project manager: Alexey Vasilyevich Nefedchenko
Clostridia are Gram-positive anaerobic spore-forming bacteria of the family Clostridiaceae of the genus Clostridium, widely distributed in nature: they are present in soil, water and decomposing animal remains. They are the representatives of normal microflora of the gastrointestinal tract of all warm-blooded animals, and at the same time, can cause a significant number of diseases of all kinds of farm animals and birds, as well as humans.
The relevance of the problem of clostridiosis in our country in recent years is due to the intensification of animal husbandry aimed at increasing milk productivity of cows, often against the background of unbalanced feeding. Highly productive animals after the first and second calvings, as well as calves are most susceptible to the disease. Clostridia, living in the gastrointestinal tract as commensals, acquire pathogenicity under the influence of various stress factors, against the background of which the principle of relationship between macro- and microorganisms changes and favorable conditions are created for rapid multiplication of the latter and production of toxins. Mass diseases caused by these bacteria, with the death of many dozens of animals, are quite rare and are more often sporadic in nature and often manifested by sudden death of an animal without the preceding clinical signs.
Currently, the recognized etiological agents of clostridiosis in cattle are: Cl. tetani, Cl. novyi, Cl. perfringens types A, B, D, Cl. septicum, Cl. chauvoe, Cl. sordellii, Cl. haemolyticum, and Cl. difficile. The development of acidosis and increased acidity in the rumen contribute to the increase and accumulation of the biomass of bacteria of the genus Clostridium and their production of toxins. Most species are capable of producing up to 10 different toxins and their equivalents.
In order to increase the effectiveness of preventive and control measures against clostridiosis in cattle, it is necessary to know the species spectrum of bacteria causing diseases and the ability of these species to release toxins. At present, clostridiosis and toxin formation in certain bacterial species are being intensively studied abroad. Various sets of reagents are produced for detection and typing of individual species of clostridia, as well as their toxins.
However, due to the current political situation, supplies of such kits to our country have been discontinued, which requires the development of new domestic diagnostics, in particular, based on molecular genetic methods, which would allow not only to differentiate individual species of clostridia pathogenic to animals, but also to assess their ability to form toxins.
In the course of the study, in addition to the development of the test system, for the first time the data will be obtained on the distribution of individual species of clostridia in cattle and diseases caused by them in livestock farms of Western Siberia, the dependence of the species composition of clostridia on the age, method of housing, economic use and productivity of animals. Due to the peculiarities of the geographical location and climate in Western Siberia, possibly on the basis of molecular genetic methods, the obtained research results may differ from the data of foreign studies both in the distribution of individual species and in their ability to produce toxins.
Based on the results obtained, it will be possible to develop new domestic vaccines for the prevention of clostridial infections in cattle and search for non-pharmacologic methods for the prevention of clostridiosis in animals on the basis of zootechnical approaches.
Investigators: Alexey Vasilyevich Nefedchenko, 47, Doctor of Science in Veterinary Medicine, Lead Researcher of the Laboratory of Biotechnology – Diagnostic Center of the IEVSS&FE SFSCA RAS, employment contract.
Tatyana Evgenievna Sudorgina, 34, Candidate of Science in Veterinary Medicine, Senior Researcher of the Laboratory of Biotechnology – Diagnostic Center of the IEVSS&FE SFSCA RAS, employment contract.
Clostridia are Gram-positive anaerobic spore-forming bacteria of the family Clostridiaceae of the genus Clostridium, widely distributed in nature: they are present in soil, water and decomposing animal remains. They are the representatives of normal microflora of the gastrointestinal tract of all warm-blooded animals, and at the same time, can cause a significant number of diseases of all kinds of farm animals and birds, as well as humans.
The relevance of the problem of clostridiosis in our country in recent years is due to the intensification of animal husbandry aimed at increasing milk productivity of cows, often against the background of unbalanced feeding. Highly productive animals after the first and second calvings, as well as calves are most susceptible to the disease. Clostridia, living in the gastrointestinal tract as commensals, acquire pathogenicity under the influence of various stress factors, against the background of which the principle of relationship between macro- and microorganisms changes and favorable conditions are created for rapid multiplication of the latter and production of toxins. Mass diseases caused by these bacteria, with the death of many dozens of animals, are quite rare and are more often sporadic in nature and often manifested by sudden death of an animal without the preceding clinical signs.
Currently, the recognized etiological agents of clostridiosis in cattle are: Cl. tetani, Cl. novyi, Cl. perfringens types A, B, D, Cl. septicum, Cl. chauvoe, Cl. sordellii, Cl. haemolyticum, and Cl. difficile. The development of acidosis and increased acidity in the rumen contribute to the increase and accumulation of the biomass of bacteria of the genus Clostridium and their production of toxins. Most species are capable of producing up to 10 different toxins and their equivalents.
In order to increase the effectiveness of preventive and control measures against clostridiosis in cattle, it is necessary to know the species spectrum of bacteria causing diseases and the ability of these species to release toxins. At present, clostridiosis and toxin formation in certain bacterial species are being intensively studied abroad. Various sets of reagents are produced for detection and typing of individual species of clostridia, as well as their toxins.
However, due to the current political situation, supplies of such kits to our country have been discontinued, which requires the development of new domestic diagnostics, in particular, based on molecular genetic methods, which would allow not only to differentiate individual species of clostridia pathogenic to animals, but also to assess their ability to form toxins.
In the course of the study, in addition to the development of the test system, for the first time the data will be obtained on the distribution of individual species of clostridia in cattle and diseases caused by them in livestock farms of Western Siberia, the dependence of the species composition of clostridia on the age, method of housing, economic use and productivity of animals. Due to the peculiarities of the geographical location and climate in Western Siberia, possibly on the basis of molecular genetic methods, the obtained research results may differ from the data of foreign studies both in the distribution of individual species and in their ability to produce toxins.
Based on the results obtained, it will be possible to develop new domestic vaccines for the prevention of clostridial infections in cattle and search for non-pharmacologic methods for the prevention of clostridiosis in animals on the basis of zootechnical approaches.
Investigators: Alexey Vasilyevich Nefedchenko, 47, Doctor of Science in Veterinary Medicine, Lead Researcher of the Laboratory of Biotechnology – Diagnostic Center of the IEVSS&FE SFSCA RAS, employment contract.
Tatyana Evgenievna Sudorgina, 34, Candidate of Science in Veterinary Medicine, Senior Researcher of the Laboratory of Biotechnology – Diagnostic Center of the IEVSS&FE SFSCA RAS, employment contract.