Kazakh Scientific Research Veterinary Institute

This study investigates the microstructural transition and densification behavior of xanthan gum–modified soil using quantitative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Soil specimens were prepared with 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% xanthan gum content. SEM images were processed using image analysis techniques to determine the solid area fraction and characteristic particle size parameters. A densification index was introduced to quantify the ratio between solid and pore phases within the observed microstructure. The results reveal a non-monotonic structural evolution with increasing polymer content. The solid area fraction reached its maximum at 3%, indicating the compact particle arrangement. At 6%, a pronounced decrease in densification was observed, suggesting disruption of particle packing due to non-uniform polymer distribution. At 9%, partial recovery of structural continuity occurred, accompanied by evidence of polymer agglomeration and spatial heterogeneity. Based on quantitative metrics and microstructural observations, three structural stages were identified: discrete particle stage, bridged stage, and matrix-dominated stage. The findings demonstrate that xanthan gum dosage significantly influences soil microstructure in a nonlinear manner. This SEM-based approach provides a systematic framework for identifying microstructural transitions in biopolymer-modified soils.

Brucellosis continues to pose a substantial zoonotic risk in Kazakhstan; however, evidence describing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of cattle farmers and veterinary personnel remains limited. A cross-sectional study was undertaken between May and October 2024 across twelve administrative locations nationwide. Structured questionnaires were administered to 506 cattle farmers and 33 veterinary professionals, and the data were evaluated using descriptive analyses and univariable logistic regression. Awareness of brucellosis in cattle was relatively high among farmers, yet understanding of its implications for human health was markedly lower. In contrast, animal health workers demonstrated consistently higher levels of knowledge (OR: 12.6; 95% CI: 9.88-16.34; p < 0.001). Several practices associated with zoonotic transmission were commonly reported by farmers, including handling aborted materials without protective gloves, consumption of unpasteurised milk, and leaving reproductive tissues in grazing areas. Nevertheless, most farmers expressed readiness to adopt preventive measures, particularly cattle vaccination and the use of basic protective practices. These findings reveal important gaps between awareness and behavior that may contribute to continued transmission of brucellosis. Strengthening farmer education through locally tailored, One Health-based interventions offers a practical pathway to improving brucellosis control and enhancing cattle productivity in Kazakhstan.

The objective was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the variability of the DRB1 locus OLA, to establish the level of polymorphism in the populations and breeds of sheep studied bred in different environmental conditions. Material and methods included an assessment of the genetic differentiation of breeds from Russia (Dagestan Mountain, Dorper, Romanov, Suffolk) and one from the Republic of Kazakhstan (Akzhaik). The Romanov sheep populations were from farms in the Yaroslavl region and the Edilbaevskaya x Kalmyk crossbreeds were from Kalmykia (Russia). The decoding of the nucleotide sequence of DNA was carried out in 246 animals. Sequencing was carried out according to Sanger, followed by the use of bioinformatics analysis procedures. Statistical data processing was carried out using Microsoft Excel 2023, GenAlEx programs. The results showed that the between‐population variation (Frt = 0.008, p = 0.005) explained only 0.76 % of the variance, while the differences between the groups (Fsr = 0.044, p = 0.001) were 4.28 %. The negative Fis value (‐0.030, p = 0.997) indicated an excess of heterozygotes. The gene flow assessment (Nm = 4.58) confirmed a moderate level of migration. All the studied populations retained an excess of alleles with high levels of heterozygosity. A statistically significant level of population differentiation was noted (Fst = 5.2 %, p &lt; 0.001). The DRB1 OLA gene allele pool showed a typical structure with a predominance of individual variability in the sheep populations studied (95 %). Each breed contained alleles not found in others. Populations 3 and 9 were an exception owing to their small sample size (n ≤ 10), which limited the possibility of accurate statistical analysis and reliable identification of unique alleles.

Diseases caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana, expressed as leaf spot blotch (SB) and common root rot (CRR), continue to limit spring wheat production, particularly in dry regions where yield losses may reach 35-40%. This study evaluated resistance to SB and CRR in fifty spring wheat genotypes at both seedling and adult plant stages and identified genetic sources of resistance using molecular markers linked to the Sb1 and Sb2 genes. Field trials were conducted in 2023 and 2024 in the Aktobe region under natural infection, artificial inoculation, and a fungicide-treated background. Based on leaf spot blotch severity quantified as the area under the disease progress curve (leaf AUDPC) under natural infection, nine genotypes displayed stable resistance across both years, while fungicide-treated plots revealed twenty-three resistant genotypes in 2023 and eighteen in 2024. Artificial inoculation identified five resistant lines in 2023 and one in 2024. Resistance to common root rot (CRR) was assessed independently based on subcrown internode (SCI) browning at the adult plant stage. Seedling assays confirmed consistent resistance in six genotypes, all of which carried Sb1, Sb2, or their combination. In total, Sb genes were detected in thirty-six of the fifty accessions, including genotypes from Kazakhstan, Russia, and several other countries. The presence of Sb1 or Sb2 was associated with reduced disease severity, particularly at the seedling stage. These findings identify valuable germplasm for breeding wheat with improved resistance to B. sorokiniana in Kazakhstan.

IntroductionInfectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), caused by bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1), remains endemic in Kazakhstan. Despite the absence of vaccination, comprehensive multi-year data on the virus circulation have been limited.MethodsA three-year surveillance between 2023 and 2025 was conducted in unvaccinated cattle from all 17 administrative regions a total of 8,590 serum samples and 4,795 nasal swabs. Serological monitoring was performed using two validated ELISA systems (IDEXX IBR gE Ab Test and ID Screen® IBR Indirect ELISA). Molecular detection employed real-time PCR on nasal swabs, and virus-isolation attempts were carried out on Vero cell monolayers. National reference serum panels were developed and externally validated at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (Germany).ResultsSerological testing revealed consistently high antibody prevalence—69.13% (2023), 80.64% (2024), and 82.79% (2025)—with marked regional variation. PCR positivity was 11.2% (280/2,500) in 2024 but only 0.43% (10/2,295) in 2025, indicating subclinical circulation and intermittent viral shedding. All virus-isolation attempts were negative, consistent with low viral loads and latent infection. The validated serum panels achieved > 95% concordance with international reference sera and were successfully implemented for national QA/QC.ConclusionThese findings confirm persistent BoHV-1 endemicity in Kazakhstan and highlight the diagnostic and epidemiological framework necessary for harmonized surveillance, DIVA-compatible vaccination (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals), and progressive alignment with WOAH eradication programs.

Income inequality in Kazakhstan, together with spontaneous migration from less developed areas to cities, has created uneven regional development. Some regions are growing steadily, while others are gradually declining. To ensure sustainable development in all territories and improve quality of life regardless of where people live, it is essential to attract investment and use it effectively. Drawing on official data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, this study analyses the dynamics of two key indicators across macroregions for 2005 to 2023: investment in fixed capital and gross regional product, GRP. The study is based on the hypothesis that, given the correlation between GRP and investment in fixed capital, it is possible to construct economic and mathematical models that improve investment management by maximizing the multiplier effect in Kazakhstan’s economy. The results show that the strongest correlation between GRP and investment in fixed capital is observed in the Eastern and Northern macroregions. The accelerator coefficients indicate that growth in GRP and GDP in all macroregions, as well as in Kazakhstan as a whole, stimulates increased investment in fixed capital. However, the rates of investment growth differ across regions, as demonstrated by the analysis of the accelerator function. Growth in GRP enhances a territory’s capacity to attract additional investment, thereby stimulating higher investment activity among economic agents. This increased investment, in turn, drives structural transformation in the national economy and amplifies each region’s contribution to the country’s overall GDP. The multiplicative models developed in this study provide a robust basis for forecasting future investment in fixed capital and GRP.

Extreme continental climates in Kazakhstan impose large diurnal and seasonal thermal gradients in pavements, accelerating temperature-related distress. This study develops and validates a two-dimensional finite element model for predicting non-stationary temperature fields in multilayer pavement–subgrade systems from geographic location and climatic inputs. The transient heat-conduction problem with a surface thermal-balance boundary condition was implemented in MATLAB (PDE Toolbox). Validation used hourly temperatures from embedded sensors on the Kyzylorda-Shymkent (at km 2057) and Oskemen-Zyryanovsk (at km 0+075) highways during 1-31 July 2014. Predictions reproduced the attenuation of temperature amplitude with depth and closely matched measurements: coefficients of variation were &lt;0.25 and correlations approached 1.0 at 2.1 m. Root mean square errors ranged from 0.44-7.49 °C and 0.26-5.65 °C for the two sites. The approach supports climate-resilient pavement design using readily available air-temperature data.

IntroductionXinjiang is a region renowned for its rich diversity of native horse breeds, making it one of the most affluent equine genetic resource areas in China. While prized for their high adaptability and tolerance to roughage, the conservation of these native breeds faces challenges from the introduction of external breeds and industrial changes. Furthermore, the unknown population structure of Xinjiang horse breeds has hindered effective conservation efforts.MethodsThis study presents the first comprehensive Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) analysis of seven Xinjiang native horse breeds. We utilized 10X whole-genome sequencing to assess their genetic diversity, population structure, and genetic relationships.ResultsOur findings revealed a high level of population genetic diversity among the Xinjiang native horse breeds. These breeds exhibited significant genetic differentiation from other horse breeds originating from Europe, Central Asia, Western Asia, and other parts of China. Evidence of frequent historical gene flow was detected, particularly among breeds in northern Xinjiang, which were shown to be more closely related to each other.Discussion This study elucidates the distribution patterns, evolutionary characteristics, and substantial genetic diversity of Xinjiang’s native horse breeds. The results provide crucial insights into their unique genetic background and population history. These findings offer valuable theoretical support for establishing core conservation groups of local germplasm, guiding future breeding programs for new cultivars, and further exploration of the characteristics inherent to Xinjiang’s native horse genetic resources.

The energy functions of the components were determined based on additional studies intended to determine the values of total pressure and vapor composition over liquid solutions of the selenium-tellurium system: entropy, enthalpy, Gibbs energy, and heat capacity change in the existence field of alloys in the state diagram. The liquid-vapor phase transition was calculated to determine the upper boundary of existence of melts - their boiling point. The boiling point of selenium-tellurium liquid solutions corresponds to the dependence: t_{boiling} [^circ C] = 478x_{Se}^{3} - 764x_{Se}^{2} - 31x_{Se} + 989, where {x}_{Se} – atomic fraction of selenium in the alloy. The formation of azeotropic mixtures was found when the pressure was lowered less than 67.08 kPa (0.66 atm.) in the system and its absence of at atmospheric pressure. The line connecting the points of azeotropic mixtures corresponds to a linear relationship: t_{azeotropes} [^circ C] = - 2285.7x_{Se} + 945.42. The energy characteristics of the molten system can be used for thermal engineering and technological calculations when the selenium- and tellurium-based products are obtained. The shape of the boundaries of the melt and vapor coexistence fields at atmospheric pressure and in vacuum, as well as the presence of azeotropic mixtures, indicate the impossibility of direct distillation separation of the system into elements.

Ixodid ticks are vectors of pathogens that cause dangerous infectious and parasitic diseases in animals, leading to reduced productivity and, in some cases, mass mortality. In Kazakhstan, information on tick fauna and their epizootological role in the transmission of hemoparasites is limited. This study aimed to determine the species composition of ixodid ticks parasitizing cattle in the Almaty, Zhambyl, and Turkistan oblasts, and to assess their potential role in the transmission of Theileria and Anaplasma spp. A total of 3121 ixodid ticks were collected from cattle, belonging to the genera Hyalomma (86.9%; 2711/3121), Rhipicephalus (8.5%; 266/3121), Dermacentor (3.2%; 101/3121), and Haemaphysalis (1.4%; 43/3121). Morphological identification revealed that ticks of the genus Hyalomma, including Hyalomma scupense (31.7%), Hyalomma asiaticum (27.9%), and Hyalomma anatolicum (19.6%), were the predominant species. Rhipicephalus annulatus was recorded for the first time in the Almaty and Zhambyl oblasts. Partial sequencing of the cox1 gene confirmed the species identification obtained by morphological examination. A total of 113 representative ticks were subjected to DNA extraction for the identification of Theileria and Anaplasma species using conventional PCR with primers targeting the 28SrRNA and GroEL genes, respectively. No Anaplasma spp. were detected in the analyzed tick samples. Theileria annulata DNA was identified in seven nymphs of Hy. scupense (6.1%) collected in the Zhambyl oblast, and for the first time in Kazakhstan, in one female Rhipicephalus annulatus (0.9%) collected in the Almaty oblast. The overall infection prevalence of Theileria annulata was 7.0% (8/113).