Identification and characterization of bluetongue virus in Culicoides spp. and clinically healthy livestock in southeastern Kazakhstan.

OBJECTIVE: Bluetongue is an arthropod-borne disease of ruminants. Here, we investigated the seroprevalence of bluetongue virus (BTV) in livestock and performed the first genetic characterization of BTV isolated from sheep and Culicoides midges in the southeastern region of Kazakhstan. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 1241 asymptomatic livestock. In addition, 497 Culicoides midges were collected. Samples were analyzed for specific anti-BTV antibodies and BTV RNA by ELISA and conventional RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of BTV antibodies was shown to be 4.3 % (46/1079) in small ruminant and 1 % (1/82) in cattle. Anti-BTV antibodies were not detected in camels (0/80). The minimum infection rate of BTV in Culicoides was shown to be 0.24 %. Seg-2 and Seg-10 sequence analysis demonstrated that all isolates belonged to the 'western' topotype of the BTV-9 strain. CONCLUSION: The present data confirm circulation of BTV in southeastern Kazakhstan.

Epizootic situation of Aujeszky's disease within the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Background: The relevance of the study is determined by the danger that this disease poses to all types of domestic animals in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as the significant damage caused by this situation to the entire agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Timely and competent analysis of the epizootic situation for this disease in the country will reliably determine the development tendencies of this condition and predetermine a set of measures that should be taken to combat this animal disease in agricultural regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Aim: This study examines the development of the epizootic situation of Aujeszky's disease within the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Methods: To achieve the set research goal, a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods are used. Results: The results of this research article can be of significant importance for livestock breeders in the Republic of Kazakhstan, who are working on raising the number of pigs and other types of domestic animals and are interested in a further increase in the number. Conclusion: From a practical standpoint, the significance of this study is conditioned by the possibility of searching and determining the main directions of the spread of the disease under consideration in agricultural lands and regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as taking a set of measures to eradicate such a disease and prevent its future occurrence in the country.

Impact of geographical factors on the spread of animal brucellosis in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In Latin and Central America and in most Asian countries, brucellosis remains an insufficiently studied disease. This study aims to determine the national and regional incidence of brucellosis among cattle (cows) and small ruminants (sheep, goats) in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as to identify the effect of climatic and geographical factors on the incidence rates. Thematic maps were created in an open geographic information system QGIS version 2.8. in order to identify the natural and socio-economic factors that influence the spread of the disease overlay method was used. Local cluster analysis was used in order to identify additional causes of the disease. Findings show the following values of Pearson correlation between the overall population and the number of animals infected: 0.68 for cows, p ≤ 0.005, and 0.56 for sheep and goats, p ≤ 0.03. Thus, the larger the heard in a given area, the greater likelihood of having brucellosis. Data processing reveals that Kazakhstan has almost twice as many regions good for cattle breeding as regions that are good for the small ruminants farming. The correlation variables for cattle and small ruminants are approximately the same. On the basis of the performed research the author proposes to amend the accepted methodology of epidemiology surveillance by the methods based on spatial (geographical) analysis. It is also proposed to adjust the process of breeding cattle and small ruminants considering the additional health recommendations that take into account the geographical aspects of the spread of the disease.

Reasons behind the epidemiological situation of brucellosis in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Brucellosis is endemic in the Republic of Kazakhstan, particularly in agro-pastoral areas. The purpose of this research is to study the epidemiological situation of brucellosis in livestock recorded in the Republic of Kazakhstan, and to identify the reasons why anti-brucellosis measures were not effective. The research was performed on statistical data provided by the Republican Veterinary Laboratory (RVL), the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The analysis touched upon the prevalence of Brucellosis in cattle and small ruminants (sheep and goats) in 13 regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2012-2016. Aside from that, Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems conducted screening assays that involved 11,889 samples of blood and tissues from said animals. The risks of developing Brucellosis were assessed for each particular region. The comparison of studies conducted in 2012-2016 reveals an increase in the prevalence of Brucellosis in cattle in the following regions: West Kazakhstan, Karaganda Region and Pavlodar Region. For small ruminants, growing prevalence was observed in the Kostanay Region, Jambyl Region and Almaty Region. Between 2014 and 2016, the incidence rate had a growing trend, with a high in 2014 and 2015. The lowest prevalence rate during the following years (2012-2016) was in the Mangystau Region. The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISE) test applied in the research among other tests provided the best results. The main risk factors involve epidemiology and sanitary measures, which are undertaken in the Republic of Kazakhstan, geography of the region with focuses of infection, and randomness of spread.