Examination of critical factors influencing ruminant disease dynamics in the Black Sea Basin

Abstract

IntroductionRuminant production in the Black Sea basin (BSB) is critical for national economies and the subsistence of rural populations. Yet, zoonoses and transboundary animal diseases (TADs) are limiting and threatening the sector. To gain a more comprehensive understanding, this study characterizes key aspects of the ruminant sector in nine countries of the BSB, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Türkiye, and Ukraine.MethodsWe selected six priority ruminant diseases (anthrax, brucellosis, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), lumpy skin disease (LSD), and peste des petits ruminants (PPR)) that are present or threaten to emerge in the region. Standardized questionnaires were completed by a network of focal points and supplemented with external sources. We examined country and ruminant-specific data such as demographics, economic importance, and value chains in each country. For disease-specific data, we analysed the sanitary status, management strategies, and temporal trends of the selected diseases.Results and discussionThe shift from a centrally planned to a market economy, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, restructured the ruminant sector. This sector played a critical role in rural livelihoods within the BSB. Yet, it faced significant challenges such as the low sustainability of pastoralism, technological limitations, and unregistered farms. Additionally, ruminant health was hindered by informal animal trade as a result of economic factors, insufficient support for the development of formal trade, and socio-cultural drivers. In the Caucasus and Türkiye, where diseases were present, improvements to ruminant health were driven by access to trading opportunities. Conversely, European countries, mostly disease-free, prioritized preventing disease incursion to avoid a high economic burden. While international initiatives for disease management are underway in the BSB, there is still a need for more effective local resource allocation and international partnerships to strengthen veterinary health capacity, protect animal health and improve ruminant production.

Suitability of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) in the Black Sea basin through the scope of distribution modelling

“…It is worth noting that ruminant production is a critical livestock subsector in the majority of the studied countries [58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67]. In addition, areas found as suitable for anthrax by our model largely match rural settings where pastoralism is widely practiced [68], and livestock is the main source of subsistence for these populations [4,68]. Similarly, Carlson et al [6] suggested higher human anthrax risk in rural areas, and observed increased human and livestock anthrax vulnerability in rainfed systems across arid and temperate landscapes in the same region (Eurasia).…”

“…In Europe, the disease is sporadic in animals, with a higher prevalence in southern Europe, and linked to historical foci in northern areas [2]. Across the Black Sea basin, as of 2023, anthrax remained endemic in Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Moldova, and it was reported sporadically in Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Belarus [4], and the Russian Federation [5]. Even in endemic countries, surveillance systems for anthrax are limited, contributing to underreporting and gaps in understanding its geographic extent [6].…”