Spatio-Temporal Association Between Human Brucellosis Incidence and Livestock Seroprevalence In Navoiy Region, Uzbekistan: A One Health Study Protocol
Abstract
Background: Brucellosis remains one of the most important neglected zoonoses in Central Asia, with the highest reported human incidence globally recorded in the Middle East and Central Asia region [1]. Neighbouring Central Asian countries report substantial and, in places, rising human and livestock brucellosis burdens despite decades of control efforts, and One Health-informed evaluations in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have highlighted persistent gaps in inter-sectoral (human-veterinary) data sharing and coordination [1,2]. A district-level, spatially explicit comparison of human and livestock brucellosis burden has not previously been published for Navoiy region. Objective: To examine the spatial and temporal association between officially registered human brucellosis incidence and livestock seroprevalence across the districts of Navoiy region, to identify high-risk districts and occupational groups, and to characterise the current mechanisms of data exchange between the region's sanitary-epidemiological and veterinary services. Methods: An ecological, spatio-temporal descriptive study will combine officially registered human brucellosis case data (2018–2026) from the Navoiy Regional Department of Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health with district-level livestock serological surveillance data from the Regional Veterinary Administration. District-level incidence/seroprevalence “heat maps” will be constructed in GIS software (QGIS), and correlation between human and animal indicators will be assessed with Spearman/Pearson correlation. A supplementary knowledge-attitudes-practices (KAP) survey among livestock keepers will characterise risk behaviours in higher-incidence districts. Expected results: A district-level risk map and a set of recommendations for strengthening cross-sectoral (human-veterinary) collaboration under a One Health framework in Navoiy region. Ethics and dissemination: The study will be submitted to [name of ethics committee] for approval; the KAP survey component will use written informed consent. Findings will be shared with regional health and veterinary authorities and submitted for peer-reviewed publication.