Influenza B viruses circulated during last 5 years in Mongolia.

Influenza B virus-caused illness has recently been considered as an urgent public health problem due to substantial morbidity, mortality and life-threatening medical complications. In this study, we have reported the main characteristics of influenza B virus in Mongolia, including prevalence, lineages, suitability with vaccine strains and drug susceptibility against the virus. 15768 specimens were tested by qPCR for detecting influenza viruses. From positive specimens for influenza B virus, the clinical isolates were isolated using MDCK cells. Sequencing analysis, hemagglutination inhibition assay and Neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) drug susceptibility testing were performed for the clinical isolates. Influenza B virus was around in 3.46% of the samples in Mongolia, and B/Victoria clade-1A and B/Yamagata clade-3 lineages were predominant. Importantly, it was confirmed that the lineages corresponded to the vaccine strains. Moreover, drug susceptibility tests revealed that some Mongolian clinical isolates showed reduced susceptibility to antiviral agents. Interestingly, G104R was identified as a novel mutation, which might have a significant role in drug resistance of the virus. These results describe the characteristics of influenza B viruses that have caused respiratory illness in the population of Mongolia between 2013 and 2017

Distribution and molecular characteristics of rickettsiae found in ticks across Central Mongolia

10.1186/s13071-017-1981-3Parasites and Vectors1016

Detection of bacterial pathogens in Mongolia meningitis surveillance with a new real-time PCR assay to detect Haemophilus influenzae.

Since the implementation of Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) serotype b vaccine, other serotypes and non-typeable strains have taken on greater importance as a cause of Hi diseases. A rapid and accurate method is needed to detect all Hi regardless of the encapsulation status. We developed 2 real-time PCR (rt-PCR) assays to detect specific regions of the protein D gene (hpd). Both hpd assays are very specific and sensitive for detection of Hi. Of the 63 non-Hi isolates representing 21 bacterial species, none was detected by the hpd #1 assay, and only one of 2 H. aphrophilus isolates was detected by the hpd #3 assay. The hpd #1 and #3 assays detected 97% (229/237) and 99% (234/237) of Hi isolates, respectively, and were superior for detection of both typeable and non-typeable Hi isolates, as compared to previously developed rt-PCR targeting ompP2 or bexA. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of these rt-PCR assays were assessed on cerebrospinal fluid specimens collected as part of meningitis surveillance in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The etiology (Neisseria meningitidis, Hi, and Streptococcus pneumoniae) of 111 suspected meningitis cases was determined by conventional methods (culture and latex agglutination), previously developed rt-PCR assays, and the new hpd assays. The rt-PCR assays were more sensitive for detection of meningitis pathogens than other classical methods and improved detection from 50% (56/111) to 75% (83/111). The hpd #3 assay identified a non-b Hi that was missed by the bexA assay and other methods. A sensitive rt-PCR assay to detect both typeable and non-typeable Hi is a useful tool for improving Hi disease surveillance especially after Hib vaccine introduction