Zoonotic enteric parasites in Mongolian people, animals, and the environment: Using One Health to address shared pathogens.

BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are important zoonotic enteric pathogens of One Health concern for humans, animals, and the environment. For this study, we investigated parasite prevalence and risk factors among rural, peri-urban, and urban households and environments of Mongolia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study implemented a household risk factor survey at 250 home sites along with sample collection from humans, animals, flies, and drinking water. Multiplex real-time PCR analysis was conducted to look for Cryptosporidium spp. and/or Giardia duodenalis within household samples. RESULTS: Lab analysis found one or both zoonotic parasites at 20% of the participating households (51/250). Human samples had a parasite prevalence of 6.4% (27/419), domestic animals at 3.3% (19/570), pooled filth flies at 14.8% (17/115), and drinking water samples at 2% (5/250). Parasite presence at the household was significantly associated with a household's use of an improved drinking water source (OR 0.27; CI 0.12-0.61; p = < 0.01), having an indoor handwashing site (OR 0.41; CI 0.19-0.92; p = 0.03), domestic animal ownership (OR 2.40; CI 1.02-5.65; p = 0.05), and rural location (OR 0.50; CI 0.25-0.98; p = 0.04). Household use of an improved drinking water source remained significant in the multivariate model (OR 0.16; CI 0.04-0.68; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: In Mongolia, public and veterinary health are intertwined, particularly for rural herding households. Increased access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure could help prevent further transmission of zoonotic enteric parasites. Public health interventions, policy and messaging should utilize a One Health framework employing joint leadership from local human and animal health sectors.

A case series of fatal meningoencephalitis in Mongolia: epidemiological and molecular characteristics of tick-borne encephalitis virus.

In Mongolia, the incidence and fatality rates of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) have been increasing. We aimed to identify the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) associated with fatal meningoencephalitis in Mongolia. We conducted a descriptive study of 14 fatal cases of TBE that occurred between 2008 and 2017 in Mongolia. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect viral RNA in brain tissue. RT-PCR products from six patients who died from TBE between 2013 and 2017 were directly sequenced and analysed phylogenetically. Ticks collected from Selenge and Bulgan provinces were also tested for TBEV by RT-PCR. Between 2008 and 2017, there were 14 fatal TBE cases in hospitals in Mongolia. The 14 patients who died reported receiving tick bites in Bulgan or Selenge province; 71.4% of deaths resulted from tick bites in Bulgan province. The TBE case fatality rate was 28.6% for patients in Bulgan province and 2.7% for those in Selenge province. All of the fatalities were men; the median age was 45 ± 12.6 years. Tick bites occurred between April and June in forested areas. In 2013, a 388 base pair fragment of the envelope (E) gene was obtained from a hospitalized patient. The closest relatives of this virus are Far-Eastern TBEV isolates. The case fatality rate differed between two provinces where tick bites occurred. A higher number of TBE cases and the virulent Far-Eastern subtype occurred in patients in Bulgan province. This province should increase vaccination coverage, training, education and investigations.