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Results and Benefits of Integrating Geospatial Technologies Disease Control In Kazakhstan

Disease surveillance remains a priority and a financial challenge for many countries. In large countries, like Kazakhstan, understanding the spatial distribution of diseases is paramount to properly deploying resources for control. Toward this, geospatial tools, including GIS and spatial statistics have been a growing part of training at the Kazakh Scientific Center of Quarantine and Zoonotic Diseases (KSCQZD) since 2004. Partially funded and conducted within the framework of the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Biological Threat Reduction Program in Kazakhstan, epidemiological investigations of several especially dangerous pathogens have been greatly improved (e.g. plague, anthrax, tularemia, brucellosis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, epidemic hemorrhagic fever). As one example, GIS data were combined with Variable Number Tandem Repeat subtyping (VNTRs) to create a national geo-genetic database for Bacillus anthracis provide baseline data for molecular epidemiological traceback. This was coupled with a 70 year cadastre of outbreaks to study the spatio-temporal patterns and ecology of anthrax (as reflected in five published papers to date). Most recently, we have improved the KSCQZD GIS-laboratory capabilities, expanded training, and incorporated nationwide plague data into our geospatial data management. Training of plague control system and sanitary epidemiological supervision service personnel is accomplished through workshops and on-the-job training; annually numbers of trainees at KSCQZD have increased from 16 in 2010 to 28 in 2011. Using historical and surveillance data, ecological niche modeling, and GIS, we have developed maps that more precisely delineate plague, tularemia, CCHF foci and key vector geographic ranges. Here we provide an overview of GIS technology in Kazakhstan to enhance the efficiency of epidemiological surveillance and control for highly infectious diseases in Kazakhstan. To illustrate our advances, we used plague as the model disease.

Understanding the spatial distribution of diseases is critical for efficiently allocating resources in response to disease incidents. In Kazakhstan, this is particularly true for plague, since the country has the most active natural plague foci in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Plague-enzootic territory within the country includes natural steppe, desert, semi-desert, and mountain type foci and occupies the majority of its southern region, i.e. approximately 40% of the total national territory (about 130 mln hectares).  For decades, Anti-plague stations in plague-enzootic areas have conducted research and prevention activities in especially dangerous infections foci. As the result of the long-term plague foci surveillance and research a large body of data has been accumulated and, more recently, the data analyzed using GIS-technology. We have developed e-databases for all 20 natural plague foci which incorporate data from 1970 until present – on plague microbe cultures isolation, investigation locations, and quantity and dissemination of key plague hosts and vectors. The interactive epizootic database populated with natural plague foci surveillance data is updated on a regular basis. Here we illustrate the use of GIS-based approaches to examine microbe isolation frequency (territorial statistical human infection risk analysis), identify the range of plague hosts and vectors, as well as map the expansion of the overall plague-enzootic territory.

ABSTRACT

The research uses archival data on plague microbe isolation on the territory of Kazakhstan accumulated during the last 40 years. The data was inserted into electronic databases based on which activity maps for all 20 plague foci in Kazakhstan since 1970 have been created.

MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS RESULTS

Dynamics of rodents capture in various plague fociduring the last 10 years

CONCLUSION

Currently GIS-technology is a technique widely applied within the anti-plague system of the Republic of Kazakhstan. KSCQZD and anti-plague stations’ specialists analyze acquired data and develop corresponding GIS maps. The data is used to execute field operations plans for anti-plague teams as well as to identify priority epidemiological surveillance activities in natural plague foci.

CONTACT INFORMATION

M.Aikimbayev Kazakh Scientific Center for Quarantine and Zoonotic Diseases (KSCQZD)Almaty, Kazakhstan V.P. Sadovskaya Office phone: +7 (727) 234 04 39,Cell phone: +7 701 459 3235E-mail: vsadovskaya@kscqzd.kz

V.P. Sadovskaya1, P. Deryabin, K. Kubeyev1, M.E. Van Ert2, J.K. Blackburn2, 3

1Aikimbayev Kazakh Scientific Center of Quarantine and Zoonotic Diseases (KSCQZD), Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan. 2Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA. 3Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Lab, Department of Geography, University of Florida, USA.

Maps demonstrating plague microbe frequency within the enzootic territory have been developed.

Xenopsylla skrjabini flea area expansion based on data from anti-plague stations

Rattus norvegicus area expansion

Plague investigation locations during the last 10 years: locations of plague microbe and plague microbe Fraction I antibodies identification.

BACKGROUND

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThis Cooperative Biological Research project was funded by the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) as part of the Biological Threat Reduction Agency Program in Kazakhstan. The findings and opinions expressed herein belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Department of Defense.

GIS-technology has been used to investigate data on quantity dynamics of plague hosts on the territory of Kazakhstan. The results of the analyses are presented in electronic maps. Expansion of key plague hosts’ and vectors’ areas has been identified.