Results of Study of Brucella Circulating in Natural Center of Brucellosis of Reindeer on Taimyr

Abstract

The properties of brucella isolated from domestic and wild reindeer, as well as other animal species in the natural focus of brucellosis in Taimyr, were studied. It was established that the brucella cultures isolated from domestic and wild reindeer, as well as carnivorous animals, were identical in morphological characteristics and tinctorial properties, and grew well on dense nutrient media. The vast majority of cultures 246 (91.5%) had no signs of dissociation, only 23 (8.5%)—were in varying degrees of dissociation. In the body of laboratory animals, reindeer and carnivores, the administration of brucellosis antigen causes the formation of specific anti-brucellosis antibodies, which react with both homologous and standard (heterologous) antigens. In foci of deer brucellosis in Taimyr, cultures with high, medium and low virulence were identified. Moreover, the majority (40 out of 45) of brucella cultures isolated from the main hosts (domestic and wild deer) are highly virulent. All deer species brucella cultures, regardless of the source of isolation, represent a homogeneous group and have high-urease activity. Brucella cultures isolated from domestic, wild reindeer and carnivores are significantly different from reference strains. Studying the properties of the causative agent of brucellosis isolated in the natural focus of infection from domestic and wild animals, it can be stated that the obtained strains are identical to each other and can be distinguished into a separate group.