Mongolian Part of the Trans-Boundary Sailugem Natural Plague Focus in 2017. Communication 2. Modern Epidemiological Risks

Objective – to study the current epidemiological risks at plague enzootic frontier territory of the Bayan-Ulgy aimag of Mongolia. Materials and methods. Epidemiological analysis was performed according to the reporting documentation of the National Centre of Zoonotic Infections in Mongolia, results of anonymous questioning of 179 residents of the Bayan-Ulgy aimag of Mongolia, materials of the Department of Health of the Bayan-Ulgy aimag, the Aimag Centre of Zoonotic Infections and the Administration of the Aimag Governor. Results and discussion. Plague was first registered in the Bayan-Ulgy aimag in 1989. The total of 9 patients with plague and 4 lethal outcomes were revealed. In all cases marmots were an infection source, the infection occurred in the process of cutting the carcasses. The majority of the plague patients had bubonic form of plague. All patients were men aged 13 to 34 years. Public inquiry showed that 21,8 % of population considered meat of marmots as a delicacy, 54 % – hunted for the animals, 25,7 % – consumed uncooked organs of marmots as a folk remedy, 19,5 % – participated in cutting of marmot carcasses. Results of the inquiry indicated that a marmot was an object of active hunting for local population. Analysis of epizootic activity of the transboundary Sailugem natural plague focus, modern social and economic conditions in the Bayan-Ulgy aimag has showed that in this territory epidemic risks have shaped and act at present. They can be divided into two groups: epidemic risks capable to cause human sporadic plague cases and epidemic risks leading to anthropozoonotic plague dissemination among the population and exportation of Yersinia pestis beyond the limits of enzootic territories. Effective interaction of anti-epidemic Institutions of Mongolia and Russia and also the Agencies and Institutions of the executive power of all levels permits to counteract these risks

Mongolian Part of the Transboundary Sailugem Natural Plague Focus in 2017. Communication 1. Epizootic condition

Objective – estimation of current epizootic condition of Mongolian part of transboundary Sailugem natural plague focus. Materials and methods. Epizootiological survey was performed for the area of 2335 km2, 277 mammals and 516 ectoparasites were investigated for plague. Results and conclusions. Eight Yersinia pestis subsp. pestis strains were isolated, including 7 strains – from grey marmots (6 – from the remains of meals of predatory birds, 1 from a corpse) and 1 – from long-tailed souslik (corpse). Y. pestis DNA was detected in 52 objects. Serological samples showed 40 positive results. Epizootic manifestations, confirmed by isolation of Y. pestis cultures, detection of plague microbe DNA, and positive serological results, were observed across the area of 1611 km2 covering 69 % of the inspected territory. Epizootic results indicated high infection rate of mass mammal species and first of all grey marmots. The data demonstrated that the extended plague epizooty caused by Y. pestis of the main subspecies occurred in the inspected territory in the carrier settlements. For the first time the circulation of Y. pestis subsp. pestis was registered in the Mongolian part of the transboundary Sailugem focus

Epizootic Situation in the Mongolian Part of the Transboundary Sailugem Natural Plague Focus in 2018

Objective of the study was monitoring of epizootic situation in the Mongolian part of the trans-boundary Sailugem natural plague focus through 2018 for optimization of preventive and anti-epidemic activities to decrease the level of risk of human plague cases among the population in the border areas of Mongolia and Russia.Materials and methods. Epizootic survey was conducted across the area of 2668 km2 ; 282 mammals, 261 ectoparasites, including 257 fleas, were tested for plague. All laboratory investigations of the field material were carried out in the mobile laboratory for monitoring and diagnostics, mounted on the platform of KAMAZ. Field samples were subjected to molecular-genetic (PCR) and serological tests. Fresh and mummified pickings of birds of prey, corpses, caught rodents and lagomorphs, fleas collected from corpses, were tested using immune-chromatographic method (ICM) to detect capsular antigen (F1) of plague microbe. PCR and ICM positive samples were investigated applying bacteriological method. In the course of epizootiological survey, GIS-tools were employed. All the results obtained were plotted on electronic maps using QGIS 2.12.3 software package.Results and discussion. The total of 47 Yersinia pestis ssp. pestis strains were isolated from grey marmots and their fleas. Y. pestis DNA was detected in 60 objects. Serological testing showed 60 positive results. Contamination of the caught souslik with plague agent reached 4.5 % (n=22), fresh corpses and picking of predatory birds – 63.4 % (n=41), mummified corpses and leftovers, skeletal remains – 10.0 % (n=140). It was established that in the border territory, adjacent to Russia, an intensive diffused plague epizooty, caused by the agent of the main subspecies, takes place. All epizootic manifestations were revealed at the altitudes of 2400–2800 m above sea level, in densely populated grey marmot settlements. The epizooty was registered in most of the southern macro-slope of Sailugem ridge, throughout 100 km and along the whole Karalakhtu ridge – throughout 30 km. The epizooty area, confirmed by plague agent isolation, amounted to 1207 km2 (45.2 % of the examined territory)