Geographical Distribution of Tick Borne Encephalitis in Mongolia / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Background@#Medical geography deals with the application of major concepts and theories derived from human and physical geography to issues of health and disease. Between1970-1980, Russian scientists were first figured landscape, geographical distribution of TBE in Mongolia. Since human cases of TBD were registered from 2005, around 2000 cases of TBD were registered. From 15% of diseases and 78% of fatal cases were tick-borne encephalitis. Therefore, were tried to create current geographical distribution of TBE in Mongolia and detect risk areas. @*Мaterials and Methods@#287 TBE cases data, information of TBE positive tick and human data were analyzed which registered in NCZD between 2005-2017. Arc GIS 9 were used for create map. Mongolian map was divided by 5 landscape range such as forest-taiga, forest-steppe, steppe, steppe-desert, gobi and high mountain. @*Result@#In forest-taiga range, 57% of TBE cases and incidence was 9.51 per 10000 population. 56.4% of I.persulcatus tick, 1.9% of D.nuttalli tick were found and infection rate of tick was Ixodes persulcatus-6.97%, Dermacentor nuttalli-5.2%. Seroprevalence of TBE was 25±12.1 among population. </br> In forest-steppe range, 40% of TBE cases and incidence was 0.56 per 10000 population. 43.6% of I.persulcatus tick, 44.3% of D.nuttalli, 24.4% of D.silvarum tick tick were found and infection rate of tick was Ixodes persulcatus-3.08%, D.silvarum-1.56% and D.nuttalli-1.56%. Seroprevalence of TBE was 14.5±11 among population.</br> In steppe range, 0.7% of TBE cases and incidence was 0.12 per 10000 population. 62.2% of D.silvarum tick, 23.9% of D.nuttalli tick were found and infection rate of tick was D.nuttalli-2.81% and D.silvarum-1.2%. Seroprevalence of TBE was 16.3±6.5 among population.</br> In other range including steppe-desert, gobi and high mountain, 2.8% of TBE cases and incidence was 0.1-0.27 per 10000 population. 62.2% of D.silvarum tick, 47.6% of D.nuttalli tick were found and infection rate of tick was D.nuttalli-0.84%. Seroprevalence of TBE was 2.5-13.1 among population.@*Conclusion@#Natural foci of tick-borne encephalitis have been registered in all landscape ranges of Mongolia and higher risk area of those ranges were forest-taiga and forest-steppe. Dermacentor silvarum, Dermacentor nuttalli tick becoming dominant vector of TBE in steppe range.

Data analyze of suspicious rodents for zoonotic diseases in Mongolia / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

BackgroundThere are 137 soums of 17 provinces have plague foci in Mongolia. The 51.7% of them is case, 23.4%- low, 9.5% - high, 0.7% - hyper active. Main host of plague foci is marmot in Mongolia. According last20 year’s surveillance study, about 75.5% of Y.pestis was isolated from marmot, marmot carcassesand their flea. Human plague cases has been caused illegal hunting marmot in Mongolia. Even legaldocument which prohibited marmot hunting was appeared since 2005, people has been hunting marmotfor selling marmot meat, skin and other products. It is depends economy crises and other public issues inMongolia. Also influenced increase risk of human plague and being reverse result in plague preventionactivities.Materials and MethodsStudy was used data of rodent for zoonotic diseases suspicious which tested plague in National centerfor zoonotic disease (NCZD) in 2005-2015 and 13 local center for zoonotic diseases in 1988-2015. Datawas kept in NCZD and National archival authority. For mapping we used Arc View 3.2.ResultsTotally 397 event information of suspicious rodents and other animals was received in NCZD from 8 districtsof Ulaanbaatar city in 2002-2015. Most of information was received from Songinokhairkhan-64.2%district and smallest number was from Nalaikh district-0.3%. 92.2% of them were marmot, 0.1% of themwere marmot raw products for treatment purpose. Totally 1285 animal samples were tested by plaguedisease and the result was negative. Five hundred thirty tree marmots were carried to Ulaanbaatar from10 provinces. In that time plague foci were active and Y.pestis was isolated in provinces which marmotwas carried to Ulaanbaatar.In 1988-2015, totally 257 marmots and animals of 515 event information was received in15 provinces.Including 13.2% of them were birds, 84% of them marmot, 1.6% of them were livestock, 1.2% of themother animals. About 216 marmots were tested by plague. 51.2% of them were detected positive results.We develop conclusion based laboratory investigation result even it need high cost to take earlyprevention and response measures.Conclusion1. It is high risk to spread plague by carrying suspicious animal in urban area. Therefore, it is importantto take early response measures even it high cost. In further, increase cost and support rapid test ofhigh technology.2. To organize rational advertisement and increase knowledge of population about not doing illegalhunting, not selling marmot raw products in urban area, not using marmot raw products for treatmentuse and avoid contact with marmot carcasses.3. It is important to cooperate joint response measures with policeman, inspection agency andveterinary and human health sectors in Mongolia.

High prevalence of genetically diverse Borrelia bavariensis-like strains in Ixodes persulcatus from Selenge Aimag, Mongolia.

In Mongolia, Lyme borreliosis was first reported in 2003. To determine which Borrelia species may contribute to the occurrence of Lyme borreliosis in Mongolia, real-time PCR was conducted on 372 adult Ixodes persulcatus ticks collected in Selenge Aimag, the province with the highest incidence of human Lyme borreliosis. 24.5% of ticks were identified to be positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA. Species differentiation using an SNP-based real-time PCR and multi-locus sequence analysis revealed that strains phylogenetically closely related to B. bavariensis (previously known as B. garinii OspA serotype 4) is the most prevalent species, showing an unexpectedly high genetic diversity.

Ecology of influenza virus in wild bird populations in Central Asia.

The study provides the results of avian influenza virus surveillance in Central Asia during 2003-2009. We have analyzed 2604 samples from wild birds. These samples were collected in Kazakhstan (279), Mongolia (650), and Russia (1675). Isolated viruses from samples collected in Mongolia (13 isolates) and in Russia (4 isolates) were described. Virological analysis has shown that six isolates belong to the H3N6 subtype and five isolates belong to the H4N6 subtype. Two H1N1 influenza viruses, one H10N7 virus, two H3N8 viruses, and an H13N8 virus that is new for Central Asia have been also isolated. Samples were taken from birds of six orders, including several species preferring water and semiaquatic biotopes, one species preferring dry plain regions, and one more species that can inhabit both dry and water biotopes.

Identification of babesiosis by multiple pcr from tick population in Mongolia / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Background: Ticks are notorious vectors of various pathogenic protozoa, bacteria, and viruses that cause serious and life-threatening illnesses in humans and animals worldwide. Screening of ticks for such pathogens by using molecular tools may identify the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in particular geographic environments. Babesia are tick-transmitted protozoa that comprise some of the most ubiquitous and widespread parasites of erythrocytes in humans and a wide range of wild and economically valuable domestic animals such as cattle and horses. For transmission to occur, therefore, the Babesia parasite must complete an elaborate developmental programme in the hostile tick environment.Objectives:To investigate molecular epidemiology of babesiosis in ticks from different ecological areas isolated in MongoliaSpecific objectives are:1. Molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens by multiplex PCR2. Analysis of molecular epidemiology focused on babesiosis in ticks from different ecological areas3. Determination of transmission ticks’ species of babesiosis Materials and Methods: A total of 528 ticks, including 5 species from three genera (D. nuttalli, D. niveus, D. silvarum, I. persulcatus and H. asiaticum), were collected from domestic animals, from humans, or by flagging of the vegetation at sites from 10 different provinces in Mongolia. 360 individual ticks were examined by multiplex PCR to detect DNA of tick borne pathogens. The multiplex PCR primers were specific to E. canis VirB9, Babesia spp 16S rRNA and H. canis 16S rRNA genes. At the final concentration each reaction was 25 μl. Results: DNA extraction was successful in 360 of these ticks. Babesia spp. were detected in 145 out of the 360 investigated ticks of all five tick species. Multiplex PCR products were from D. nuttalli, D. niveus, D. silvarum, I. persulcatus and H. asiaticum collected from horses, sheep, goats, camels, and cattle were identified as Babesia spp. The prevalences of babesiosis were in Тuv 2.1% (3/145), Dornogobi province 3.4% (5/145), Selenge 3.4% (5/145), Zavkhan 4.1% (6/145), Аrkhangai 6.9% (10/145), Bulgan 8.3% (12/145), Khovd 13.8% (20/145), Bayankhongor province 17.9% (26/145), Gobi-Altai 18.6% (27/145), Khuvsgul 21.4% (31/145) respectively.Conclusion:1. The infection rates of babesiosis were 40,2% by multiplex PCR2. The prevalences of babesiosis were in forest and forest-steppe 39.3%, forest-steppe and steppe 38.6%, gobi and desert 22% respectively.3. H. аsiaticum, I. persulcatus, D. niveus, D. silvarum, D. nuttalli play an important role as a vector of babesiosis.

[Detection of natural tularemia foci in Mongolia].

AIM: Study of the current spread of natural tularemia foci in Mongolia and its epizootic activity evaluation for consequent substantiation of the recommendations for prophylaxis of this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study of 1119 pellet specimens from predatory birds obtained in 6 aimag in Mongolia in 2008--2010 was performed. Tularemia antigen was detected by using antibody neutralization reaction (ANR) and passive hemagglutination reaction (PHR) with tularemia diagnosticums. Tularemia DNA was detected by PCR by using strain specific primers. Presence of plague antigen in PHR with plague immunoglobulin diagnosticum was also studied in all the samples. RESULTS: Epizootologic monitoring allowed the detection of natural tularemia foci in 5 of the 6 studied aimags in Mongolia. PHR was the most effective study method that allowed to detect tularemia antigen in the environmental objects in high quantities (up to 9.2% of positive samples) and high titers (up to 1:1600). PCR was less effective. Plague antigen was detected in 9 samples in 2010 for the first time, and in 3 cases together with tularemia antigen, which indicates a presence of combined natural foci of tularemia and plague in this territory. CONCLUSION: In the studied regions of Mongolia natural tularemia foci were detected, their epizootic activity was determined and recommendations for future study tactics of natural tularemia foci were given.

[Detection of leptospirosis infection in certain wild and domestic animals in Mongolia].

AIM: Serological examination for leptospirosis of domestic and certain species of wild animals in Mongolia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Collection of material from domestic and wild animals was performed in 2009--2010 in 7 aimags (regions) of Eastern, Central and Southern Mongolia. Serological study of filter paper dried blood samples obtained from 51 specimens of cattle and small cattle, camels, and 545 specimens of rodents of various species was performed in microagglutination reaction (MAR) of leptospirae with 13 reference strains. RESULTS: There is a presence in certain regions of Mongolia of anthropurgic loci of leptospirosis infection including arid zones where ecological conditions do not favor the development of epizootic process. The results of the study indicate the epizootic significance of Tarassovi serogroup leptospirae in cattle and Sejroe serogroup (probably hardjo serovar) in goats, sheep and camels. Results of serological studies of desert and steppe specimens of wild fauna of Mongolia suggest a possibility of circulation of leptospirae in natural foci. CONCLUSION: Detection in a significant percent of cases in tarbagan and long tailed ground squirrel blood sera of agglutinins to Pomona (mozdok) leptospirae with negative MAR results for Pomona (pomona) strain suggests a presence of a pathogen of a previously unknown serovar. However final conclusion could be made only after the isolation of cultures of the pathogen and their identification.

[Genetic characteristics of the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis in Mongolia].

A patient with diagnosed meningoencephalitis and a history of tick bite died in Mongolia in 2008. The purpose of this paper is to characterize the virus causing the ill person's death. The virus was identified using the phylogenetic analysis of the 520-bp fragment of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) genome, which codes the fragment of TBEV protein E between 52-223 amino acids. TBEV RNA was detected in the samples of medulla oblongata, cerebral cortex, and pia mater of brain, but not in the cerebellar tissue. The study virus fragment was genetically closest to the representatives of the Far East subtype. Its closest relative was virus 740-84 (GenBank EU878282) isolated from large-toothed redback voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in Buryatia and greatly differed from the Far East virus Soffin. Two amino acid substitutions (H86R and VI7A) were detected within the study protein E fragment. The paper is the first to describe the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis on the territory of Mongolia and to discuss the evolution and pathogenicity of TBEV.

[Isolation of influenza A virus from wild birds in western part of Mongolia].

AIM: To study circulation of influenza A viruses in western part of Mongolia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolation and characterization of influenza viruses was performed according to recommendations of WHO. RESULTS: Circulation of influenza A viruses subtypes H3N6, H4N6, H1N1, H13N8 in different wild bird species in western part of Mongolia was documented. CONCLUSION: Taxonomic and ecologic heterogeneity of bird species involved in continuous circulation of influenza A viruses was revealed. Subtype H13N8 was isolated for a first time from herring gull on territory of western Mongolia.

[Results of two-year-old inspection of the presence of infuenza virus in wild birds in Western Mongolia].

The results of virology inspection of the wild birds living in territory of the Western Mongolia, carried out in 2003-2004 are presented. For the specified period influenza viruses H3 and H4 subtype hemagglutinins are isolated from birds. It is revealed taxonomic and ecological heterogeneity of the birds involved in maintenance of circulation of influenza viruses in the given territory. Influenza viruses are isolated from birds of 5 special groups; among them there are preferring water and nearwater biotops, a species preferring dry plain region, and also a species which habitat does not depend from water's territories.