Wild birds are natural reservoirs of many emerging viruses, including some zoonoses. Considering that the territory of Kazakhstan is crossed by several bird migration routes, it is important to know pathogenic viruses circulating in migratory birds in this region. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the host range, diversity and spatial distribution of avian paramyxoviruses, coronaviruses, and astroviruses in free-ranging wild birds in the southeastern region of Kazakhstan. For this purpose, we collected tracheal and cloacal swabs from 242 wild birds belonging to 51 species and screened them using conventional PCR assays. Overall, 4.1% (10/242) and 2.9% (7/242) of all examined birds tested positive for coronaviruses and astroviruses, respectively. Coronaviruses were found in the orders Pelecaniformes (30%; 3/10), Charadriiformes (30%; 3/10), Columbiformes (20%; 2/10), Anseriformes (10%; 1/10), and Passeriformes (10%; 1/10). All detected strains belonged to the genus Gammacoronavirus. Astroviruses were detected in birds representing the orders Passeriformes (57%; 4/7), Coraciiformes (14%; 1/7), Charadriiformes (14%; 1/7), and Columbiformes (14%; 1/7). Paramyxoviruses were observed in only two birds (0.8%; 2/242). Both strains were closely related to the species APMV-22, which had not been previously detected in Kazakhstan. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial RdRp gene sequences of the virus strains revealed three different clades of astroviruses, two clades of coronaviruses, and one clade of paramyxoviruses. The results of this study provide valuable information on the diversity and spatial distribution of paramyxoviruses, coronaviruses, and astroviruses in wild birds in southeastern Kazakhstan and highlight the importance of further thorough monitoring of wild birds in this region.

Background. Information on the geographical distribution of different species of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (B. burgdorferi s.l.) complex is of great epidemiological importance, since different genospecies are associated with certain clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis. Although Almaty region of the Republic of Kazakhstan is considered to be endemic for tick-borne borreliosis, there is still no accurate data on the level of borrelia infection in ticks in the region, including information on the genotypes of circulating borrelia.The aim of this work was to study ticks collected from humans in the Almaty region of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2018.Materials and methods. Ticks were tested for the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA, genotyping of the identified borrelia was done by sequencing of the fragment of 16S rRNA gene. The analysis of epidemiological data on the incidence of Lyme borreliosis in the Almaty region in 2013–2018 was performed.Results. Rhipicephalus turanicus (116/253), Haemaphysalis punctata (74/253), Dermacentor marginatus (28/253), and Ixodes persulcatus (23/253) were the predominant species of ticks taken from humans. The prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. infection in I. persulcatus ticks was 39.13% (9/23) It should be noted that the DNA of B. burgdorferi s.l. was also detected in single individuals of D. marginatus, H. punctata, and R. turanicus, although these species are not considered as competent B. burgdorferi s.l. vectors.Conclusion. As a result of sequencing of the positive homogenates of ticks, two genotypes of B. burgdorferi s.l. were identified: B. afzelii and B. garinii and/or B. bavariensis. Thus, at least two genospecies, B. afzelii and B. garinii and/or B. bavariensis, circulate in the territory of the Almaty region.

Q fever (coxiellosis) is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterium Coxiella (C.) burnetii that can infect many species of mammals, including humans. This work was aimed at studying the prevalence of C. burnetii among livestock and people in the southern region of Kazakhstan using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For serological monitoring, serum samples were collected from 100 residents of the Zhambyl oblast in the epidemiological season of 2021. It was found that the total seroprevalence of IgG to C. burnetii is 3.3%. A serological analysis of 282 blood serum samples from Capra hircus, Ovis aries and Bos taurus collected in the Turkestan and Zhambyl oblasts demonstrated that the total seroprevalence of antibodies to C. burnetii in livestock is 32.2% and 23.0% in the Turkestan and Zhambyl oblasts, respectively. An epidemiological analysis of livestock seromonitoring data was carried out. It was shown that the species belonging to Capra hircus, female sex and habitat in Baidibek, Sairam, Kazygurt districts of the Turkestan oblast and in T. Ryskulov of the Zhambyl oblast are risk factors for C. burnetii infection in the southern region of Kazakhstan. The results indicate the need for further research in this direction to isolate the pathogen and identify its main reservoirs. Key words: Coxiella (C.) burnetii, coxiellosis, epidemiology, enzyme immunoassay, serum.

Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) is a globally important cattle pathogen causing substantial economic losses. In Kazakhstan, BVDV’s epidemiological status remains poorly characterized due to the absence of systematic surveillance. We carried out a cross-sectional study of cattle herds across Kazakhstan, using ELISA to detect anti-BVDV antibodies and RT-PCR to identify active infections. Positive samples underwent sequencing for phylogenetic analysis of circulating strains. Additionally, a standard reference serum panel was developed to measure virus neutralization titers (ND₅₀) and to evaluate cross-neutralization with Border Disease virus (BDV). Antibodies against BVDV were prevalent, with seropositivity ranging from 28.89% to 96.13% across surveyed regions. Active BVDV infection was confirmed by RT-PCR in 17 animals. Phylogenetic analysis with 2 samples from Mangystau region classified the virus as BVDV2 genotype. The reference serum panel exhibited high neutralizing titers ND₅₀ up to 1:286 against the local BVDV-1 isolate. Notably, these sera also neutralized BDV, albeit at lower titers ND₅₀ 1:45. These findings provide crucial baseline epidemiological data and enhanced diagnostic tools for BVDV in Kazakhstan. They highlight the need for improved surveillance and will inform strategic control measures against this economically significant cattle disease.

The aim of the study was to develop a set of primers and fluorescent probes for the detection of two chromosomal targets of Bacillus anthracis using real-time PCR based on the lambda_Ba03 prophage genes.Materials and methods. BLAST analysis of B. anthracis chromosomal DNA identified two target genes in the region of lambdaBa03 prophage, BA_5358 (AE016879.1: 4852332..4853642) and BA_5361 (AE016879.1: 4855298..4856278). The designed primers and fluorescent hydrolysable TaqMan probes for simultaneous detection of B. anthracis chromosomal DNA by two stated genes were tested in qPCR for sensitivity and specificity.Results and discussion. Studies performed on chromosomal DNA samples of closely related bacteria (B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, B. subtilis, B. clausii) have shown 100 % specificity of the developed sets of primers/probes. The sensitivity of the devised multiplex kit, tested on DNA samples of the m55-VNIIVViM vaccine strain and archival DNA samples of B. anthracis, reached 100 fg of bacterial DNA, which sets the limit of sensitivity at 17 genomes per reaction. The developed multiplex kit can be used as a separate tool for research laboratories studying anthrax.

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is an acute infectious disease caused by BVD virus (BVDV). BVD is characterized by fever, lesions of the mucosal lining of the digestive tract, diarrhea, conjunctivitis and rhinitis. This disease is considered as one of the most dangerous infectious diseases in animal husbandry worldwide because of its high prevalence, persistence in the environment, and severe clinical consequences. The purpose of this study is to assess the epizootological situation on BVD of cattle, which has developed by the beginning of 2021 in various regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. For this purpose, we retrospectively analyzed samples of cattle serum collected in 2018-2020 by ELISA for the presence of antibodies to BVDV in them. It was found that BVD in cattle was prevalent even before 2021 in a significant area of Kazakhstan, while the total seroprevalence for BVDV was 67.3% (243/361; 95% CI: 0.37-0.63). Among the animals from which serum was taken, 51.2% of the animals were vaccinated with BVDV vaccines and 48.8% of the animals were unvaccinated. The average seroprevalence of antibodies to BVDV in unvaccinated animals was 36.4% (64/176; 95% CI: 1.2-2.5) positive samples were detected in unvaccinated animals in Zerenda, Astrakhan, Tselinograd and Shortanda districts of Akmola region, also in Akzhar and Kyzylzhar districts of North Kazakhstan region and Aksu district of Almaty region. The results obtained contribute to the disclosure of the epizootological situation of BVD in the territory of Kazakhstan, which will allow the full use of effective control measures, such as total vaccination of livestock in the risky regions of the infection and the introduction of strict restrictive measures to prevent further spread of the infection to other regions of the country. Keywords: Bovine viral diarrhea, cattle, enzyme immunoassay, Pestivirus, Togaviridae.