Menu
STOCK-RAISING AND VETERINARY

MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Ablay Sanyzbay 1 , Saltanat Nusupova 1 , Uin'kul Izbanova 2 , Nur Tukhanova 3 , Zaure Sayakova 4 , Serik Khizat 1

1 NJSC "Kazakh National Agrarian Research University"; 2 LLP «M. Aikimbaev’s National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections»; 3 LLP «M. Aikimbayev National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections»; 4 LLP «Kazakh Research Institute of Veterinary Science»

doi.org/10.37884/4-2025/04 pp. 30-39 Admitted 05.08.2025 Published 30.12.2025

Abstract

The spread of vector-borne infections is largely associated with the activity of blood-sucking ectoparasites capable of efficiently transmitting pathogens between animals and humans.Under conditions of climate change and ecosystem transformation, monitoring tick-borne pathogens and their distribution becomes increasingly relevant. Kazakhstan, with its vast territory and diverse climatic zones, provides a favorable environment for the circulation of various vector-borne diseases. However, molecular characterization of tick fauna in the country remains limited.

In this study, ticks were collected from seven regions of Kazakhstan, resulting in the analysis of over 300 specimens sampled from livestock and natural habitats. Species identification was performed using PCR amplification and sequencing of mitochondrial markers (COI and 16S rDNA). In addition, molecular screening was conducted to detect DNA of tick-borne pathogens, including Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Babesia spp.

The results revealed a high species diversity of ticks and associated pathogens, including potentially novel variants not previously recorded in Kazakhstan. This study highlights the importance of expanding molecular surveillance of vector-borne infections and represents a significant contribution to veterinary and epidemiological safety in the region.

ticks vector-borne infections molecular identification PCR diagnostics zoonoses sequencing

01 Introduction

The full text of the article is available for download in PDF format on the right panel.

02 References

  1. 1 Zeng W. et al. (2025). Molecular survey of Babesia, Theileria, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in hard ticks from six oblasts of Kazakhstan. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12:1533589. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1533589.
  2. 2 Bissenbay A. O. et al. (2020). Genotypes of Lyme disease spirochetes in ticks collected in the Almaty region. Journal of Microbiology, Epidemiology, and Immunobiology, 97(6):535-545. https://doi.org/10.36233/0372-9311 2020 97 6 4 microbiol.crie.ru.
  3. 3 Perfilyeva Y.V., Berdygulova Zh.A., Mashzhan A.S., Zhigailov A.V. et al. (2023). Molecular and seroepidemiological investigation of Сoxiella burnetii and spotted fever group rickettsiae in the southern region of Kazakhstan. Journal of Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 14(6):102240. https://doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102240.
  4. 4 T.Nurmakhanov, V. Sadovskaya et al. (2024). Outcome of the entomological monitoring for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the western and southern regions of Kazakhstan in 2021–2022. Front. Epidemiol., 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fepid.2024.1310071.
  5. 5 Nava, S., Guglielmone, A. A., & Mangold, A. J. (2009). An overview of systematics and evolution of ticks. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition), 14(8), 2857–2877. https://doi.org/10.2741/3418.
  6. 6 Spernovasilis, N., Markaki, I., Papadakis, M., Mazonakis, N., & Ierodiakonou, D. (2021). Mediterranean Spotted Fever: Current Knowledge and Recent Advances. Tropical medicine and infectious disease, 6(4), 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed6040172.
  7. 7 M.Kuibagarov, R.Makhamed, S.Abdrakhmanov et al. Theileria and Babesia infection in cattle - First molecular survey in Kazakhstan (2020). Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 14(Suppl 1):102078. DOI:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102078.
  8. 8 A.Andryushchenko, T.Ayazbayev, A.Richards, S.Pisarcik (2014). Tick identification in Northwestern Kazakhstan using morphological and molecular characteristics. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 21S, 1-4602024. DOI:10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.1231.
  9. 9 K.Abdiyeva, N.Turebekov, R.Yegemberdiyeva (2020). Vectors, molecular epidemiology and phylogeny of TBEV in Kazakhstan and central Asia. Parasites & Vectors, 504. DOI:10.1186/s13071-020-04362-1.
  10. 10 Wikipedia-derived summary: Genotypes of Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus circulating in Kazakhstan (genotype Asia 2). Not peer-reviewed, but widely referenced for geographic distribution data.
  11. 11 Апанаскевич Д.А., Филиппова Н.А. (2007). К идентификации видов и подвидов рода Hyalomma (Acari: Ixodidae) фауны России и сопредельных территорий по личиночной фазе // Паразитология. - Т. 41. - № 4. - С. 268-283.
  12. 12 Toma, L., Mancini, F., Di Luca, M., Cecere, J. G., Bianchi, R., Khoury, C., Quarchioni, E., Manzia, F., Rezza, G., & Ciervo, A. (2014). Detection of microbial agents in ticks collected from migratory birds in central Italy. Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.), 14(3), 199–205. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2013.1458
  13. 13 Саякова З.З. (2024). Hyalomma Koch, 1844 туысының иксодты кенелерінің атласы. – Алматы. – 124 с.
  14. 14 Schnittger, L, Ganzinelli, S, Bhoora, R, Omondi, D, Nijhof, AM, and Florin-Christensen, M. (2022). The Piroplasmida Babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Theileria in farm and companion animals: species compilation, molecular phylogeny, and evolutionary insights. Parasitol Res., 121:1207-45. doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07424-8.
  15. 15 Саякова З.З., Есжанов А.Б., Асылбек А.М., Садовская В.П., Мека-Меченко В.Г., Избанова У.А., Куница Т.Н., Турмағамбетова С.У., Матжанова А.М., Боранбаева А.М., Катуова Ж., Калмакова М.А., Абдрахманов Е.Д., Медетбаева Т.Б. (2020). К фауне и распространению иксодовых (Acari, Ixodidae) клещей юго-западной части Казахстана // Карантинные и зоонозные инфекции в Казахстане. – Алматы. – Вып.2 (41). – С. 97-112.
  16. 16 El Ghassem, A., Abdoullah, B., Deida, J., Ould Lemrabott, M. A., Ouldabdallahi Moukah, M., Ould Ahmedou Salem, M. S., Briolant, S., Basco, L. K., Ould Brahim, K., & Ould Mohamed Salem Boukhary, A. (2023). Arthropod-Borne Viruses in Mauritania: A Literature Review. Pathogens, 12(11), 1370. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12111370
  17. 17 Kim H. K. (2022). Rickettsia-Host-Tick Interactions: Knowledge Advances and Gaps. Infection and immunity, 90(9), e0062121. https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.00621-21
  18. 18 Kuibagarov, M, Makhamed, R, Zhylkibayev, A, Berdikulov, M, Abdrakhmanov, S, Kozhabayev, M, et al. Theileria and Babesia infection in cattle–first molecular survey in Kazakhstan. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (2023) 14:102078. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102078.
  19. 19 Bursali, A., Keskin, A., & Tekin S. (2012). A review of the ticks (Acari: Ixodida) of Turkey: species diversity, hosts and geographical distribution. Exp Appl Acarol. 2012 May;57(1):91-104. https://doi/10.1007/s10493-012-9530-4
  20. 20 Сансызбай А.Р., Саякова З.З., Нусупова С.Т., Избанова У.А., Жуманов К.Т., Туханова Н.Б. (2025). О расширении ареала Hyalomma asiaticum Schulze and Schlottke, 1930 (Acari, Ixodidae) в Казахстане // Ғылым және білім. - № 2-1 (79). – С. 14-24. https://doi.org/10.52578/2305-9397-2025-2-1-14-24.
  21. 21 Dong Z., He B., Wang Z., et al. Human Tacheng Tick Virus 2 Infection, China, 2019 //Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2021. - 27(2): 486–490. DOI: 10.3201/eid2702.191486.
  22. 22 Jia Y., Zhao L., Xu S., et al. Clinical and historical infection of Tacheng tick virus 2: a retrospective investigation //PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2024. - 18(3): e0012457. PMC11175498.
  23. 23 Akyildiz G., Dincer E., et al. Several tick-borne pathogenic viruses in circulation in Anatolia, Turkey //Pathogens. 2023. - 12(2): 188. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020188.

Citation Links

[1]2025. MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN. Izdenister natigeler. 4 (108) (Dec. 2025), 30–39. DOI:https://doi.org/10.37884/4-2025/04.
(1)MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN. Izdenister natigeler 2025, No. 4 (108), 30-39. https://doi.org/10.37884/4-2025/04.
MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN. (2025). Izdenister Natigeler, 4 (108), 30-39. https://doi.org/10.37884/4-2025/04
MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN. Izdenister natigeler, [S. l.], n. 4 (108), p. 30–39, 2025. DOI: 10.37884/4-2025/04. Disponível em: https://agrosoil.kaznaru.edu.kz/index.php/research/article/view/1096. Acesso em: 15 sep. 2026.
“MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN”. 2025. Izdenister Natigeler, no. 4 (108) (December): 30-39. https://doi.org/10.37884/4-2025/04.
“MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN” (2025) Izdenister natigeler, (4 (108), pp. 30–39. doi:10.37884/4-2025/04.
[1]“MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN”, Izdenister natigeler, no. 4 (108), pp. 30–39, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.37884/4-2025/04.
“MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN”. Izdenister Natigeler, no. 4 (108), Dec. 2025, pp. 30-39, https://doi.org/10.37884/4-2025/04.
“MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN”. Izdenister natigeler, no. 4 (108) (December 30, 2025): 30–39. Accessed September 15, 2026. https://agrosoil.kaznaru.edu.kz/index.php/research/article/view/1096.
1.MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN. Izdenister natigeler [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 30 [cited 2026 Sep. 15];(4 (108):30-9. Available from: https://agrosoil.kaznaru.edu.kz/index.php/research/article/view/1096
1.MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF IXODID TICKS AND MONITORING OF TRANSMISSIBLE PATHOGENS IN KAZAKHSTAN. Izdenister natigeler. 2025;(4 (108):30-39. doi:10.37884/4-2025/04