Introduction. The class of Trematoda includes two subclasses — Aspidogastrea and Digenea. Representatives of the former do not parasitize in bats. The definitive hosts for digenetic trematodes (Digenea) are vertebrates, including bats, in which the sexual generation (maritae) parasitizes. Gastropods or bivalves are the intermediate hosts. Supplementary hosts for the trematodes of bats are larvae and imagos of flying insects. Since in most cases the development of parthenites and cercariae of trematodes is related to water environment, the supplementary hosts are the groups of insects whose larvae live in the water. The list of bat species living in the Rostov region has been compiled in the previous research. In the present article the authors investigate the trematode fauna parasitizing in bats of the region under study. The aim of this review is to analyse the current state of knowledge on the species composition of the helminth parasitizing in chiropterans of the Rostov region.

Materials and Methods. The research materials have been obtained from the libraries and open access resources: PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), CyberLeninka (cyberleninka.ru), Google Scholar (scholar.google.com), BHL (www.biodiversitylibrary.org), JSTOR (www.jstor.org). Some data has been provided by the colleagues.

Results. 42 trematode species from 10 genera, 5 families and 1 order can parasitize in 15 bat species living in the Rostov region. The Lecithodendriidae family (24 species) and the genus Paralecithodendrium (9 species) are represented by a large number of species. Of the listed trematodes, 33 species used to be recorded on the territory of Russia.

Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the conducted systematic review have revealed that the largest number of trematode species parasitizes in two bat species living in the Rostov region: the common noctule (27 species) and the serotine bat (24 species). The smallest number of species (4 per each) is found in the giant noctule and the soprano pipistrelle bat. Two species (Plagiorchis elegans and Plagiorchis vespertilionis) have been found in the companion cats and dogs includingly, wheras a case of the latter parazitising in humans has also been recorded. The presence of bats in the urban environment enables the full life cycle of these trematodes. There exists possibility of the companion animals and people to get infected through incidental ingestion of the infested insects.

Introduction. Equine laminitis is one of the most serious pathologies due to the consequences it can entail, such as the chronic pain in the hooves, rapid impairment of working capacity and even death of an animal. However, the analysis of the literature sources leads us to the conclusion that the lack of a systematic, comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of equine laminitis still remains an acute problem in the modern equine medicine. There exist various methods and techniques, but a comprehensive protocol on how and when they should be applied is missing, the same as the information on the cases for their strict contraindication. The present research aims to demonstrate the efficiency of the comprehensive approach proposed by the authors for treatment of equine laminitis by the example of a clinical case of a Welsh pony.

Materials and Methods. Treatment and observation were carried out in a Welsh pony of the Equestrian Sports Club of Pushkinskiy district, Saint-Petersburg, during 2019–2020. The examination of the animal and the disease etiological factor determination were performed according to the clinical examination plan developed by the authors. Afterwards, the disease development stage was determined according to the original author's consolidated table of the animal condition assessment signs, which would be published for the first time. The diagnosis was confirmed by the X-ray examination of the injured limbs. Then, based on the results of the examination, a treatment plan was worked out, including scraping and filing down the forelimb hooves, as well as adjusting the animal's diet and changing the keeping conditions. Daily monitoring of the blood glucose level fluctuations was made using a portable glucose meter.

Results. A comprehensive approach to treatment of chronic laminitis in the reported clinical case has proved to be highly efficient. The scraping and filing down the hoof wall, performed based on the results of X-ray examination, allowed the hoof shape to return close to normal. Change of the animal’s diet and keeping conditions (especially almost complete exclusion of the high-calorie compound feed from the diet and daily walking of the pony in a herd in the levada with natural soil) resulted in the reduction of the excess body weight and normalisation of the daily blood glucose level fluctuations that fostered the recovery of the pony and diminished the risk of laminitis relapses in the future.

Discussion and Conclusions. The reported clinical case clearly demonstrates that the diagnosis and treatment of horses with laminitis should be implemented on a basis of a system. The following steps are necessary for compiling an efficient animal treatment protocol: collection of the anamnesis, clinical examinations, application of the additional diagnostic methods, identification of the systemic disorders in the body that could become the etiological factors causing the laminitis, defining the disease stage. The competent correction of the diet, care and keeping conditions are crucial for the recovery of an animal and prevention of the disease relapses. To fulfil the above, the coordinated work of a veterinarian and a farrier is required, as well as willingness of the owners to fulfil accurately and timely the recommendations of the specialists.

Introduction. Mastocytoma is a tumour caused by the pathological proliferation of the population of the polymorphic mast cells (mastocytes) in the skin and/or visceral organs of vertebrates. Mastocytoma prevalence in pet rodents, rats in particular, as well as the clinical and morphological characteristics of this neoplasia are currently almost unstudied, although these issues are of interest to the rodentologists in their practical work in diagnosing, choosing disease treatment strategy and predicting an outcome of an oncological disease. The aim of this work is to investigate the clinical and morphological characteristics of mastocytomas in pet rats.

Materials and Methods. The study was conducted in 2022–2023 at the site of the histological laboratory of the Applied Biotechnology and Veterinary Medicine Institute of Krasnoyarsk State Agrarian University. The objects of the study were the pet rats with the oncological diseases owned by the individuals in Krasnoyarsk and the Krasnoyarsk Krai. The research material was the biopsy samples obtained during the surgical treatment of tumours in living animals or collected during the pathoanatomical autopsy of the fallen ones. The comprehensive research was conducted using the clinical, pathoanatomical, histological and histochemical methods. The histological sections were stained with the hematoxylin and eosin to detect the connective tissue using the Van Gieson method, metachromasia of mast cells was detected with the toluidine blue.

Results. During the study of 164 cases of spontaneously developing neoplasia in pet rats, it was found that mastocytoma accounted for 6.7%. In the organs and tissues that had no visible pathological changes of inflammatory or neoplastic nature, the largest locations of mastocytes were recorded in the cutaneous integuments, in the stroma of mammary, salivary, clitoral and preputial glands, and subcutaneous lymph nodes. The mast cell infiltration was found in the stroma of the neoplasms of different genesis. Mastocytomas represented the solitary encapsulated nodules without signs of metastasis, including at the late stages of the pathological process. The low differentiated mammary gland mastocytoma was recorded in females and was not found in males. The cutaneous mastocytoma was a highly differentiated tumour and was found mainly in males. The high and moderate differentiated mastocytoma located in the hypoderm and having a favourable long-term prognosis was found in both sexes.

Discussion and Conclusion. The study of the clinical and morphological characteristics of the spontaneously developing mastocytoma in pet rats has revealed that mastocytoma as an independent nosological form is rare in these animals and has its distinctive features in females and males. The influence of age-related factors on the tumour incidence has not been revealed. The morphological characteristics of mastocytomas in rats are close to the types classified for dogs. The role of mastocytes in development of the oncological pathologies of various genesis in pet rats needs further research.

Introduction. Caesarean section is attributed with frequent deaths among newborn puppies – up to 30%, depending on the chosen anaesthetic care and the presence of aggravating factors. The right choice of drugs and anaesthetic techniques can significantly affect the clinical outcomes. Because a standardised anaesthesia protocol for the caesarean section in dogs is missing in Russia, the research in this area is very relevant. The aim of the work is to compare three variants of the anaesthesia protocols across the basic clinical outcomes of a caesarean section delivery in a dog (including intra- and postoperative results, mortality rate) and to determine the most efficient and safe one for a bitch and puppies.

Materials and Methods. The research was conducted at the premises of Rostov-on-Don veterinary clinic in the period from December 2021 to December 2023. There were selected 63 pregnant bitches who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria at that period of time. The animals were divided into three groups: in the first group the anaesthetic care included induction with propofol, intraoperative inhalation anaesthesia with sevoflurane and epidural lidocaine anaesthesia; in the second group the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia was performed with propofol, alongside the local anaesthesia with lidocaine was administered; the third group was administered propofol and inhalation anaesthesia with sevoflurane, excluding epidural anaesthesia. Monitoring was carried out according to the intraoperative indicators, post-anaesthesia recovery time, postoperative indicators of fear and pain, Apgar scores in puppies, the number of survivors and deaths in the short-term (30 minutes) and medium-term (during the day) periods.

Results. The best intra- and postoperative indicators as well as the highest percentage of surviving puppies and the smallest number of stillbirths were revealed in patients of the first group. Medium results were recorded in the third group. The lowest intraoperative indicators in the function of cardiovascular and respiratory systems and the worst results as of hypoxia in newborn puppies were recorded in the second group of studied animals.

Discussion and Conclusion. When determining the most efficient anaesthetic care for caesarean section in dogs, it should be borne in mind that propofol has a depressing effect on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems of patients, therefore its use is highly undesirable for the anaesthesia maintenance. Unlike propofol, sevoflurane does not penetrate the placenta barrier, is not metabolised and enables quick awakening of a bitch from anaesthesia. Moreover, in cases, when sevoflurane was used, the Apgar scores in the born puppies were the highest. Epidural anaesthesia with lidocaine reduces the postoperative pain of a bitch after caesarean section and has a positive effect on lactation. The use of epidural anaesthesia may be complicated with hypotension, however, the preventive use of crystalloid solutions, can mitigate this effect. Thus, the protocol with triple anaesthesia is optimal and preferable for caesarean section in dogs: induction with propofol, epidural anaesthesia with lidocaine and inhalation with sevoflurane to maintain anaesthesia.

Introduction. Among many diseases reducing cow milk productivity, mastitis occupies a special place — the milk yield losses due to this widespread infectious disease equal, in average, to 8–15% of the total losses caused by all diseases in cows. Only an integrated approach can ensure achievement of the best results in solving this acute problem. Within the integrated approach, the use of various sanitary disinfectants before and after milking is primary important. To multiply the effect, we decided to combine the disinfecting treatment with the vaccination of cows against mastitis — a preventive measure becoming popular nowadays. The aim of the research is to develop the efficient scheme of cow mastitis prophylaxis based on the comparative efficacy analysis of applying the various disinfectants in immunized and nonimmunized animals.

Materials and Methods. The research was carried out at the premises of the Agricultural Production Cooperative “Plemzavod Maiskii” (Maiskii Breeding Farm) during five months after the vaccination of cows (from November 2021 to March 2022). The cows were vaccinated with the home-developed inactivated associated vaccine against mastitis of cows. The post-milking treatment was carried out with the disinfectants “ProfiClean Iodine” and “Lorena”. For conducting the study, 4 groups of cows per 10 heads each were selected: the control group (in which only “ProfiClean Iodine” disinfectant was used), the experimental groups No. 1 (in which "Lorena" disinfectant was used), No. 2 (in which “ProfiClean Iodine” disinfectant was used in vaccinated animals) and No. 3 (in which “Lorena” disinfectant was used in vaccinated animals). The vaccination efficacy coefficient was calculated according to the formula EC = ((B – A)/B) × 100, where EC is the efficacy coefficient (%); A — is the cow mastitis incidence in vaccinated animals; B — is the cow mastitis incidence in non-vaccinated animals.

Results. It has been established that the efficacy of “ProfiClean Iodine” for mastitis incidence prophylaxis in vaccinated animals compared to the non-vaccinated animals was 78.0%; the same prophylactic efficacy indicator of “Lorena” lotion was 89.0%. Monthly bacteriological examinations of the cow udder secretion resulted in isolation of the Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) culture, which is the prevailing infectious agent of cow mastitis, in 30.0% of cows in the control group. Pathogenic streptococci and enterobacteria have not been isolated. Opportunistic pathogenic staphylococci have been found in the udder secretion of animals in all studied groups, whereas the maximum amounts have been recorded in the control group and group No. 1 (50.0 and 40.0 % respectively) and the minimum – in groups No. 2 and 3 (10.0% each).

Discussion and Conclusion. The research clearly demonstrates the efficacy of the integrated approach in solving the problem of the cow mastitis incidence — the incidence was 4.5 times lower in the experimental group No. 2 and 9.0 times lower in experimental group No. 3 compared to the control group. The combined use of the disinfectants and the inactivated associated vaccine against cow mastitis is a workable scheme providing 78.0 – 89.0% prophylactic efficacy, therefore it can be recommended for implementation into the agricultural enterprises of the appropriate profile.