On March 20, 2026, the Central Asian Veterinary Forum “PRO PLAN PARTNERS” was held at the “RIXOS” Hotel in Almaty. The event brought together veterinary medicine practitioners from Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries specializing in the treatment of small companion animals.
The Forum’s extensive scientific program covered key areas of veterinary medicine. For the first time, a new section was introduced: “Veterinarian of the Megacity: from Clinical Practice to Urban Biorisk Management.” The section was moderated by the “EKVI LAB” Laboratory. The session focused on the detection and prevention of zoonotic diseases in companion animals and on antimicrobial resistance in veterinary practice. Staff members of the Research Center for Biocenology and Game Management of the RSE on REM “Institute of Zoology,” Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, took part in the session:
- Anna Mikhailovna Khamchukova, Researcher, Master of Agricultural Sciences, with the presentation “One Health – A Solidary Response to Global Challenges”;
- Konstantin Nikolaevich Plakhov, Head of the Research Center for Biocenology and Game Management, with the presentation “Features of the Epizootic Situation in Almaty: Main Threats, Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation”;
- Alexander Sergeevich Linnik, Senior Researcher – as a participant.
The presentations delivered by the staff of the Research Center for Biocenology and Game Management were prepared within the framework of the regional project of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), “One Health in Nature Conservation – Enhancing Landscape Resilience to Zoonotic Emergence through Consolidation of Nature Conservation Systems in Central Asia.” The project предусматривает a series of activities aimed at developing approaches to minimize risks associated with zoonotic diseases.
Currently, zoonoses represent a serious epizootic and epidemic problem in our country. More than 60 infectious animal diseases are registered in Kazakhstan, of which 18 are zoonotic. The epizootic situation in many regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other countries remains tense for a number of diseases, particularly natural focal infections (rabies), chronic and acute infectious diseases, and zoonoses (tuberculosis, brucellosis, leukemia, influenza). There is also a constant threat of introduction into the country of especially dangerous infectious animal diseases that are widespread abroad (African swine fever).
Human infection occurs through contact with sick animals (or carcasses), environmental objects, household items, products contaminated by rodents, as well as through bites from animals and blood-sucking insects. The sources of these infections for humans include wild animals, companion animals (cats, dogs), livestock (pigs, cattle, horses), fur-bearing animals (foxes, nutria), rodents (rats, mice), and others. In this regard, veterinarians are on the front line in combating these diseases, and their professional competence determines the health not only of our pets but also of residents of megacities and other settlements. The presentations by the Institute’s staff were aimed at enhancing this knowledge.
Text and photos: K.N. Plakhov
26.03.2026