Mesto i uloga NIV-NS u odgovoru na COVID-19 infekciju u Srbiji

Abstract

COVID-19 is the disease of humans caused by infection with SARS-CoV2 virus. SARS-CoV2 is widely believed to have resulted from a zoonotic event in the city of Wuhan in China, most likely a coronavirus of bats being transmitted either directly or indirectly to a human. The virus rapidly spread worldwide within months, causing high morbidity and high number of deaths in human population (23.247.040 cases and 805.583 deaths on 21st of August 2020), as well as great social and economic problems all over the world. The major challenge during the recent pandemic was to support the public health sector response to COVID-19 through testing of human diagnostic specimens. Our involvement in conducting molecular biology tests to identify SARS-CoV2 is a gesture of responsibility and unity towards the ―One Health‖ approach in solving health problems caused by zoonotic and other pathogens. From the very beginning, the Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad" was included in the network of laboratories for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 virus with a capacity of 200-300 samples per day. The first samples were examined in our Institute on March 29, 2020 and since and since then our Institute has been included in the network of laboratories that test samples for SARS-CoV2 virus on a daily basis. Together with the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, we tested all samples that are collected in the area ofVojvodina until July 2020. The basic principle was that the samples taken during the day were tested on the same day, and within a maximum of 24 hours. Since July, we have been receiving samples from ―Vatreno oko‖ from Belgrade, and other institutions in the area of Vojvodina are also included in the testing. Thanks to the equipment, which includes an automatic extraction of nucleic acids with KingFisher Flex with the possibility of extraction of up to 96 samples simultaneously, 2 real-time PCR instruments (7500 real-time PCR System, Applied Biosystem) and all other supporting equipment, and specially to the trained staff that make up the team of 4 doctors of science and one technical associate, by the middle of August, a total of about 12,000 samples were tested at the Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad". In a large number of cases, work was done in 2 shifts. In addition to laboratory diagnostics of this virus, researchers and technical associates of the Institute were involved in the disinfection of residential units (entrances to buildings, corridors, common rooms, etc.) and streets in the area of the City of Novi Sad. Thanks to the disinfection equipment and the staff at the Institute's disposal, a total of 1,673 housing units have been disinfected from 1st of April until 15th of May, and on several occasions during the state of emergency, all streets in the suburbs (Rumenka, Stepanovićevo, Ĉenej, Klisa, Šangaj). In terms of research activities, researchers at the Institute have intensified research on the presence and genetic characterization of coronavirus in bats, which they have been conducting together with the Natural History Museum in Belgrade and VSI Kraljevo for several years. Also, a research project on the topic of coronavirus, diagnostics, monitoring and typing in domestic and wild animals and humans was prepared for application, which unfortunately was not accepted for funding in the "COVID-19" call but will be applied for the call "IDEAS" of Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia. In addition to the above, the staff of the Institute in the past 3 months is significantly involved in testing several disinfectants in terms of testing their virucidal effect on the SARS-CoV-2 virus as well as of some other viruses.