Perfilyeva et a.
Tick-borne pathogens and their vectors in Kazakhstan –a review
Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2020, in press, doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101498
So far, little data has been published in English about tick-borne diseases in Kazakhstan, a large country with a high diversity of climatic zones and different landscapes. In this recent publication, some tick-borne diseases like Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Lyme disease, tularemia and rickettsioses occurring in Kazakhstan are being discussed. The focus is laid on TBE in Kazakhstan, where the Siberian subtype can be found.
In the 10-year period from 2009 -2018, a total of 375 TBE cases have been registered in Kazakhstan with an average incidence of 0.22 per 100,000 inhabitants. The Ministry of Healthcare classifies Almaty and East-Kazakhstan oblasts, as well as Sandyktau district of Akmola oblast, as endemic for TBE; however, recent epidemiological analyses demonstrated that more northern and central regions of Kazakhstan may also be affected.
In the western region of Kazakhstan, no cases of TBE have been reported, although they are regularly reported from the neighboring Astrakhan and Orenburg regions of Russia. In the southern region of Kazakhstan (including Kyzylorda, Turkistan, Zhambyl and Almaty oblasts), TBE has regularly been reported (on an average 17 cases annually), especially in the mountains of the Almaty region. The principal vectors are Ixodes persulcatus, Dermacentor reticulatus, D. marginatus and Haemophysalis punctata. TBE virus has also been detected in Hyalomma asiaticum collected in the desert habitat of Turkistan oblast.
East-Kazakhstan oblast with its large forest territories is endemic for TBE virus, especially in the Katon-Karagasi district and around Ridder city. Here, the main vector is I. persulcatus, where up to 3% of the ticks have been found infected with the Siberian subtype of the virus.
In northern Kazakhstan, TBE virus could be detected in 9% pools of flagged ticks in Akmola, Kostanai and North-Kazakhstan oblasts. Here, the main vectors are D. marginatus, D. reticulatus and I. persulcatus.
Figures in the article show the geographic distribution of TBE virus and various tick species in detail.