Background and Aim: Escherichia coli, a commensal intestine bacterium of vertebrates, is widely distributed in the environment and indicates the microbiological quality of food products in relation to coliforms. In addition, virulent strains, particularly E. coli O157:H7, cause outbreaks of toxic infections caused by consuming dairy products. Because food safety studies regarding E. coli have not been conducted in Central Asia, this research aimed to study the characteristics of contamination, microbiological and genotypic properties, and resistance to antimicrobial agents of E. coli strains that contaminate various types of commercialized cheeses originating from Kazakhstan. Materials and Methods: In retail outlets, 207 samples of three types of cheese produced by 22 industrial and eight small enterprises in the central, eastern, southern, and northern regions of Kazakhstan were selected in 2020–2023. E. coli contamination was examined using standard microbiological, mass spectrometric, and molecular genetic methods. The discodiffuse European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing method was used to test the resistance of the identified E. coli isolates (65/207; 31.4%) to 20 antibacterial drugs. The Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (VT1 and VT2) and E. coli O157:H7 (eae) genes were investigated in all E. coli isolates using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Results: An average of 31.4% samples of commercial Kazakhstani cheeses of various types were found to be contaminated with E. coli in almost all geographical regions of Kazakhstan, regardless of the productivity of the dairy enterprises. Soft cheeses produced by small farms (80% of samples) packaged at the retail site (100%) were the most contaminated with E. coli. The microbiological index (colony-forming unit/g) was unsatisfactory and unsuitable in 6.2% of such cheese samples. For the first time in Central Asia, the enteropathogenic strain E. coli O157:H7 was detected in 0.5% of cheese samples. E. coli isolates from cheese samples were resistant to 65% of antibacterial drugs and contained resistance genes to β-lactams, sulfonamides, and quinolones groups. At the same time, 25% of the E. coli isolates were multi-resistant to three or more antimicrobial agents. Conclusion: The high level of contamination caused by multi-antibiotic resistant E. coli strains, including pathogenic pathogens, poses a risk to public health and highlights the need for further research on the monitoring and control of coliform enteropathogens in food products. Keywords: antibiotic resistance, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Kazakhstan cheese, microbial contamination.

Background: Bluetongue is a serious disease of ruminants caused by the bluetongue virus (BTV). BTV is transmitted by biting midges (Culicoides spp.). Serological evidence from livestock and the presence of at least one competent vector species of Culicoides suggests that transmission of BTV is possible and may have occurred in Kazakhstan. Methods: We estimated the risk of transmission using a mathematical model of the reproduction number R₀ for bluetongue. This model depends on livestock density and climatic factors which affect vector density. Data on climate and livestock numbers from the 2466 local communities were used. This, together with previously published model parameters, was used to estimate R₀ for each month of the year. We plotted the results on isopleth maps of Kazakhstan using interpolation to smooth the irregular data. We also mapped the estimated proportion of the population requiring vaccination to prevent outbreaks of bluetongue. Results: The results suggest that transmission of bluetongue in Kazakhstan is not possible in the winter from October to March. Assuming there are vector-competent species of Culicoides endemic in Kazakhstan, then low levels of risk first appear in the south of Kazakhstan in April before spreading north and intensifying, reaching maximum levels in northern Kazakhstan in July. The risk declined in September and had disappeared by October. Conclusion: These results should aid in surveillance efforts for the detection and control of bluetongue in Kazakhstan by indicating where and when outbreaks of bluetongue are most likely to occur. The results also indicate where vaccination efforts should be focussed to prevent outbreaks of disease. Graphical

Giardia duodenalis is a widely distributed protozoan parasite, that causes acute gastroenteritis in many animal species and humans all over the world. We aimed to carry out a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of G. duodenalis among cats in Almaty City, Kazakhstan. A total of 164 fecal samples from different origin cats (household, sheltered) in two veterinary clinics and three shelters of Almaty were collected taking into account animals' age, gender, housing type and consistency of feces. A study of each sample was performed using the zinc sulfate flotation method and Fastest®Crypto-Giardia (MEGACOR, Austria) Immunochromatographic (ICA) kit. In Almaty city, the prevalence of Giardia was significantly (p<0.05) higher in shelter cats (26.1%) than in pet animals (4.2%). The occurrence of the parasite was higher in young cats (18.8%) than in adults (8.3%). The presence of infection antigens was almost two times higher in diarrheal animals than in those with compact stool. G. duodenalis prevalence in males was slightly lower than in females. Further genetic research has to be performed to assess the zoonotic risk of the pathogen for regional public health.

Background and Aim: Cats act as reservoirs for various gastrointestinal parasites, including species of significant zoonotic concern such as Toxocara cati, Toxoplasma gondii, and Giardia intestinalis. However, data on the prevalence and risk factors associated with feline endoparasites in Kazakhstan remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, species diversity, and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections in urban cat populations across five major cities in Kazakhstan, thereby supporting the One Health framework for the prevention of zoonotic diseases. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August 2023 to January 2025, involving 1,301 fecal samples collected from both client-owned and stray cats in Almaty, Astana, Oral, Qostanai, and Shymkent. Standardized Sheather’s sugar flotation was used to detect helminth eggs and coccidia oocysts in all samples, while Giardia coproantigen was assessed in 1,256 samples using a commercial immunochromatographic assay (FASTest® CRYPTO-GIARDIA strip test kit, MEGACOR, Austria). Prevalence differences across categories – ownership status, sex, age class, and city – were evaluated using the Chi-squared test, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated to identify significant risk factors. Results: Overall, 17.7% (230/1,301) of cats were infected with at least one intestinal parasite species. The most prevalent species were Cystoisospora felis (7.2%), T. cati (6.2%), Cystoisospora rivolta (2.0%), and Giardia (6.4%). T. gondii-like oocysts (T. gondii or Hammondia hammondi) were detected in 0.6% of samples. Significant variation in parasite prevalence was observed among cities. Stray cats were significantly more likely to harbor C. felis and C. rivolta. Female cats had higher odds of testing positive for Giardia (OR = 1.8). Infections with T. cati, C. felis, and Giardia showed a significant association with age, with kittens (<6 months) being approximately twice as likely to test positive for these parasites compared to adult cats. Conclusion: This study represents the first comprehensive assessment of gastrointestinal parasitism in urban cats in Kazakhstan. The detection of zoonotic parasites and identification of significant demographic risk factors underscore the need for enhanced public health strategies, including educational outreach, targeted deworming protocols, and environmental hygiene measures. Future molecular investigations are necessary to differentiate T. gondii from Hammondia hammondi and to genotype Giardia assemblages. Soil surveillance in public spaces is also recommended to assess environmental contamination and potential exposure risk to humans, particularly children. Keywords: coproantigen detection, Cystoisospora felis, Cystoisospora rivolta, fecal flotation, feline endoparasites, gastrointestinal parasitism, Giardia duodenalis, helminths, Kazakhstan, One Health, public health risk, risk factors, stray versus owned cats, Toxocara cati, Toxoplasma gondii-like coccidia, urban cats, zoonotic parasites.

Totally 97 sources from digitalized databases were analyzed with aim to assess the epidemiological significance and the introducing risk of feline intestinal zoonotic protozoa infections into Kazakhstan from neighboring countries. It was concluded that pet and stray cats in China, Russia, Central Asian countries and Kazakhstan serve as reservoirs for Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia duodenalis. They pose a significant threat to both humans and animals but are often overlooked due to a lack of awareness at the regional level. The diseases caused by them can be classified as neglected feline and human parasitic infections in Kazakhstan. To implement the One Health Concept, it is necessary to consolidate research and coordinate the work of public health, veterinary, and ecological services at an intergovernmental level for the study the molecular epidemiology and systematic monitoring the catborne zoonotic protozoa among definitive and intermediate hosts’ populations and environment.