Brucellosis continues to pose a substantial zoonotic risk in Kazakhstan; however, evidence describing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of cattle farmers and veterinary personnel remains limited. A cross-sectional study was undertaken between May and October 2024 across twelve administrative locations nationwide. Structured questionnaires were administered to 506 cattle farmers and 33 veterinary professionals, and the data were evaluated using descriptive analyses and univariable logistic regression. Awareness of brucellosis in cattle was relatively high among farmers, yet understanding of its implications for human health was markedly lower. In contrast, animal health workers demonstrated consistently higher levels of knowledge (OR: 12.6; 95% CI: 9.88-16.34; p < 0.001). Several practices associated with zoonotic transmission were commonly reported by farmers, including handling aborted materials without protective gloves, consumption of unpasteurised milk, and leaving reproductive tissues in grazing areas. Nevertheless, most farmers expressed readiness to adopt preventive measures, particularly cattle vaccination and the use of basic protective practices. These findings reveal important gaps between awareness and behavior that may contribute to continued transmission of brucellosis. Strengthening farmer education through locally tailored, One Health-based interventions offers a practical pathway to improving brucellosis control and enhancing cattle productivity in Kazakhstan.
Background: Cervical cancer, largely attributable to persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), remains a major public health burden worldwide, including in Kazakhstan, where limited screening coverage and low public awareness contribute to substantial incidence and mortality. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness and epidemiological impact of a nationwide HPV vaccination programme for 10-year-old girls in Kazakhstan using the quadrivalent Gardasil-4 vaccine. Methods: A 10-year modelling analysis (2025-2035) was conducted using the World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed Universal Vaccination Impact and Cost-Effectiveness Assessment (UNIVAC) tool adapted to Kazakhstan-specific epidemiological and economic parameters. Vaccination coverage was projected at 98.0% for the first dose and 96.5% for the second dose. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted were estimated from governmental and societal perspectives. Sensitivity analyses assessed uncertainty in vaccine coverage, vaccine costs, and epidemiological inputs. Results: Over the 10-year period, the vaccination programme was projected to reduce HPV-related disease cases by 68.2% (from 112,198 to 35,628) and deaths by 68.3% (from 15,921 to 5056), while averting 67,445 DALYs. The ICER was estimated at US$ 533 per DALY averted from the governmental perspective and US$ 1169 from the societal perspective. Projected healthcare cost savings reached US$ 42.8 million, driven largely by reductions in 21,748 hospitalisations and 13,706 outpatient visits. These findings remained robust in probabilistic sensitivity analysis, with the probability of cost-effectiveness increasing as the willingness-to-pay threshold rose. Conclusions: UNIVAC-based modelling suggests that introduction of a national HPV vaccination programme for 10-year-old girls in Kazakhstan using Gardasil-4 could substantially reduce cervical cancer burden and related mortality while generating considerable healthcare savings. These findings support the cost-effectiveness of nationwide HPV vaccination in Kazakhstan.
BackgroundTicks of the genus Hyalomma are among the most important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and animals in arid and semi-arid regions of Eurasia. Recent environmental changes, including climate warming, increasing aridity, and livestock movements, may influence the distribution of Hyalomma species into previously unrecorded areas. However, information on the current distribution of these ticks in Kazakhstan remains incomplete.MethodsField surveys were conducted in the Turkestan, Abai, and East Kazakhstan regions of Kazakhstan in 2024. A total of 137 tick specimens were collected from domestic animals and grouped into 47 pools. Tick species were identified using morphological characteristics and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene sequencing. Species identification was confirmed by BLAST analysis against GenBank reference sequences and phylogenetic reconstruction using the Maximum-Likelihood method.ResultsMorphological examination revealed the presence of Hyalomma asiaticum, H. turanicum, H. dromedarii, H. rufipes, and Dermacentor marginatus. Molecular analysis confirmed the identification of representative specimens of H. dromedarii, H. rufipes, and H. asiaticum, showing 100%, 99.8%, and 99.7% nucleotide identity, respectively, with corresponding GenBank sequences. Phylogenetic analysis grouped all samples within their respective species clades. Based on currently available published data, the study provides the first molecularly confirmed regional records of H. dromedarii and H. rufipes in the Turkestan region and the first molecularly confirmed regional record of H. asiaticum in East Kazakhstan region.ConclusionsThese findings provide new documented distribution records for several Hyalomma species in Kazakhstan and improve current knowledge of their geographic occurrence. Continued surveillance will be necessary to determine whether these records represent recent range expansion or previously undocumented populations.
BackgroundBovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a cell-associated retrovirus that remains endemic in many cattle-producing countries. In the absence of effective vaccination, BLV control relies on sustained surveillance and accurate interpretation of serological and molecular diagnostic data. However, the systematic integration of multiple diagnostic layers with spatial analysis at the national level remains limited in endemic settings.MethodsIn 2025, a nationwide integrated surveillance of BLV was conducted in the Republic of Kazakhstan. A total of 3,650 serum samples were collected from 140 epidemiological units across 17 administrative regions. Cattle aged ≥24 months were examined using agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serological screening, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of proviral DNA. Partial sequencing was performed on selected PCR-positive samples for viral confirmation. Spatial analysis and territorial risk zoning were carried out using Geographic Information System (GIS)–based visualization to assess regional distribution patterns.ResultsBLV infection exhibited pronounced spatial heterogeneity across the country. Serological screening identified regions with varying levels of BLV circulation, while PCR confirmed proviral presence in seropositive animals and in a limited number of seronegative cases. Discrepancies between AGID, ELISA, and PCR results reflected differences in diagnostic sensitivity and infection stage rather than methodological inconsistency. Integration of serological, molecular, and spatial data enabled classification of territories into distinct risk zones and identification of localized clusters of increased BLV circulation.ConclusionIntegrated surveillance combining serological testing, molecular detection, and spatial analysis provides a robust framework for assessing BLV epidemiology in endemic countries. The 2025 data from Kazakhstan demonstrate that diagnostic complementarity is essential for accurate spatial risk zoning and epidemiological interpretation. This framework supports risk-based decision-making and is readily transferable to other BLV-endemic settings with heterogeneous production systems, potentially informing the development of targeted surveillance and control strategies.
IntroductionPolyvalent hyperimmune sera are widely used for emergency passive immunoprophylaxis; however, controlled experimental evidence supporting their safety and preventive efficacy remains limited.MethodsIn this study, three polyantigenic hyperimmune sera were evaluated using a standardized white mouse bacterial challenge model. Sera were generated through stepwise immunization of donor animals with monovalent and polyvalent antigenic formulations targeting enteric and respiratory pathogens. Sterility and safety were assessed prior to in vivo application. Preventive efficacy was evaluated following subcutaneous administration of sera 24 h before experimental infection with enteric bacterial pathogens.ResultsSerological characterization confirmed robust virus- and bacteria-specific humoral responses in donor animals, with end-point antibody titers reaching up to 1:2560 in serum preparations containing viral antigens. All tested sera were sterile and well tolerated, with no adverse clinical effects observed during the monitoring period. Prophylactic administration led to a marked increase in survival compared with untreated controls across multiple bacterial challenge models, with absolute risk reduction values ranging from 40 to 100%. In contrast, native serum collected prior to immunization provided only partial or no protection.DiscussionOverall, these findings provide controlled experimental evidence demonstrating the safety, immunogenicity, and reproducible preventive efficacy of polyvalent hyperimmune sera in a murine bacterial infection model, supporting their consideration as candidate immunobiological agents for passive protection against bacterial infections under controlled experimental conditions.
