Piroplasmoses are obligately transmissible diseases caused by non-pigmented endoglob-ular blood parasites, affecting various domestic and wild animals, particularly cattle and small ruminants. In Kazakhstan, particularly in West Kazakhstan, these diseases lead to significant economic losses in the livestock sector. This study, conducted in 2024, aimed to investigate the epizootic situation of piroplasmoses and ixodidoses in cattle in West Ka-zakhstan. Blood samples from 507 cattle and 581 ixodid ticks were collected for analysis. Ticks were identified to genus and species, and blood parasites were diagnosed using PCR. The study found 11 tick species, with Hyalomma being the most abundant. Peak tick activi-ty occurred in the spring-summer period, with up to 100% cattle infestation in the steppe zone. Tick abundance varied by age and environmental conditions, with the highest rates in young cattle aged 1-3 years in desert areas. PCR analysis of blood samples revealed blood parasite DNA in 32% of cattle, indicating high prevalence of piroplasmoses. Addi-tionally, 6.9% of ixodid ticks tested positive for piroplasmoses pathogens, confirming their role in disease transmission.

Background. Stool microscopy and anti-Ascaris IgG serology assess different, but related biological domains. Joint interpretation can identify immunological exposure and intestinal egg shedding without assuming one or both markers are a measure of current infection independently. Objective. To develop a four-pattern paired-marker framework for anti-A. lumbricoides IgG and copromicroscopy results from adults in Kazakhstan and to assess the qualitative analytical concordance of two IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Methods. The cross-sectional field study involved 1000 adult volunteers from Almaty and the region providing matched serum and stool samples. Sera were tested by MVA Group indirect anti-Ascaris IgG ELISA, and stool samples were examined by the Kato–Katz and Fülleborn methods. The binary outcome was classified into four pair patterns. All sera were further tested with a commercial ELISA (DRG), and qualitative concordance was calculated. Results. Anti-Ascaris IgG was found in 331 of the 1000 subjects (33.1%; 95% CI, 30.3–36.1%), while A. lumbricoides eggs were detected in 240 subjects (24.0%; 95% CI, 21.5–26.7%). The paired patterns were IgG-positive/egg-positive in 185 participants (18.5%), IgG-positive/egg-negative in 146 (14.6%), IgG-negative/egg-positive in 55 (5.5%), and IgG-negative/egg-negative in 614 (61.4%). IgG positivity was detected in 77.1% of subjects with detected eggs and 19.2% of subjects without detected eggs (odds ratio, 14.15; 95% CI, 9.96–20.09; p < 0.001). The MVA Group and DRG ELISAs agreed for 990 of 1000 specimens (99.0%; 95% CI, 98.2–99.5%), with positive and negative agreements of 98.2% and 99.4%, respectively (κ = 0.98). Conclusions. Serology and copromicroscopy showed a high association, but they are not interchangeable. The paired-marker paradigm clarified concordant and discordant patterns while retaining IgG as a marker of past or ongoing immune exposure and stool eggs as markers of shedding at the time of sampling. High inter-assay agreement suggests analytical consistency within this serum panel, but does not imply diagnostic accuracy for active ascariasis.

Background: The aim of the present study was to develop and optimize an experimental ELISA test system for the detection of IgG antibodies to Toxocara canis and subsequently apply it for the assessment of human and canine exposure in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, within a One Health framework. Methods: A native somatic antigen of T. canis was fractionated by gel filtration, and the working fraction was selected by SDS-PAGE and pilot ELISA. The optimized test system was used for the analysis of sera of 1000 adult volunteers. Antibody avidity was determined in IgG-positive human specimens, and human seropositivity was evaluated for associations with demographic and questionnaire-derived variables. Serum samples from 100 stray dogs were tested by ELISA and fecal samples by copromicroscopy. Agreement with the commercial DRG ELISA was tested with 50 positive and 50 negative human serum samples. Results: The antigen fraction of 18–22 kDa showed the best separation between positive and negative sera. IgG antibodies against T. canis were detected in 116/1000 volunteers (11.6%). Seropositivity was 17.0% in the 2025 sample and 6.2% in the 2026 sample (odds ratio 3.10; 95% confidence interval 2.01–4.77; p < 0.001). No significant associations were found with sex, age, residence, or questionnaire-derived variables. Among seropositive volunteers, 28.4% had low-avidity, 26.7% intermediate-avidity, 29.3% intermediate/high-avidity and 15.5% high-avidity IgG. Overall, 78/100 of the stray dogs were copropositive, and 93/100 were seropositive. All copropositive dogs were seropositive, and 15 additional seropositive dogs were copronegative. Agreement with the DRG ELISA was 97.0% (Cohen’s κ = 0.94). Conclusions: The experimental ELISA allowed the assessment of T. canis exposure of humans and dogs. Seropositivity in humans in Uralsk showed exposure. High seropositivity in dogs and frequent egg shedding showed a substantial canine reservoir and a potential for environmental contamination. These results support integrated surveillance and control within a One Health context.

Соңғы жылдары Қазақстанда ауыл шаруашылығы жағдайындағы өңделмеген жерлердің көлемінің артуына байланысты Ixodidae қансорғыштар (кенелер) санының көбеюі жиі байқалады. Бұл паразиттер бабезиоз, тейлериоз, нутталиоз және анаплазмоз сияқты трансмиссивті инфекциялық ауруларды таратуда маңызды рөл атқарады. Бұл ауыл шаруашылығы жануарларының өнімділігі мен саулығына айтарлықтай әсер етеді. Осы зерттеу жұмысы Батыс Қазақстан облысында мүйізді ірі қара малындағы қансорғыш паразитарлық аурулардың таралуын зерттеуге арналды. 100 бас мүйізді ірі қара малының қаны мен 93 кенелердің үлгісін талдау нәтижесінде T. annulata қоздырғышы 29% қан үлгілерінде анықталды. Сонымен қатар, аймақта иксодидті кенелердің едәуір түр құрамы бойынша әртүрлілігі тіркелді, олардың көпшілігі қауіпті аурулардың потенциалды тасымалдаушылары болып табылады. Кенелер арқылы таралатын ауруларды тиімді мониторингтеу және алдын алу үшін қазіргі заманғы молекулалық диагностика әдістерін, яғни, полимеразды тізбектік реакция (ПТР) арқылы негіздеуді ұсынуға болады. Мұндай технологияларды пайдалану қоздырғыштарды жедел анықтауға, жануарлар мен кенелердің инфекциямен залалдану деңгейін бағалауға мүмкіндік береді. Бұл эпизоотиялардың алдын алу және мал шаруашылығында экономикалық шығындарды азайту үшін өте маңызды.

Human toxocariasis is a globally distributed zoonosis caused by nematodes of the genus Toxocara, yet epidemiological data from Kazakhstan remain scarce. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of anti-Toxocara antibodies and to assess potential risk factors among adults in northern Kazakhstan. A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study enrolled 1000 adult residents of the Pavlodar and North Kazakhstan regions (500 per region). Serum samples were tested for IgG antibodies against Toxocara spp. by ELISA and Western blot. Antibodies were detected by ELISA in 102 (10.2%; 95% CI: 8.5–12.2%) and by Western blot in 93 (9.3%; 95% CI: 7.7–11.3%) of the 1000 participants. Agreement between ELISA and WB was 99.1% (Cohen’s κ = 0.949; 95% CI: 0.916–0.982; p < 0.001). Seroprevalence was 10.0% (50/500) in Pavlodar and 8.6% (43/500) in North Kazakhstan (p = 0.514; OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 0.77–1.81). Univariate analysis revealed no statistically significant association between seropositivity and age, sex, place of residence (urban/rural), or any of the potential risk factors examined. These findings indicate exposure of the population of northern Kazakhstan to Toxocara spp. and support the use of two methods (ELISA and WB) in seroepidemiological surveys. Studies with broader geographic coverage are warranted.

Theileria annulata causes tropical theileriosis in cattle and is endemic in Kazakhstan. Although molecular diagnostic methods for this pathogen exist, data on its molecular surveillance and genetic diversity in Kazakhstan remain limited. This study aimed to develop and experimentally validate a species-specific real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for the detection of Theileria annulata and to conduct molecular surveillance and phylogenetic analysis of circulating isolates. A total of 709 cattle blood samples from 10 regions of Kazakhstan were analysed. Species-specific primers and a probe were designed targeting the 18S rRNA gene, and diagnostic performance was evaluated against sequencing as the reference method. Theileria annulata infection was confirmed in 110 of 709 samples (15.51%), with positive samples identified in the Turkistan, West Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda, and Zhambyl regions. The developed assay showed high diagnostic sensitivity (99.09%), specificity (99.67%), and diagnostic efficiency (99.58%), with no cross-reactivity with Theileria orientalis, Theileria parva, Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, or Anaplasma marginale. Phylogenetic analysis of partial 28S rRNA sequences confirmed the species identity of the detected isolates and demonstrated their close relationship with previously reported Kazakhstani and Chinese isolates. The developed qPCR assay is suitable for the molecular diagnosis and surveillance of bovine tropical theileriosis in Kazakhstan.