Genome sequencing of canine distemper virus isolates from unvaccinated dogs in Mongolia.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) triggers a severe, often fatal disease in dogs and wildlife known as canine distemper (CD). Prior research has noted significant genetic diversity and recombination among CDV isolates from different geographical regions, potentially contributing to vaccine failures. Despite this, no genetic characterization of Mongolian CDVs has been conducted. This study, isolated CDVs from three unvaccinated dogs: two 10-month-old mixed-breeds and an 18-month-old Samoyed. All exhibited CD symptoms and subsequently died. Virus isolation was conducted using Vero/dog SLAM cells, with genome sequencing performed via nanopore technology. The mixed-breed dogs were infected with non-recombinant CDV isolates, forming a sister clade to the Asia-1 lineage prevalent in Asia. The Samoyed was infected with a non-recombinant CDV isolate, classifying as Asia-4 lineage sporadically reported in some Asian countries. This sequencing data offers foundational information on genetic diversity, aiding CD control measure development and benefiting future Eurasia and Asian studies.

Genetic analyses of rabies virus glycoprotein and nucleoprotein gene sequences reveal the emergence of multiple lineages in animals in Arkhangai province, a central region of Mongolia.

Genetic characterizations of rabies viruses circulating in carnivore and non-carnivore animals were investigated for the first time in Arkhangai province, a central region of Mongolia. Also, glycoprotein gene of the rabies virus was sequenced for the first time in Mongolia. The nucleotide sequences of the glycoprotein and nucleoprotein genes were analysed, revealing the presence of multiple lineages in this area. Of particular concern are the lineages identified in carnivores, which might emerge to spread throughout Mongolia, further facilitating transboundary transmission to neighbouring countries, including China and Russia.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus among wild birds in Mongolia.

Mongolia combines a near absence of domestic poultry, with an abundance of migratory waterbirds, to create an ideal location to study the epidemiology of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) in a purely wild bird system. Here we present the findings of active and passive surveillance for HPAIV subtype H5N1 in Mongolia from 2005-2011, together with the results of five outbreak investigations. In total eight HPAIV outbreaks were confirmed in Mongolia during this period. Of these, one was detected during active surveillance employed by this project, three by active surveillance performed by Mongolian government agencies, and four through passive surveillance. A further three outbreaks were recorded in the neighbouring Tyva Republic of Russia on a lake that bisects the international border. No HPAIV was isolated (cultured) from 7,855 environmental fecal samples (primarily from ducks), or from 2,765 live, clinically healthy birds captured during active surveillance (primarily shelducks, geese and swans), while four HPAIVs were isolated from 141 clinically ill or dead birds located through active surveillance. Two low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIV) were cultured from ill or dead birds during active surveillance, while environmental feces and live healthy birds yielded 56 and 1 LPAIV respectively. All Mongolian outbreaks occurred in 2005 and 2006 (clade 2.2), or 2009 and 2010 (clade 2.3.2.1); all years in which spring HPAIV outbreaks were reported in Tibet and/or Qinghai provinces in China. The occurrence of outbreaks in areas deficient in domestic poultry is strong evidence that wild birds can carry HPAIV over at least moderate distances. However, failure to detect further outbreaks of clade 2.2 after June 2006, and clade 2.3.2.1 after June 2010 suggests that wild birds migrating to and from Mongolia may not be competent as indefinite reservoirs of HPAIV, or that HPAIV did not reach susceptible populations during our study.

Molecular epidemiology of rabies virus in Mongolia, 2005-2008.

The objective of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of rabies virus (RABV) in Mongolia based on the nucleotide sequences of viral N gene. A total of 24 rabies-positive samples from seven different domestic and wild animal species collected in western and central Mongolia between 2005 and 2008 were examined for their N gene sequences. The results showed that the endemic Mongolian RABVs could be divided into two different groups closely related to the Steppe-type and Arctic-like viruses isolated in Russia.

Characterization of low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses isolated from wild birds in Mongolia 2005 through 2007.

BACKGROUND: Since the emergence of H5N1 high pathogenicity (HP) avian influenza virus (AIV) in Asia, numerous efforts worldwide have focused on elucidating the relative roles of wild birds and domestic poultry movement in virus dissemination. In accordance with this a surveillance program for AIV in wild birds was conducted in Mongolia from 2005-2007. An important feature of Mongolia is that there is little domestic poultry production in the country, therefore AIV detection in wild birds would not likely be from spill-over from domestic poultry. RESULTS: During 2005-2007 2,139 specimens representing 4,077 individual birds of 45 species were tested for AIV by real time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) and/or virus isolation. Bird age and health status were recorded. Ninety rRT-PCR AIV positive samples representing 89 individual birds of 19 species including 9 low pathogenicity (LP) AIVs were isolated from 6 species. A Bar-headed goose (Anser indicus), a Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) and 2 Ruddy shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea) were positive for H12N3 LP AIV. H16N3 and H13N6 viruses were isolated from Black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus). A Red-crested pochard (Rhodonessa rufina) and 2 Mongolian gulls (Larus vagae mongolicus) were positive for H3N6 and H16N6 LP AIV, respectively. Full genomes of each virus isolate were sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically and were most closely related to recent European and Asian wild bird lineage AIVs and individual genes loosely grouped by year. Reassortment occurred within and among different years and subtypes. CONCLUSION: Detection and/or isolation of AIV infection in numerous wild bird species, including 2 which have not been previously described as hosts, reinforces the wide host range of AIV within avian species. Reassortment complexity within the genomes indicate the introduction of new AIV strains into wild bird populations annually, however there is enough over-lap of infection for reassortment to occur. Further work is needed to clarify how AIV is maintained in these wild bird reservoirs.