporting and in the Microsoft Excel program.ResultsThe analysis of the rabies cases confirmed at the Virologydepartment of the Republican Veterinary Laboratory shows thatrabies has been identified in 36 cases in 2015, 25 cases in January- June, 2016, in total 61 cases has been registered for the periodof “January 2015 – June 2016”. An epizootologically unfavorablesituation is revealed in 27 regions. The most unfavorable situation isthe northwest regions of the country, the most part of which is coveredwith mountainy-forest area with domination of wild fauna. Specificstructure of animals: dogs – 31 cases in 19 areas (51%), cattle – 21cases in 12 areas (34%), a small cattle-1 case (2%), wild animals(specify types) - 8 cases in 8 areas (13%) that is visually shown oncharts 1 and 2. The cattle were bitten by wolves and jackals.ConclusionsThus, prevalence of rabies cases of different species of animalsin the country, once again proves natural and focal character of thedisease: the reservoir of rabies is in the wild nature and geographicalconditions impact the spread of rabies.Cases of rabies in animals are registered annually. In 2015,vaccination captured about 250000 dogs, and 244400 dogs werevaccinated in the first 6 months of 2016. Despite a huge group ofvaccinations, restriction of rabies spread isn’t observed and thetendency is trending to the increase of rabies case indicators amongstthe dogs.It is necessary to pay close attention to preventive vaccination ofdomestic (including non-productive) animals. If materiel resourcesare available, it is possible to carry out the vaccination of the cattlein the territories adjacent to the forests. In the threatened territorieswith woodlands, there is no alternative to oral vaccinations, whichis confirmed by positive experience of many countries. There is anextreme need of carrying out of oral vaccination of wild carnivorousanimals with obligatory control of the immune status.