Search

Objectives Infections with hepatitis B, C, and D virus (HBV, HCV, and HDV) are a major public health problem and lead to serious complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, anti-HDV immunoglobulin G, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and dual and triple hepatitis virus infections in Mongolia. Methods A total of 2313 participants from urban and rural regions were randomly recruited for this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was used to identify the risk factors for hepatitis virus infections, and the seromarkers were measured using immunoassay kits. Results Among all participants, the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HDV was 15.6%, 36.6%, and 14.3%, respectively. The infection rates were significantly higher in females and participants with a lower education level, rural residence, older age, and a history of blood transfusion. HBV and HCV co-infection was found in 120 (5.2%) participants and HBV, HCV, and HDV triple infection was detected in 67 (2.9%) participants. The prevalence of elevated AFP was 2.7%, 5.5%, and 2.6% higher in participants who were seropositive for HBsAg (p=0.01), anti-HCV (p

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infection and its risk factors in Mongolians from 10 to 40 years of age. Method: Randomly selected Mongolians underwent phlebotomy and completed a questionnaire about their medical and family history and risk factors. Participants were screened for qHBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe, anti-HBc markers, and Anti-HCV. Results: 6811 people, 2900 (42.7%) males, and 3911 (57.3%) females participated. Most were from Ulaanbaatar (4685, 69%), with the remaining 2126 (31%) from rural areas. Seven percent were HbsAg positive, 4.2% were HCV positive. Of those10-20 years of age, 5.8% (29) had hepatitis B, 6% (17) had hepatitis C. Of those 21 to 40 years of age, 94.2% (469) had hepatitis B, and 94%(268) had hepatitis C. Children whose mother was HBsAg positive were at higher risk of HBsAg positivity (OR 2.152; 95% CI 1.4; 3.2, p < .0001) as well as those with male gender (OR 1.703; 95% CI 1.17;2.46, p < .005), those phlebotomized for lab tests (OR 1.768; 95% CI 1.14; 2.74, p = .011) ,and those immunized against hepatitis B (OR 0.508; 95% CI 0.35; 0.74, p < .0001). HCV infection was associated with history of dental procedures (OR 1.681; 95% CI 1.01; 2.79, p = .045), using glass syringes (OR 2.131; 95% CI 1.54; 2.95, p < .0001), and previously used needles (OR 2.411; 95% CI 1.09;5.29, p = .028). Conclusions: Among the Mongolian population between 10 and 40 years of age, 7.3% were HbsAg positive, 4.2% were Anti-HCV positive. The risk factors were maternal HbsAg positivity, utilization of glass syringes, reusing needles, phlebotomy for laboratory tests, receiving dental treatment, and the absence of hepatitis B immunization.

Background: With the global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in early 2020, Mongolia implemented rapid emergency measures and did not report local transmission until November 2020. We conducted a national seroprevalence survey to monitor the burden of SARS-CoV-2 in Mongolia in the months surrounding the first local transmission. Methods: During October-December 2020, participants were randomly selected using age stratification and invited for interviews and blood samples at local primary health centres. We screened for total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, followed by two-step quantitative SARS-CoV-2 IgG serology tests for positive samples. Weighted and test-adjusted seroprevalences were estimated. We used chi-square, Fisher's exact and other tests to identify variables associated with seropositivity. Findings: A total of 5000 subjects were enrolled. We detected SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in 72 samples. Crude seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 1•44% (95%CI,1•21-1•67). Population weighted and test-adjusted seroprevalences were 1•36% (95%CI,1•11-1•63) and 1•45% (95%CI,1•11-1•63), respectively. Age, sex, geographical, and occupational factors were not associated with seropositivity (p>0•05). Symptoms and signs within past 3 months and seropositivity were not associated at the time of the survey (p>0•05). Interpretation: SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Mongolia was low in the first year of the pandemic potentially due to strong public health measures, including border restrictions, educational facilities closure, earlier adoption of mask-wearing and others. Our findings suggest large-scale community transmission could not have occurred up to November 2020 in Mongolia. Additional serosurveys are needed to monitor the local pandemic dynamic and estimate how far from herd immunity Mongolia will be following-up with vaccination programme in 2021 and 2022. Funding: World Health Organisation, WHO UNITY Studies initiative, with funding by the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and the German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) COVID-19 Research and development. Translation: Cyrillic and Traditional Mongolian translation of abstract is available on appendix section.

Hepatitis B, C, and D virus infections are a major public health problem, and Mongolia has one of the highest prevalences of dual and triple infections in the world. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis infection and dual or triple hepatitis infections among 10–64-year-olds. A questionnaire was used to identify risk factors for hepatitis infection, and seromarkers were measured by the fully automated immunologic analyzer HISCL-5000. Among a total of 10,040 participants, 8.1% of the population aged 10–64 was infected with HBV, 9.4% with HCV, and 0.4% with HBV and HCV, and the prevalence of the disease varied by age, sex, and the area of residence. Young people were particularly unaware of their hepatitis infection status. A small proportion of children aged 10 to 19 years and the majority of adults younger than 30 years were unaware of their HBV and HCV infection. Men were also more likely to be unaware of their HBV and HCV infection status than women. The results suggested that the prevalence of infection in the general population is high and that most people are unaware that they are infected or have become chronic carriers. Identifying mono-, co-, or triple-infection status is critical to prevent the rapid progression of liver disease among the Mongolian population.

Objective: Using high-sensitivity test results of CLEIA we aimed to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus, and compare levels of AST, ALT, M2BPGI in the Mongolian population in the age between 40-64. Methods: In order to reflect the administrative and geographical features of Mongolia, the sampling was done at three levels: urban, province center, and rural. Immunological test was measured by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA). The statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used for the statistical analyses. Results: The survey covered 3196 people. 71.8 percent of the patients surveyed had a negative in hepatitis test. 10.1 percent had a positive HBsAg test. 17 percent had a positive anti-HCV test. 1.1 percent had both a positive both HBsAg and anti-HCV (