The virgin lands campaign and the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax in the Republic of Kazakhstan (1955–1970)

The campaign for the development of virgin lands in Kazakhstan (1955–1970) was one of the most ambitious programs implemented by the Soviet government, which, arguably, resulted in both positive and negative consequences for the country. The campaign brought, at the same time, development, environme...

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Main Authors: Yersyn Y. Mukhanbetkaliyev, Ablaikhan S. Kadyrov, Maxat A. Berdikulov, Aizada A. Mukhanbetkaliyeva, Alimzhan S. Kadyrov, Assylbek A. Zhanabayev, Fedor I. Korennoy, Andres M. Perez, Sarsenbay K. Abdrakhmanov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1549307/full
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author Yersyn Y. Mukhanbetkaliyev
Ablaikhan S. Kadyrov
Maxat A. Berdikulov
Aizada A. Mukhanbetkaliyeva
Alimzhan S. Kadyrov
Assylbek A. Zhanabayev
Fedor I. Korennoy
Andres M. Perez
Sarsenbay K. Abdrakhmanov
author_facet Yersyn Y. Mukhanbetkaliyev
Ablaikhan S. Kadyrov
Maxat A. Berdikulov
Aizada A. Mukhanbetkaliyeva
Alimzhan S. Kadyrov
Assylbek A. Zhanabayev
Fedor I. Korennoy
Andres M. Perez
Sarsenbay K. Abdrakhmanov
author_sort Yersyn Y. Mukhanbetkaliyev
collection DOAJ
description The campaign for the development of virgin lands in Kazakhstan (1955–1970) was one of the most ambitious programs implemented by the Soviet government, which, arguably, resulted in both positive and negative consequences for the country. The campaign brought, at the same time, development, environmental degradation, and a dramatic cultural change to Kazakhstan. A barely explored aspect of the virgin lands campaign is related to its impact on the epidemiology of animal diseases. This paper describes, for the first time, the changes experienced by Kazakhstan during the implementation of the virgin lands campaign, offering a perspective on how those changes may have affected the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and anthrax. Newly organized livestock premises and processing plants were created, which increased the concentration and intensification of animal production, in the absence of effective disease control plans. The initial increase in FMD prevalence may have been explained by the concentration of susceptible animals in the absence of appropriate control measures, followed by a decrease in disease incidence, probably explained by the enhancement of control measures associated with the formalization of livestock production, including improvements in vaccine quality. In contrast, soil degradation and the increase in the number of livestock, which resulted in a large number of animals buried in inappropriate conditions, may explain the sustained increase in the incidence of anthrax. The results presented here help to document the history of animal diseases in the country and ultimately contribute to the design of holistic strategies to support Kazakhstan’s development.
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spelling doaj-art-cccdc8e64017461d8164ec930f5a82a22025-08-20T02:24:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-06-011210.3389/fvets.2025.15493071549307The virgin lands campaign and the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax in the Republic of Kazakhstan (1955–1970)Yersyn Y. Mukhanbetkaliyev0Ablaikhan S. Kadyrov1Maxat A. Berdikulov2Aizada A. Mukhanbetkaliyeva3Alimzhan S. Kadyrov4Assylbek A. Zhanabayev5Fedor I. Korennoy6Andres M. Perez7Sarsenbay K. Abdrakhmanov8Faculty of Veterinary and Livestock Technology, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Astana, KazakhstanFaculty of Veterinary and Livestock Technology, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Astana, KazakhstanRSE National Veterinary Reference Center, Astana, KazakhstanFaculty of Veterinary and Livestock Technology, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Astana, KazakhstanFaculty of Veterinary and Livestock Technology, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Astana, KazakhstanFaculty of Veterinary and Livestock Technology, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Astana, KazakhstanFederal Centre for Animal Health (FGBI ARRIAH), Vladimir, RussiaCenter for Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United StatesFaculty of Veterinary and Livestock Technology, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Astana, KazakhstanThe campaign for the development of virgin lands in Kazakhstan (1955–1970) was one of the most ambitious programs implemented by the Soviet government, which, arguably, resulted in both positive and negative consequences for the country. The campaign brought, at the same time, development, environmental degradation, and a dramatic cultural change to Kazakhstan. A barely explored aspect of the virgin lands campaign is related to its impact on the epidemiology of animal diseases. This paper describes, for the first time, the changes experienced by Kazakhstan during the implementation of the virgin lands campaign, offering a perspective on how those changes may have affected the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and anthrax. Newly organized livestock premises and processing plants were created, which increased the concentration and intensification of animal production, in the absence of effective disease control plans. The initial increase in FMD prevalence may have been explained by the concentration of susceptible animals in the absence of appropriate control measures, followed by a decrease in disease incidence, probably explained by the enhancement of control measures associated with the formalization of livestock production, including improvements in vaccine quality. In contrast, soil degradation and the increase in the number of livestock, which resulted in a large number of animals buried in inappropriate conditions, may explain the sustained increase in the incidence of anthrax. The results presented here help to document the history of animal diseases in the country and ultimately contribute to the design of holistic strategies to support Kazakhstan’s development.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1549307/fullfoot-and-mouth diseaseanthraxepidemiologyvirgin lands campaignKazakhstan
spellingShingle Yersyn Y. Mukhanbetkaliyev
Ablaikhan S. Kadyrov
Maxat A. Berdikulov
Aizada A. Mukhanbetkaliyeva
Alimzhan S. Kadyrov
Assylbek A. Zhanabayev
Fedor I. Korennoy
Andres M. Perez
Sarsenbay K. Abdrakhmanov
The virgin lands campaign and the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax in the Republic of Kazakhstan (1955–1970)
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
foot-and-mouth disease
anthrax
epidemiology
virgin lands campaign
Kazakhstan
title The virgin lands campaign and the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax in the Republic of Kazakhstan (1955–1970)
title_full The virgin lands campaign and the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax in the Republic of Kazakhstan (1955–1970)
title_fullStr The virgin lands campaign and the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax in the Republic of Kazakhstan (1955–1970)
title_full_unstemmed The virgin lands campaign and the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax in the Republic of Kazakhstan (1955–1970)
title_short The virgin lands campaign and the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax in the Republic of Kazakhstan (1955–1970)
title_sort virgin lands campaign and the occurrence of foot and mouth disease and anthrax in the republic of kazakhstan 1955 1970
topic foot-and-mouth disease
anthrax
epidemiology
virgin lands campaign
Kazakhstan
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1549307/full
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