Zoonoses in Central Asia: A review

Abstract Background : Zoonoses are infectious diseases that are naturally transmitted from animals to humans, often causing a significant burden to animal and human health. Central Asia is experiencing increased challenges from zoonoses, where they have become one of the leading drivers of poverty, yet the region lacks a systematic review of zoonotic diseases. Methods : We conducted a systematic review to synthesise scientific publications and grey literature concerning the occurrence, diagnosis, and control of zoonoses in Central Asia, with particular focus on identifying historical and ongoing monitoring programs to pinpoint any gaps in data collection/surveillance and to better understand current and future risks for the region. Results : We identified 125,150 potentially relevant records from searches of Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ProMED-Mail between 1950 and 2023, with 676 retained for full-text review after initial examination. We found 368 records from Kazakhstan (236 from WoS, Scopus, and GS; 132 from ProMED-mail), but far fewer for Kyrgyzstan (n = 118), Uzbekistan (63), Tajikistan (35), and Turkmenistan (8). We identified 147 zoonotic agents that had been reported from 196 species of wild animal (including invertebrate vectors), from several species of livestock (including poultry), from companion animals, and from human beings. Although many of these pathogens have low virulence, we identified several that are seriously pathogenic, have killed people, caused economic damage, and remain problematic, including those that cause: anthrax, brucellosis, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, echinococcosis, influenza A, plague, rabies, rickettsial disease, and leishmaniasis. We detail the host species, vectors, key research topics, and routine surveillance programs conducted on these significant pathogens across Central Asia. Conclusion : Our study outlines the need for a “One Health” surveillance approach across the region to elucidate the contribution of various species, land-use practices, and food supply chain processes to zoonotic risk, while also promoting cross-border data sharing and improving local knowledge of disease risks from wild and domestic animals and their mitigation. Collectively, these changes can reduce spillover risks and enable faster recognition and containment of disease outbreaks, which can ultimately have immense economic and public health benefits across the region. One Health impact statement This is the first systematic collation of zoonotic disease research across Central Asia. We carried out a review of the scientific and grey literature across available databases for the period 1950–2023 inclusive. We provide a database detailing the current situation regarding zoonoses in Central Asia, identifying what is known about the animal reservoirs and vectors of each pathogen and the transmission processes between wild and domestic animals and humans. We also detail the past and currently active surveillance programs for several highly pathogenic zoonoses across the region. We highlight some areas that require improvement, including cross-border communication and the monitoring of wildlife populations. Our findings are a step forward in developing a holistic understanding of zoonoses in Central Asia and offer a meaningful contribution for assessing epidemic and pandemic emergence risks across the region, thus allowing future research and monitoring efforts to be prioritised.