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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Veterinary Infectious Diseases
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1559636
This article is part of the Research Topic Sentinels of Health: Advancements in Monitoring and Surveillance of Vector-Borne Diseases in Domestic and Wild Animals and Vectors View all 10 articles
PREVELANCE OF BLUETONGUE AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF CULICOIDES SPECIES IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN REGIONS OF KAZAKHSTAN IN 2023-2024
Provisionally accepted
Kuandyk Zhugunissov 1*
Dias Muzarap 1* Nuraiym Sarsenkulova 1* Muratbay Mambetaliyev 1* Sanat Kilibayev 1* Moldir Azanbekova 1* Marzhan Kenzhebayeva 1* Shalkar Tabys 1* Madina Abayeva 1* Aibarys Melisbek 1*
Nurkuisa Mirzabekovich Rametov 2,3 Kulaisan Sultankulova 1*
Shawn Babiuk 4,5 Aruna Ambagala 6* Aslan Kerimbayev 1*- 1 Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
- 2 Institute of Ionosphere, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- 3 Kazakh National Technical University after K.I. Satpayev, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- 4 National Centre for Animal Diseases, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- 5 Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Minnipeg, Canada, Minnipeg, Canada
- 6 National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a significant vector-borne pathogen affecting ruminants, leading to substantial economic losses, and adversely impacting livestock production worldwide. Recently, Bluetongue (BT) has emerged as a growing concern for European and Asian countries, including Kazakhstan. This study examines the prevalence and distribution of BTV in Kazakhstan during 2023-2024, providing up-to-date information on its occurrence in livestock and Culicoides species. The findings aim to contribute to better understanding and management of BT in the region. A total of 972 whole blood and 972 serum samples were collected from cattle, sheep, and goats in the southern and northern regions of Kazakhstan, alongside 11,859 Culicoides midges in the autumn of 2023 and Spring of 2024. The serum samples were tested for BT virus (BTV)-specific antibodies using ELISA, while the whole blood and Culicoides specimens were analyzed for BTV RNA by Real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCRrRT-PCR). Morphological and molecular identification of Culicoides species was also conducted.The overall seroprevalence of BTV in Southern Kazakhstan increased across all animal species in 2024 compared to 2023, with goats showing the most notable rise (from 3.8% to 29.5%). In the northern regions, seroprevalence remained zero in 2023 but reached 10.0% in cattle by 2024. rRT-PCRrRT-PCR results confirmed active virus circulation, with rRT-PCRrRT-PCR-positive samples significantly higher in 2024, especially among goats (from 4.2% in 2023 to 62.0% in 2024) and cattle (from 9.2% to 34.4%).Based on morphology, nine species of Culicoides midges were identified, including C. obsoletus a known BTV vector in European countries. Four of them were genetically confirmed, and BTV RNA was detected in all four species (C. miutissimus, C. sphagnumensis, C. newsteadi, and C. pectipennis), suggesting their potential vectorial role in BTV transmission.This study provides new insights into the epidemiology of BT in Kazakhstan and serves as a valuable resource for veterinary professionals. The findings emphasize the need for continued surveillance and vector control strategies to mitigate the spread of BTV in the region.
Keywords: Bluetongue, Kazakhstan, Culicoides, Serology, RNA detection
Received: 13 Jan 2025; Accepted: 13 Feb 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhugunissov, Muzarap, Sarsenkulova, Mambetaliyev, Kilibayev, Azanbekova, Kenzhebayeva, Tabys, Abayeva, Melisbek, Rametov, Sultankulova, Babiuk, Ambagala and Kerimbayev. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Kuandyk Zhugunissov, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
Dias Muzarap, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
Nuraiym Sarsenkulova, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
Muratbay Mambetaliyev, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
Sanat Kilibayev, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
Moldir Azanbekova, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
Marzhan Kenzhebayeva, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
Shalkar Tabys, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
Madina Abayeva, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
Aibarys Melisbek, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
Kulaisan Sultankulova, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
Aruna Ambagala, National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Winnipeg, MB R3E 3M4, Manitoba, Canada
Aslan Kerimbayev, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
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