Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in Kazakhstan (1948-2013)

AbstractCrimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a pathogenic and often fatal arboviral disease with a distribution spanning large areas of Africa, Europe and Asia. The causative agent is a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus classified within the Nairovirus genus of the Bunyaviridae family.Cases of CCHF have been officially recorded in Kazakhstan since the disease was first officially reported in modern medicine. Serological surveillance of human and animal populations provide evidence that the virus was perpetually circulating in a local enzoonotic cycle involving mammals, ticks and humans in the southern regions of the country. Most cases of human disease were associated with agricultural professions such as farming, shepherding and fruit-picking; the typical route of infection was via tick-bite although several cases of contact transmission associated with caring for sick patients have been documented.In total, 704 confirmed human cases of CCHF have been registered in Kazakhstan from 1948-2013 with an overall case fatality rate of 14.8% for cases with a documented outcome.The southern regions of Kazakhstan should be considered endemic for CCHF with cases reported from these territories on an annual basis. Modern diagnostic technologies allow for rapid clinical diagnosis and for surveillance studies to monitor for potential expansion in known risk areas

Peculiarities of Management of Sanitary and Anti-Epidemic (Preventive) Measures during Preparation and Holding the 28th Winter Student Games, 2017 in Almaty

Objective was to ensure health and sanitary-epidemiological welfare of the population during XXXVIII World Winter Universiade in the territory of Almaty, within the period of January 30 – February 8, 2017. Materials and methods. Analyzed have been the results of measures, conducted by the specialists of M. Aikimbaev Kazakh Scientific Center of Quarantine and Zoonotic Infections (KSCQZI), in particular the rapid response team, during winter Universiade, 2017. Results and discussion. Due to preventive actions on the provision of sanitary-epidemiological welfare during the preparation and holding of the World Universiade, all the set tasks were accomplished, normative-methodological framework of KSCQZI – amended. Staffing of the rapid response team by the trained specialists and procuring with laboratory equipment facilitated avoidance of emergence and spread of infectious diseases among the guests and residents of Almaty city

New Lyssavirus Genotype from the Lesser Mouse-eared Bat (Myotis blythi), Kyrghyzstan

The Aravan virus was isolated from a Lesser Mouse-eared Bat (Myotis blythi) in the Osh region of Kyrghyzstan, central Asia, in 1991. We determined the complete sequence of the nucleoprotein (N) gene and compared it with those of 26 representative lyssaviruses obtained from databases. The Aravan virus was distinguished from seven distinct genotypes on the basis of nucleotide and amino acid identity. Phylogenetic analysis based on both nucleotide and amino acid sequences showed that the Aravan virus was more closely related to genotypes 4, 5, and—to a lesser extent—6, which circulates among insectivorus bats in Europe and Africa. The Aravan virus does not belong to any of the seven known genotypes of lyssaviruses, namely, rabies, Lagos bat, Mokola, and Duvenhage viruses and European bat lyssavirus 1, European bat lyssavirus 2, and Australian bat lyssavirus. Based on these data, we propose a new genotype for the Lyssavirus genus

Biological Properties and Molecular Genetic Characteristics of Bacillus Anthracis Strains Isolated During Anthrax Outbreaks in Kazakhstan in 2016

Today, anthrax is recorded in many countries around the world, in Kazakhstan – in the form of sporadic cases or small outbreaks. Despite the endemicity of anthrax in Kazakhstan, the genetic diversity strains is not well described. At the moment, MLVA-25, which is sufficient for molecular and epidemiological monitoring, is recognized as one of the most discriminatory methods of genotyping.Objective: to determine the cultural and morphological properties, the genomic characteristics of the strains of the anthrax pathogen, their geographical distribution in the territory of Kazakhstan during the outbreaks in 2016, a comparative analysis with collection strains isolated since 1962.Methods: microbiological, genetic research methods were used in the work.Results. We investigated 11 strains of B. anthracis, which were isolated in 2016 in Kazakhstan. For comparison of genotypes, 26 strains were used from the collection of pathogenic microorganisms of the A.M. Aykimbaev’s Kazakh Scientific Center for Quarantine and Zoonotic Diseases. Phylogenetic analysis clustered 37 strains of B. anthracis into three clusters and 23 genotypes.The results of studying the phenotypic properties of anthrax strains by the main identification tests showed that all the strains studied in the experiment and isolated from 1961 to 2016 had biological properties characteristic of typical of B. anthracis strains.The anthrax strains isolated in 2016 are characterized as significant variability, as well as the circulation of the same genotypes and clusters in different areas of Kazakhstan. MLVA-profiles of analyzed Kazakhstan strains are unique and do not fully coincide with any studied strain from MLVAbank. On the MST-tree, Kazakhstan’s strains are located in three clusters, as on the phylogenetic tree.Conclusion: Molecular genetic analysis of B. anthracis strains enhances the ability of epidemiologists to track the sources and pathways of infection.It is necessary to improve the tracking system for strains of especially dangerous infections in  Kazakhstan using modern molecular genetic methods

Anthrax in the East Kazakhstan Region

Almost every year in Kazakhstan, cases of diseases of animals and people with anthrax are recorded. The incidence rate of people with anthrax in the period from 2000 to 2018 ranged from 0.01 to 0.24 per 100 thousand people. In the territory of the East Kazakhstan region, the incidence rate is higher than in the republic.Objective: a retrospective analysis of anthrax outbreaks in the East Kazakhstan region from 2000 to 2018.Methods: a retrospective analysis using statistical, cadastral data, archival funds, the results of participation in the investigation of outbreaks of infection.Results. Since 1938, cases of animal and human disease of anthrax have been recorded in East Kazakhstan. Infection of humans occurs during the slaughter of animals. In Zharma, Urjar, and Ayagozskiy areas most of all are anthrax foci of soil. In 67 % of cases, outbreaks of anthrax were recorded in these areas.Conclusion. The relative incidence rate of anthrax in people in East Kazakhstan is from 0.07 to 0.27, since 2001 it is higher than the republican indicator.In the East Kazakhstan region from 1997 to 2018, 37 people fell ill with anthrax. The form of the disease is skin, in 8.1 % secondary sepsis. In the remaining patients, the diseases were mild (70.3 %), ended in recovery. The source of human infection is mainly cattle. The isolated strains of B. anthracis have typical properties, they are included in cluster A1a, A3b (MLVA-8). The strains isolated in 2016 are similar to the strains isolated in the Almaty region (MLVA-25). Grouped with a number of European, Asian and African strains from France, Germany, Italy, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Korea and Namibia. The presence of a significant number of soil foci of anthrax in the territory of the East Kazakhstan region, not fully the implementation of veterinary and sanitary preventive measures leads to an exacerbation of the situation for anthrax

Methodology of Epidemic Risk Management in Kazakhstan with Open-Source EIDSS

In order to transition the forecasting, estimation and management of epidemic risks to individual administrative areas, the Agency for Consumer Rights Protection of Kazakhstan has developed the Regional Sanitary-Epidemiological Passport (RSEP). The RSEP will contain information on the infectious incidence rate dynamics according to the main infections (7 nosologies) with a forecast for 2-3 years, and natural and soil foci GIS maps for especially dangerous pathogens with their activity forecast for 3-5 years. Approbation of RSEP was conducted for the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Planned work includes estimation method adjustment, retrospective databank formation, GIS archive creation and Open-source EIDSS system application

Accuracy of EIDSS Software Prognosis on CCHF Natural Foci Activity in Kazakhstan

Based on the actual situation in the CCHF natural foci of Kazakhstan for the first half of 2013, the authors, using EIDSS version 4, evaluated the accuracy of the earlier prognosis of situation development in the CCHF natural foci of Kazakhstan for 2013 (EIDSS Application for CCHF Foci Activity Epi-Analysis and Prediction in Kazakhstan). The prognosis of situation development in 2013 for 11 districts of Kazakhstan (estimated in 2012 as the districts with a high risk of CCHF) proved to be accurate in 90.9% of cases.

Accuracy of EIDSS Software Prognosis on CCHF Natural Foci Activity in Kazakhstan

Based on the actual situation in the CCHF natural foci of Kazakhstan for the first half of 2013, the authors, using EIDSS version 4, evaluated the accuracy of the earlier prognosis of situation development in the CCHF natural foci of Kazakhstan for 2013 (EIDSS Application for CCHF Foci Activity Epi-Analysis and Prediction in Kazakhstan). The prognosis of situation development in 2013 for 11 districts of Kazakhstan (estimated in 2012 as the districts with a high risk of CCHF) proved to be accurate in 90.9% of cases.