• Home
• Archive
• Rules for Authors
• Editorial Board
• Certificate
• Contacts
• About the journal
• Indexing
• Review Policy and Procedure
• Conflict of interest, human and animal rights policy
• Academic Integrity and Publication Ethics Policy
• Procedure for reviewing complaints regarding violations of ethical standards
• Policy on the use of AI and technologies supporting it
• Retraction procedure
• Open Access Policy and Terms of Use of Copyrighted Materials
• Archiving and long-term storage policy
• Publication ethics and editorial policy of the publication

Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety

Volume 12, Issue 3, September 2026, Pages 37–44

ISSN 2411-3174 (print version) ISSN 2411-0388 (online version)

RESULTS OF AN ANALYSIS OF THE PREVALENCE OF BACTERIAL AGENTS IN ANIMALS, ANIMAL FEED, AND WATER

Ushkalov A. V.

National Scientific Center ‘Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine’, Kharkiv, Ukraine, e-mail: vetdocman@gmail.com

Download PDF (print version)

Citation for print version: Ushkalov, A. V. (2026) ‘Results of an analysis of the prevalence of bacterial agents in animals, animal feed, and water’, Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety, 12(3), pp. 37–44.

Download PDF (online version)

Citation for online version: Ushkalov, A. V. (2026) ‘Results of an analysis of the prevalence of bacterial agents in animals, animal feed, and water’, Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety, 12(3), pp. 37–44. DOI: 10.36016/JVMBBS-2026-12-3-5.

Summary. This study aimed to conduct a retrospective analysis of bacteriological test results from 2019 to 2025 to determine the prevalence of colibacillosis, staphylococcosis, and streptococcosis in farm animals. The study also aimed to assess the level of bacterial contamination in drinking water and water of various origins using sanitary-microbiological indicators, and to evaluate the microbiological contamination of feed within the framework of state veterinary control. Research materials consisted of archived laboratory monitoring data from the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection from 2019 to 2025. This data included results from bacteriological examinations of pathological material obtained from cattle, pigs, poultry, and companion animals. It also included microbiological assessment data from water and feed samples collected from farms in Kharkiv Region. The study employed retrospective epizootiological analysis methods, statistical generalization, comparative evaluation, and dynamic trend analysis. The results showed that Escherichia coli accounted for 41.0% of bacterial infections, followed by Staphylococcus spp. (31.0%) and Streptococcus spp. (17.0%). Salmonella spp. was detected in 5.0% of cases. Colibacillosis was most frequently recorded in poultry. A significant proportion of staphylococcosis isolates originated from companion animals. The detection rate of streptococcosis remained relatively low (2.9%) yet stable. Water testing revealed periodic deviations in indicator parameters, primarily at processing enterprises. The overall percentage of noncompliant feed samples was 3.4%, with enteropathogenic E. coli and other Enterobacteriaceae predominating. These results suggest the continuous circulation of opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria within the ‘animal-feed-water-environment’ system, emphasizing the importance of systematic microbiological monitoring and the responsible use of antimicrobial agents

Keywords: colibacillosis, staphylococcosis, streptococcosis, epizootiological analysis

References:

Araújo, D., Oliveira, R., Silva, B. L., Castro, J., Ramos, C., Matos, F., Almeida, C. and Silva, S. (2024) ‘Antimicrobial resistance patterns of Staphylococcus spp. isolated from clinical specimens of companion animals in Northern Portugal, 2021–2023’, The Veterinary Journal, 305, р. 106153. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106153.

Bogach, M., Paliy, A., Bohach, D., Kovalenko, L., Selishcheva, N., Ganova, L., Stegniy, B., Pavlichenko, O. and Vovk, D. (2024) ‘Influence of weather conditions on contamination of grain fodder by micromycetes in the Northwestern Black Sea Region of Ukraine’, Microbiological Journal [Mikrobiolohichnyi Zhurnal], 86(5), pp. 75–86. doi: 10.15407/microbiolj86.05.075.

Chechet, O., Gorbatiuk, O., Pyskun, O., Musiiets, I., Romanko, M., Buchkovska, G., Kuriata, N., Ordynska, D., Chalimova, L., Mekh, N., Balanchuk, L., Togachynska, L. and Kuchynskyi, M. (2023) ‘Microbiological monitoring of the prevalence of mastitis in cows in livestock farms among different regions of Ukraine during 2018–2022’ [Mikrobiolohichnyi monitorynh poshyrenosti zakhvoriuvannia na mastyty koriv za mikrobiolohichnymy pokaznykamy doslidzhen moloka u tvarynnytskykh hospodarstvakh riznykh rehioniv Ukrainy za period 2018–2022 rr.], The Animal Biology [Biolohiia tvaryn], 25(4), pp. 17–25. doi: 10.15407/animbiol25.04.017. [in Ukrainian].

Costinar, L., Badea, C., Marcu, A., Pascu, C. and Herman, V. (2024) ‘Multiple drug resistant Streptococcus strains — an actual problem in pig farms in Western Romania’, Antibiotics, 13(3), p. 277. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics13030277.

Dančová, N., Gregová, G. and Szabóová, T. (2024) ‘Assessment of bacterial contamination and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolates from Slovak dairy farms’, Animals, 14(21), p. 3095. doi: 10.3390/ani14213095.

Eckenko, R., Maiboroda, O., Muzyka, N., Stegniy, B., Mezinov, O., Rula, O. and Muzyka, D. (2024) ‘Circulation of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in wild and domestic waterfowl in Ukraine’, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 24(1), pp. 17–26. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0001.

Hadzevych, O. V., Paliy, A. P., Kinash, O. V, Petrov, R. V. and Paliy, A. P. (2019) ‘Antibiotic resistance of microorganisms isolated from milk’ [Antybiotykorezystentnist mikroorhanizmiv, izolovanykh z moloka], World of Medicine and Biology [Svit medytsyny ta biolohii], 3(69), pp. 245–250. doi: 10.26724/2079-8334-2019-3-69-245-250. [in Ukrainian].

Hadzevych, O. V., Paliy, A. P., Stehnii, B. T., Stehnii, A. B., Chechet, О. N., Hadzevych, D. V., Palii, A. P., Pavlichenko, O. V., Severyn, R. V., Petrov, R. V. and Livoshchenko, L. P. (2022) ‘Antibiotic resistance of microbiotas of fishery enterprises hydro ecosystems’, Microbiological Journal [Mikrobiolohichnyi Zhurnal], 84(4), pp. 77–87. doi: 10.15407/microbiolj84.04.077.

Haque, M. A., Hu, H., Liu, J., Islam, M. A., Hossen, F., Rahman, M. A., Ahmed, F. and He, C. (2024) ‘Emergence of multidrug-resistant Bacillus spp. derived from animal feed, food and human diarrhea in South-Eastern Bangladesh’, BMC Microbiology, 24(1), p. 61. doi: 10.1186/s12866-024-03199-3.

Kathayat, D., Lokesh, D., Ranjit, S. and Rajashekara, G. (2021) ‘Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC): An overview of virulence and pathogenesis factors, zoonotic potential, and control strategies’, Pathogens, 10(4), p. 467. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10040467.

Kolchyk, O. V., Buzun, A. I., Paliy, A. P., Nalivayko, L. I., Chekan, O. M., Grebenik, N. P., Bondarenko, I. V., Rebenko, H. I., Kushnir, V. Yu. and Todorov, N. I. (2020) ‘Biofilms of pathogenic bacteria in pig industry’, Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 10(4), pp. 202–209. doi: 10.15421/2020_189.

Kolchyk, O., Illarionova, T., Buzun, A., Paliy, A. and Palii, A. (2022) ‘Influence of probiotic microorganisms on microbial biofilms in feeds’, Scientific Horizons, 25(1), pp. 41–50. doi: 10.48077/scihor.25(1).2022.41-50.

Kravtsova, O. L., Chechet, O. M., Haidei, O. S., Shuliak, S. V., Hereimovych, V. L. and Marchuk, O. O. (2022) ‘Monitoring of quality and safety of animal feed according to microbiological criteria’ [Monitorynh yakosti ta bezpechnosti kormiv dlia tvaryn za mikrobiolohichnymy kryteriiamy], Grail of Science [Hraal nauky], 18–19, pp. 143–151. doi: 10.36074/grail-of-science.26.08.2022.25. [in Ukrainian].

Kuryata, N., Chechet, O., Gorbatyuk, O., Pishchanskyi, O., Balanchuk, L., Mekh, N. and Zhovnir, O. (2025) ‘Fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli strains in animal and poultry feed from Ukrainian feed-producing enterprises’, The Animal Biology, 27(1), pp. 9–14. doi: 10.15407/animbiol27.01.009.

Kushnir, I. M., Kolodii, H. V., Murska, S. D., Semen, I. S. and Berbeka, U. Z. (2021) ‘Study of feed for productive animals to determine total microbial contamination’ [Doslidzhennia kormiv dlia produktyvnykh tvaryn shchodo vyznachennia zahalnoho mikrobnoho zabrudnennia], Scientific and Technical Bulletin of the State Scientific Research Control Institute of Veterinary Medicinal Products and Feed Additives and Institute of Animal Biology [Naukovo-tekhnichnyi biuleten Derzhavnoho naukovo-doslidnoho kontrolnoho instytutu veterynarnykh preparativ ta kormovykh dobavok i Instytutu biolohii tvaryn], 22(2), pp. 230–236. doi: 10.36359/scivp.2021-22-2.26. [in Ukrainian].

Li, K., Lacouture, S., Lewandowski, E., Thibault, E., Gantelet, H., Gottschalk, M. and Fittipaldi, N. (2024) ‘Molecular characterization of Streptococcus suis isolates recovered from diseased pigs in Europe’, Veterinary Research, 55, p. 117. doi: 10.1186/s13567-024-01366-y.

Lyimo, B. (2026) ‘One health analysis of antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli from humans, animals, and the environment’, Bioinformatics Advances, 6(1), p. vbag099. doi: 10.1093/bioadv/vbag099.

Mikhalchenko, S., Paliy, A. and Pavlichenko, E. (2025) ‘Improved feeding standards for highly productive cows’, Scientific and Technical Bulletin of Livestock farming institute of NAAS of Ukraine, 134, pp. 99–113. doi: 10.32900/2312-8402-2025-134-99-113.

Nazarenko, S. M., Paliy, A. P., Berezovskiy, A. V., Fotin, A. I., Fotin, O. V., Petrov, R. V., Каsianenko, О. І., Lazorenko, L. N., Negreba, J. V., Palii, A. P. and Rebenko, H. I. (2020) ‘Improving the sanitary condition of pond bed by forage grass cultivation’, Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 10(2), pp. 368–374. Available at: https://www.ujecology.com/articles/improving-the-sanitary-condition-of-fish-pond-bed-by-forage-grass-cultivation.pdf.

Ocloo, R., Nyasinga, J., Munshi, Z., Hamdy, A., Marciniak, T., Soundararajan, M., Newton-Foot, M., Ziebuhr, W., Shittu, A., Revathi, G., Abouelfetouh, A. and Whitelaw, A. (2022) ‘Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of staphylococci other than Staphylococcus aureus from domestic animals and livestock’, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, p. 1059054. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1059054.

Olson, E. G., Grenda, T., Ghosh, A. and Ricke, S. C. (2023) ‘Microbial pathogen contamination of animal feed’, in Knowles, M. E., Anelich, L. E., Boobis, A. R. and Popping, B. (eds.) Present Knowledge in Food Safety: A Risk-Based Approach Through The Food Chain. London: Academic Press, pp. 378–393. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819470-6.00023-8.

Orobchenko, O., Kurbatska, O., Paliy, A. and Palii, A. (2023) ‘Toxicological evaluation of feed contaminated with mycotoxins using a luminescent microorganism: Photobacterium phosphoreum’, Veterinarska Stanica, 54(2), pp. 147–163. doi: 10.46419/vs.54.2.7.

Palii, А. P., Rodionova, K. O., Paliy, A. P., Kushch, L. L., Matsenko, O. V., Kambur, M. D., Zamaziy, A. A., Plyuta, L. V., Baidevliatov, Y. A., Kolechko, A. V. and Honcharenko, H. O. (2020) ‘Effect of colostral bacterial contamination on the calves’, Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 10(3), pp. 76–82. Available at: https://www.ujecology.com/articles/effect-of-colostral-bacterial-contamination-on-the-calves.pdf.

Paliy, A., Pavlichenko, O., Kasianenko, S., Kovalenko, L., Stockiy, A. and Stotska, O. (2023) ‘Peculiarities of the course of demodicosis in domestic animals in a megalopolis in the east of Ukraine’, Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems, 14(1), pp. 28–33. doi: 10.15421/022305.

Paredes, R., Damme, M., Mantilla, J., Castellanos, L. R., Clavijo, V., Celis, Y., Mehta, K., Kumar, A., Patiño, A. and Jeyashree, K. (2023) ‘Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in animal feed in Colombia’, Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública, 47, p. e57. doi: 10.26633/rpsp.2023.57.

Pasternak, A. M., Koshevoi, V. I., Naumenko, S. V., Radzyhovskyi, M. L. and Skliarov, P. M. (2023) ‘Characteristics of bacterial contamination of mammary gland secretion in lactating cows with subclinical mastitis’ [Kharakterystyka bakterialnoho zabrudnennia sekretu molochnoi zalozy laktuiuchykh koriv iz subklinichnym mastytom], Scientific Messenger of Lviv National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies named after S. Z. Gzhytskyj. Series: Veterinary Sciences [Naukovyi visnyk Lvivskoho natsionalnoho universytetu veterynarnoi medytsyny ta biotekhnolohii imeni S. Z. Gzhytskoho. Seriia ‘Veterynarni nauky’], 25(112), pp. 113–117. doi: 10.32718/nvlvet11218. [in Ukrainian].

Ponomarenko, G. V., Kovalenko, V. L., Balatskiy, Y. O., Ponomarenko, O. V., Paliy, A. P. and Shulyak, S. V. (2021) ‘Bactericidal efficiency of preparation based on essential oils used in aerosol disinfection in the presence of poultry’, Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems, 12(4), pp. 635–641. doi: 10.15421/022187.

Raspa, F., Schiavone, A., Pattono, D., Galaverna, D., Cavallini, D., Vinassa, M., Bergero, D., Dalmasso, A., Bottero, M. T. and Valle, E. (2023) ‘Pet feeding habits and the microbiological contamination of dog food bowls: effect of feed type, cleaning method and bowl material’, BMC Veterinary Research, 19(1), p. 261. doi: 10.1186/s12917-023-03823-w.

Rodionova, K. O. and Paliy, A. P. (2017) ‘Analysis of quality and safety indicators of poultry meat during primary processing’, Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety, 3(2), pp. 5–9. Available at: https://jvmbbs.kharkov.ua/archive/2017/volume3/issue2/pJVMBBS_2017032_005-009.pdf.

Savenko, N. and Koba, S. (2022) ‘Assessment of water quality by microbiological indicators’ [Otsinka yakosti vody za mikrobiolohichnymy pokaznykamy], Proceeding of the III International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Education and Science of Today: Intersectoral Issues and Development of Sciences’ (Cambridge, United Kingdom, May 20, 2022). Cambridge: P. C. Publishing House, pp. 136–137. doi: 10.36074/logos-20.05.2022.040. [in Ukrainian].

Shevchenko, M., Andriichuk, A., Naumchuk, V., Petruk, I., Bilyk, S. and Tsarenko, T. (2023) ‘Zoonotic Staphylococcus spp. among domestic animals in Ukraine: Antibiotic resistance and diagnostic approaches’, Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems, 14(3), pp. 378–385. doi: 10.15421/10.15421/022356.

Shkromada, O., Skliar, O., Paliy, A., Ulko, L., Gerun, I., Naumenko, O., Ishchenko, K., Kysterna, O., Musiienko, O. and Paliy, A. (2019) ‘Development of measures to improve milk quality and safety during production’, Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 3(11(99)), pp. 30–39. doi: 10.15587/1729-4061.2019.168762.

Thomson, P., García, P., Miles, J., Isla, D., Yáñez, C., Santibáñez, R., Núñez, A., Flores-Yáñez, C., del Río, C. and Cuadra, F (2022) ‘Isolation and identification of Staphylococcus species obtained from healthy companion animals and humans’, Veterinary Sciences, 9, p. 79. doi: 10.3390/vetsci9020079.

Ushkalov, A. V. (2023) ‘Analysis of bacterioses in the Kharkiv Region for the period 2019‒2022’ [Poshyrennia bakterioziv tvaryn v Kharkivskii oblasti u 2019–2022 rokakh], Scientific Bulletin of Veterinary Medicine [Naukovyi visnyk veterynarnoi medytsyny], 2, pp. 111–123. doi: 10.33245/2310-4902-2023-184-2-111-123. [in Ukrainian].

Xia, Y., Wang, Z., Hu, Y., Zhao, P., Li, J., Zhang, L., Fang, R. and Zhao, J. (2024) ‘Isolation, identification, genomic diversity, and antimicrobial resistance analysis of Streptococcus suis in Hubei province of China from 2021 to 2023’, Microorganisms, 12(5), р. 917. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12050917.

Zinchenko, I. V., Vasenko, O. H., Karliuk, A. A. and Kononenko, K. S. (2024) ‘Biological contamination of surface water bodies on the example of allochthonous microorganisms’ [Biolohichne zabrudnennia poverkhnevykh vodnykh obiektiv na prykladi alokhtonnykh mikroorhanizmiv], in Problems of Environmental Protection and Ecological Safety [Problemy okhorony navkolyshnoho pryrodnoho seredovyshcha ta ekolohichnoi bezpeky], 46, pp. 92–107. Available at: http://www.niiep.kharkov.ua/sites/default/files/sbornik_2024_all.pdf. [in Ukrainian].