The aim of the study was to improve epizootiological monitoring and increase the effectiveness of preventive (anti-epidemic) measures for camel plague control in Kazakhstan.Materials and methods. We used the data on epizootiological and epidemiological monitoring in natural plague foci of Kazakhstan, long-term measurements and indicators for the period of 2000–2020 of the anti-plague and veterinary services of the Republic for the analysis. To process the evidence, epidemiological, epizootiological, microbiological, and statistical research methods, as well as GIS technology were applied.Results and discussion. The number of camels has increased by 2.2 times in Kazakhstan over the past 20 years.  Where there were 98.2 thousand heads in 2000, it amounted to 216.4 thousand heads in 2020. Over the past 10 years, 152 camels died of unknown causes in the focal area of the country, but laboratory tests for plague turned out negative. According to the hazard criteria, the territory of the country has been conditionally divided into three zones: five regions with a high degree of hazard with a total area of 953.15 sq. km, five regions with medium degree of hazard with a total area of 1230.72 sq. km, and with a low degree of hazard – four regions and three cities of republican significance with a total area of 541.1 sq. km. Constant epizootiological monitoring over plague in camels is a necessity for the system of preventive measures.

Контакты: Абдел Зият Жумадилулы, канд. мед. наук, заведующий лабораторией микробиологии и эпидемиологии чумы на ПХВ «Казахский научный центр карантинных и зоонозных инфекций им. М. Айкимбаева» МЗ РК, г. Алматы, ул. Капальская, 14, индекс 050054.

According to WHO, more than 0.5 million cases of brucellosis registered annually among the population of 73 countries. According to the trend of brucellosis, Kazakhstan is a hyperendemic country. Although bacteriological seeding remains the “gold standard” of laboratory diagnostics, the diagnosis of brucellosis confirmed by the results of seeding only in 15-24% of cases. The effectiveness of immunological diagnostic methods reduced due to insufficient specificity. The problem solved by the introduction of a genetic method – PCR. Aim. The main goal of the work was to improve the system of laboratory diagnostics of brucellosis, detection and identification of microorganisms of the genus Brucella. Material and methods. The used reference and vaccine strains of Brucella from the Museum's collection of live cultures of NSCEDI. The main method used was the method of molecular diagnostics – PCR. Results. Three pairs of primers were obtained flanking fragments in 428 (Br1), 329 (Br2) and 179 (Br3) base pairs. Conclusion. The developed system of primers Br1 + Br2 + Br3 based on the nucleotide sequences of the genes BCAN_B0369, BSPT1_II0384 and BruAb1_0072 makes it possible to differentiate strains to the species B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis, and the experimental series of the drug showed high specificity. Keywords: brucellosis, brucella, molecular diagnostics, PCR, primer.

COVID-19 is a severe disease, which mainly affects respiratory system and causes lung failure. The disease spread dramatically over the world, including Kazakhstan. Between March 13 and September 30, 2020, a total of 107,979 laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 were registered in the republic. The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 outbreaks in five localities of Beyneu and Karakiya districts of Mangistau region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Mangistau region for the period from 31 May 2020 till 06 June 2020 to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of several COVID-19 outbreaks, and to assess the effectiveness of implemented intervention. Results. In the Mangistau region, in the oil production area, five outbreaks of COVID-19 were registered: two in the Beyneu region (Beyneu settlement and Borankul village), one in the Karakiyan region (Senek village) and two at the Kalamkas and Zhetibay oil fields, where there were foci with the number of cases from two to 100 cases. Discussion. The main reason for the spread of the disease was overcrowding and cross-contact between oilfield workers, which influenced the registration of outbreaks among workers in field camps. The active movement of workers between camps, the involvement of medical workers with no experience in using PPE to work at checkpoints and local hospitals, as well as the presence of a confirmed case of COVID-19 at funerals where participants did not use respiratory protection also influenced the spread of infection. Conclusions. This article describes the epidemiologic features of the outbreak series in five settlements located in the oil production zone of Mangistau region of Kazakhstan during May - June of 2020. An exponential increase in numbers of COVID-19 patients in Beyneu district appeared to be caused by exposure among the members of in canteens and dormitories for shift workers in oil-producing areas with the additional community- and hospital-transmission. Keywords: COVID-19, outbreaks, Kazakhstan.

In Kazakhstan natural foci of Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fever is located on the territory of Turkestan, Kyzylorda and Zhambyl regions. Whereas preventive measures are taken, this disease is diagnosed annually among people, but there is a group of viruses such as Karshi, Tamdy, the Issyk-Kul fever virus and Syr Darya valley fever which are less known. In this regard the goal was set to identify the prevalence of viruses of Karshi, Tamdy, Issyk-Kul fever and fever of the Syr Darya valley in hemorrhagic fever endemic in the Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fever to determine the main hosts and vectors of infection. Ticks captured in areas natural foci of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. The species composition of captured ticks was represented by 9 species: Hyalomma scupense, Hyalomma asiaticum, Hyalomma turanicum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Haemaphysalis sucata, Haemaphysalis punctata, Dermacentor niveus, Rhipicephalus pumilio, Rhipicephalus schulzei. Preliminary work was carried out on the selection and design of oligonucleotide primers for the identification of viruses by molecular genetic analysis. As a result of the studies, positive samples were found for viruses of Tamdy and Syr Darya valley fever in ticks H. asiaticum, H. scupense from the Turkestan region. The Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus was detected in H. asiaticum and H. scupense ticks from Zhambyl and Turkestan regions.