ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Vet. Sci.

Sec. Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics

Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1623187

This article is part of the Research TopicEpidemiology, prevention, and control of animal diseases in the “stan” countries of Central AsiaView all 6 articles

Phylogenetic Analysis of a 2024 Sheeppox Virus Isolate from the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan and Investigation of Its Pathogenicity in Merino Sheep

Provisionally accepted
Moldir AzanbekovaMoldir Azanbekova1Muratbay MambetaliyevMuratbay Mambetaliyev1Aisulu ValiyevaAisulu Valiyeva1Nurlan KozhabergenovNurlan Kozhabergenov1Nurbek AldayarovNurbek Aldayarov2Sanat KilibayevSanat Kilibayev1Bekbolat UsserbayevBekbolat Usserbayev1Moldir TuyskanovaMoldir Tuyskanova1Balziya KadyrovaBalziya Kadyrova1Balzhan MyrzakhmetovaBalzhan Myrzakhmetova1Lespek KutumbetovLespek Kutumbetov1Olga ChervyakovaOlga Chervyakova1Sergazy NurabayevSergazy Nurabayev1Maxat BerdikulovMaxat Berdikulov3Aslan KerimbayevAslan Kerimbayev1Aralbek RsaliyevAralbek Rsaliyev4Yergali AbduraimovYergali Abduraimov4Kuandyk ZhugunissovKuandyk Zhugunissov1*
  • 1Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan
  • 2Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  • 3National Reference center for Veterinary, Astana, Kazakhstan
  • 4QazBioPharm National Holding JSC, Astana, Kazakhstan

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Introduction: Sheep pox virus (SPPV) is a significant pathogen that affectsing small ruminants, and causesing substantial economic losses. It is essential to perform dDetailed molecular and pathogenic characterization of field isolates is essential for to control the disease control and develop prevention strategies.The SPPV isolate "Sheeppox/KZ/Targap/2024" was obtained in 2024 from a diseased lamb during an outbreak in Targap village, in the Almaty region, of Kazakhstan. The isolate was passaged three times in lamb kidney -cell culture, and the 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) assay indicated achieving a titer of 105.33⁵.³³ TCID₅₀/mL. Identification was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) PCR and whole-genome sequencing, and the complete genome was submitted to GenBank (accession number PV434148). Experimental infection studies were conducted in with Mmerino sheep.The virus activity was 4.75 ± 0.02 log ID₅₀/mL. The vVirus neutralization test showed 100% seroconversion by day 9 post-infection, and maximum antibody titers (1:32) by day 21. ELISA confirmed that there was a strong immune response (>90% seropositivity). PCR detected vViral DNA was detected by PCR from day 5 post-infection in most tissues. Necropsy revealed typical pathological sheep pox pathological lesions in the lungs, spleen, lymph nodes, and skin. Histopathological analysis demonstrated acute-stage features, including massive cellular infiltration, vasculitis, edema, and pox lesions.The findings confirm previously known characteristics of SPPV and provide new insights into the molecular and pathogenic properties of the "Sheeppox/KZ/Targap/2024" isolate.

Keywords: sheeppox, sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, virus, pathogenicity, pathological examination, histopathological changes Sheeppox, Sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, virus, pathogenicity, Pathological examination, histopathological changes

Received: 05 May 2025; Accepted: 04 Jul 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Azanbekova, Mambetaliyev, Valiyeva, Kozhabergenov, Aldayarov, Kilibayev, Usserbayev, Tuyskanova, Kadyrova, Myrzakhmetova, Kutumbetov, Chervyakova, Nurabayev, Berdikulov, Kerimbayev, Rsaliyev, Abduraimov and Zhugunissov. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Kuandyk Zhugunissov, Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Kazakhstan

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