Detection of Foci of Tularemia Using Enzyme Immunoassay for the Predatory Bird Pellets

Abstract

The results of identifying tularemia foci using the predatory bird pellets in the central part of Russia using the example of the Republic of Mordovia are presented. The efficacy of tularemia detection in pellets compared with other biomaterials has been shown. The average content of the tularemia microbe antigen from the predatory bird pellets was 9,4%. The greatest number of registrations of the causative agent of tularemia in the pellets was observed in Eagle Owl (29,2%). To a lesser extent, the pathogen was detected in the Ural Owl (14,7%). The tularemia pathogen was detected more often in the bird predator pellets than in the biomaterial from rodents. The largest share of positive samples was recorded in the riverine districts. The dynamics of identifying the causative agent of tularemia should be noted in 2015, 2017 and 2018, which are characterized by high values of the indicator.

Vocalizations by red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in natural and climatic conditions of Mordovia (Middle Volga region)

“…The material for this article was audio recordings of the vocal activity of the red fox, obtained using portable voice recorders Olympus VN-416PC, VN-406PC, VN-712PC, as well as diary recordings of calls recorded directly on the ground. The technique was applied from previous experience in studying the activity of different animal species [4][5][6][7][8]. Direct recordings of the calls of the red fox by the counter on the ground were carried out from 2008 to 2023.…”