Analysis of influences of ecosystem factors to the outbreaks of anthrax in Kyrgyzstan
Project Status: 3 Approved without Funding
Duration in months: 24 months
Objective
The project aim. Within the framework of this project it is planned to study of ecosystem factors’ influence (such as climate, soil, forage and anthropogenic ) on the outbreaks of anthrax in animals in Kyrgyzstan.
In Kyrgyzstan, 1223 anthrax soil foci are reported officially. Annually, this infection is registered with different degrees of epidemiological outbreaks in humans and animals. Also, the epidemiological situation depends on such factors as focal density, population and wildlife density. More than 50% of anthrax sites are focused in the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan. Here, anthrax soil foci have high risk in comparison with other regions. It’s noticed that there is a high population density and animals per unit area. Observed irregularities of territorial distribution of anthrax in the country are associated with climatic characteristics and socio-economic factors.
It is known that soil is considered a reservoir for anthrax bacteria and plays a role in the spread of the causative agent. In favorable landscape-climatic, physical and chemical-conditions, the causative agent of anthrax can undergo the whole biological cycle in soil such as spore formation, spore germination, generation of bacteria followed by spore formation. Dessemination of anthrax spores from soil, intograss and water is caused by water and wind erosions, plowing burial sites of anthracic animals, carrying out irrigation and drainage works and natural phenomena - landslides, flood, earthquake, and spring floods. All this determines the epizootic activity of anthrax in the territory.
The implementation of this project will define type, structure and characteristics of soil in the region of natural anthrax cases; ability of long-term storage of agent; probabilities of soil degradations; possible natural phenomena (landslides, ground water, floods) which destroy soil structures; the influence of climatic factors on soil and vegetation in aspects of storage and removal of bacterial spores. Investigation of pasture forage in the area of natural focus will allow the determination of the structure of forages (such as, plant species consist, the penetration depth of the root system), and pasture condition. The role of wild animals as a possible source of spreading infections will be studied and the influence of socio-economic and human factors on the outbreak of anthrax will be determined as well.
