Zoning of the Territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan by the Degree of Intensity of the Epizootic Situation on Plague in Camels

The aim of the study was to improve epizootiological monitoring and increase the effectiveness of preventive (anti-epidemic) measures for camel plague control in Kazakhstan.

Materials and methods. We used the data on epizootiological and epidemiological monitoring in natural plague foci of Kazakhstan, long-term measurements and indicators for the period of 2000–2020 of the anti-plague and veterinary services of the Republic for the analysis. To process the evidence, epidemiological, epizootiological, microbiological, and statistical research methods, as well as GIS technology were applied.

Results and discussion. The number of camels has increased by 2.2 times in Kazakhstan over the past 20 years.  Where there were 98.2 thousand heads in 2000, it amounted to 216.4 thousand heads in 2020. Over the past 10 years, 152 camels died of unknown causes in the focal area of the country, but laboratory tests for plague turned out negative. According to the hazard criteria, the territory of the country has been conditionally divided into three zones: five regions with a high degree of hazard with a total area of 953.15 sq. km, five regions with medium degree of hazard with a total area of 1230.72 sq. km, and with a low degree of hazard – four regions and three cities of republican significance with a total area of 541.1 sq. km. Constant epizootiological monitoring over plague in camels is a necessity for the system of preventive measures.

1. Baimukanov D. [Development of camel breeding in Kazakhstan]. (Cited 25 Jan 2022). [Internet]. Available from https://agriexpert.ru/articles/3/razvitie-verblyudovodstva-v-kazaxstane.

2. [Agriculture, forestry and fishery in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan]. (Cited 14 June 2022). [Internet]. Available from https://stat.gov.kz/official/industry/14/publication.

3. Atshabar B., Nurtazhin S.T., Shevtsov A., Ramankulov E.M., Sayakova Z., Rysbekova A., Stenseth N.C., Utepova I.B., Sadovskaya V.P., Abdirasilova A.A., Begimbaeva E.Z., Abdel Z.Z. Populations of the major carrier Rhombomys opimus, vectors of Xenopsylla fleas and the causative agent of Yersinia pestis in the Central Asian desert natural focus of plague. The Bulletin of National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 2021; 1(389):26–34. DOI: 10.32014/2021.2518-1467.4.

4. Abdel Z.Zh., Erubaev T.K., Tokmurzieva G.Zh., Aimakhanov B.K., Dalibaev Zh.S., Musagalieva R.S., Zhumadilova Z.B., Meka-Mechenko V.G., MekaMechenko T.V., Matzhanova A.M., Abdrasilova A.A., Umarova S.K., Rysbekova A.K., Esimseit D. T., Abdeliev B.Z., Konyratbaev K.K., Iskakov B.G., Bely D.G., Eskermesov M.K., Kulemin M.V., Askar Zh.S., Kaldybaev T.E., Mukhtarov R.K., Davletov S.B., Sutyagin V.V., Lezdin’sh I.A. [Demarcation of the boundaries of the Central Asian desert natural focus of plague of Kazakhstan and monitoring the areal of the main carrier, Rhombomys opimus]. Problemy Osobo Opasnykh Infektsii [Problems of Particularly Dangerous Infections]. 2021; (2):71–8. DOI: 10.21055/0370-1069-2021-2-71-78.

5. Sariyeva G.E., Abdel Z.Zh., Shabunin A., Sagiyev Z.A., Abdikarimov S.A., Bazarkanova G.D., Kendirbaev D.U., Maimulov R.K., Dzhaparova A.K., Sofeikov V.G., Abdirassilova A.A., Mussagaliyeva R.S., Kurmanov B.K., Aitbaeva Z., Almazbek D. Current status of the Sari-Dzhas natural focus of plague, Kyrgyzstan: epizootic activity and marmot population. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2018; 18(10):524–32. DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2017.2200.

6. Sariyeva G., Bazarkanova G., Maimulov R., Abdikarimov S., Kurmanov B., Abdirassilova A., Shabunin A., Sagiyev Z., Dzhaparova A., Abdel Z., Mussagaliyeva R., Morand S., Motin V., Kosoy M. Marmots and Yersinia pestis strains in two plague endemic areas of Tien Shan Mountains. Front. Vet. Sci. 2019; 6:207. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00207.

7. Balakhonov S.V., Popova A.Yu., Mishchenko A.I., Mikhailov E. P., Ezhlova E.B., Demina Yu.V., Denisov A.V., Rozhdestvensky E.N., Bazarova G.K., Shchuchinov L.V., Zarubin I.V., Semenova Z.E., Madenova N.M., Dyusenbaev D.K., Yarygina M.B., Chipanin E.V., Kosilko S.A., Noskov A.K., Korzun V.M. [A case of human infection with plague in the Kosh-Agach Region of the Republic of Altai in 2015. Communication 1. Clinical-epidemiological and epizootiological aspects]. Problemy Osobo Opasnykh Infektsii [Problems of Particularly Dangerous Infections]. 2016; (1):55–60. DOI: 10.21055/0370-1069-2016-1-55-60.

8. Zhang Y., Luo T., Yang C., Yue X., Guo R., Wang X., Buren M., Song Y., Yang R., Cao H., Cui Y., Dai X. Phenotypic and molecular genetic characteristics of Yersinia pestis at an emerging natural plague focus, Junggar Basin, China. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2018; 98(1):231–7. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0195.

9. Korzun V.M., Balakhonov S.V., Denisov A.V., Rozhdestvensky E.N., Tokmakova E.G., Sanarov P.P., Akulova S.S., Kosilko S.A., Otgonbayar D., Orgilbayar L., Batzhav D., Urzhikh C., Togoldor N., Makhbal A., Tsogbadrakh N., Tserennorov D. [Epizootic situation in the Mongolian part of the transboundary Sailugem natural plague focus in 2018]. Problemy Osobo Opasnykh Infektsii [Problems of Particularly Dangerous Infections]. 2019; (2):79–86. DOI: 10.21055/0370-1069-2019-2-79-86.

10. Sultanov A.A., Ivanov N.P., Namet A.M., Sattarova R.S., Bakieva F.A., Ospanov E.K. [Guidelines for the Formation of Epizootic Units and Sampling from Their Total Availability in the Administrative Territory for Examination and Determination of the Number of Specimens Necessary for Subsequent Studies in Order to Determine the Epizootiological Status of Herds, Economic Entities and Zoo Areals]. Almaty; 2021. P. 7–14.

11. Hamzin S.H. [Plague Prevention in the Atyrau Region]. Almaty; 1998. P. 92–103.

12. Aikimbaev A.M., Atshabar B.B., Aubakirov S.A., Sagiev Z.A., Serzhan O.S. [Epidemiological Potential of Natural Plague Foci in Kazakhstan]. Almaty; 2006. P. 95–100.

13. Rivkus Yu.Z., Blyummer A.G. [Endemic Plague in the Deserts of Central Asia and Kazakhstan]. Voronezh; 2016. 358 p.