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Malaria and toxoplasmosis are important public health diseases affecting millions of people and animals each year, and there is a continuing need for new and improved treatments for them. Plants have provided many opportunities for new drug leads in pharmacology. We examined 43 crude extracts from Mongolian plants for their activities against the Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain and the Toxoplasma gondii RH strain using a SYBR Green-based fluorescence assay and a fluorescence-based assay, respectively. The potential toxicity of these extracts was also assessed on human foreskin fibroblast cells (HFF) using a cell viability assay. From the initial screenings, 11 and 7 crude extracts were effective against T. gondii and P. falciparum, respectively, at 100 µg/ml concentration (≥ 80% inhibition activity). The 50% cytotoxic concentrations of the extracts were estimated on HFF cells, and their 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) were calculated. According to our lead criteria (selective index, SI; value ≥ 10), six plants (Galatella dahurica leaf + flower, Leonurus deminutus leaf + flower, Oxytropis trichophysa aerial part, Schultzia crinita whole plant, Leontopodium campestre root, Spirea salicifolia aerial part) inhibited P. falciparum growth at IC50 values of 5.99–64.15 µg/ml (SI values: 10.11–17.02). Amaranthus retroflexus root was highly active against T. gondii (IC50, 19.89 µg/ml; SI value, 38). This first observation of the anti-Plasmodium and anti-Toxoplasma activities of Mongolian plant extracts shows them to be interesting potential candidates for drug discovery.

Dermacentor nuttalli is the most commonly distributed tick species in Mongolia, and responsible for huge economic losses related to tick-borne diseases in livestock industry. Many rural herders have used plants to control tick which is noted in few documents, mostly transferred orally through generations. The aim of the present study was to determine acaricidal activity of Mongolian plants against D. nuttalli. We checked acaricidal activity of 113 crude extracts of 76 plant species included in 26 families. Among them Amaranthus retroflexus root (40%), Ephedra sinica leaf (40%), Erigeron acer root (40%), Ranunculus japonicus root (42%), and Spiraea salicifolia leaf (43.5%) showed potential activity against D. nuttalli. Acaricidal activity of Mongolian plants were experimented in vitro condition in first time. Furthermore, the study will continue isolation and identification active ingredients of potential candidates. We hope this study will be start line of acaricidal activity research in our country. Монгол орны ургамлын Акарицид (хачиг үхүүлэх) идэвхийн судалгаа Монгол орны бүх бүс нутагт Dermacentor nuttalli зүйл хачиг өргөн тархсан төдийгүй мал аж ахуйд хамгийн их хор хөнөөл учруулдаг. Малчид хачиг, шавжтай тэмцэхэд зарим ургамлыг ханд, цацлага, утлага хэлбэрээр хэрэглэж ирсэн уламжлалтай ч түүний шинжлэх ухааны үндэслэлтэй эсэхийг тогтоох судалгаа төдийлөн хийгдээгүй байна. Бид энэ удаа D. nuttalli хачиг дээр турших цуврал судалгааны ажлыг эхлүүлэх зорилго тавин ажиллав. Нийт 26 овогт хамаарагдах 76 зүйл ургамлын 113 дээж дээр акарицид идэвхийг шалгахад, тэдгээрээс Урвуу гагадайн (Amaranthus retroflexus) үндэс, Нангиад зээргэний (Ephedra sinica) навч, Хахуун цийлэгийн (Erigeron acer) үндэс тус бүр 40%, Япон холтсон цэцгийн (Ranunculus japonicus) үндэс 42%, Бургас навчит тавилганы (Spiraea salicifolia) навч 43.5% буюу бусад ургамлаас илүү идэвх үзүүлж байв. Энэхүү судалгаагаар анх удаа Монгол орны хачиг дээр in vitro орчинд туршин сорих арга зүйг нэвтрүүллээ. Энэ нь цаашид ургамлаас хачгийн эсрэг үйлдэлтэй бодис, нэгдэлийг хайж илрүүлэх, цуврал суурь судалгааны ажлын эхлэл болж өгч байгаагаараа чухал ач холбогдолтой юм. Түлхүүр үг: акарицид (хачиг үхүүлэх) идэвх, хачиг, Dermacentor nuttalli, ургамал

application/pdf, Equine piroplasmosis caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi is an economically important disease with a worldwide distribution. The objective of the present study was to investigate the seroepidemiology of T. equi and B. caballi in horses reared in various Mongolian provinces. Serum samples prepared from blood collected from horses in 19 Mongolian provinces were screened for antibodies specific to T. equi and B. caballi using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays based on recombinant forms of T. equi merozoite antigen-2 and the B. caballi 48-kDa merozoite rhoptry protein, respectively. Of 1,282 horses analyzed, 423 (33%) and 182 (14.2%) were sero-positive for T. equi and B. caballi, respectively. Additionally, 518 (40.4%) were positive for at least 1 parasite species, of which 87 (16.8%) were co-infected with both parasites. Both T. equi and B. caballi were detected in all surveyed provinces, and on a per province basis the positive rates ranged from 19.0 to 74.2% and 4.5 to 39.8%, respectively. Theileria equi- and B. caballi-positive rates were comparable between male horses (31.9 and 14.1%, respectively) and female horses (34.5 and 14.3%, respectively). However, the positive rates were higher in the >3-yr-old age group (37.7 and 15.6%, respectively) compared with the 1-3-yr-old age group (19.4 and 10.0%, respectively). These findings confirmed that T. equi and B. caballi infections are widespread among horses all over Mongolia, and that horse age is a risk factor for infection in this country. Our results will be useful for designing appropriate control measures to minimize T. equi and B. caballi infections among Mongolian horses.

In Mongolia, horses play important roles, not only in livestock production, but also in terms of culture, tradition, and Mongolian beliefs. Although the presence of non-tsetse-transmitted horse trypanosomoses, which are caused by infections with Trypanosoma evansi (surra) and T. equiperdum (dourine), has been reported in the country, whether there is a nationwide epidemic of these infectious diseases is unknown. In the present study, a nationwide surveillance of horse trypanosomoses was performed. The sample sizes for each province, the whole country, and male and female horses were, respectively, 96, 2,400, and 316 and 306. In total, 3,641 samples of horse sera were collected by simple random sampling. The rTeGM6-4r-based ELISA, which was applied for surra against cattle and water buffalo and dourine against horse, revealed that the overall sero-prevalence of the diseases in Mongolia was 4.8%. Among them, high sero-prevalences were observed in the central provinces (5.2–11.0%, p < 0.05) of the country. The sero-prevalence was significantly higher in females than in males (6.0% and 4.0%, p < 0.05, respectively) and in non-castrated males (8.4%, p < 0.01) compared with castrated males (3.0%). These results suggested that currently, horse trypanosomoses are a nationwide endemic problem in Mongolia. Knowledge of the nationwide endemic status of non-tsetse-transmitted horse trypanosomoses in Mongolia will be useful to prevent these diseases.

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are protozoan parasites that cause huge economic losses in animal industries worldwide. N. caninum can cause abortion storms and high culling rates in cattle, whereas T. gondii infection is a significant concern in both human and animals because it can induce abortion and clinical symptoms in immunocompromised hosts. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in cattle in Mongolia. Specific antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum were detected by using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) based on recombinant antigens of dense granule protein 7 of Toxoplasma gondii and surface antigen 1 of Neospora caninum, respectively. A total of 1438 cattle sera from 20 of 21 provinces of Mongolia and the capital city of Ulaanbaatar were tested. Overall, 18.7% and 26.2% of cattle were positive for specific antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively. Prevalence rates were higher (T. gondii infection: P .0001, N. caninum infection: P = .002) in the central region of Mongolia (T. gondii infection: 27.1%, N. caninum infection: 30.8%) compared with western region, suggesting that prevalence rates might be influenced by geographical condition, particularly warmer temperatures around this area in Mongolia. The lowest prevalence rates were observed in the western region of Mongolia (T. gondii: 9%, N. caninum: 20.8%). In addition, the seroprevalence of N. caninum in female animals (27.5%) was significantly higher than that in male animals (20.4%) (P = .018), suggesting an important risk factor of abortion and stillbirth in cattle. The present results showed that T. gondii and N. caninum infections might be a risk for public health and economy of the livestock industry in Mongolia. In conclusion, this study demonstrates high seroprevalences of T. gondii and N. caninum in Mongolia and provides valuable new data for development of control measures against these infections in Mongolia.

application/pdf, Mongolia is an agriculturally rich country with large livestock populations that contribute significantly to its national economy. However, the export market for live animals and livestock products is often constrained for various reasons including infectious diseases. Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, which are bovine hemoprotozoan parasites, cause severe forms of clinical babesiosis, in cattle. However, a country-wide survey to determine the exposure rates in various provinces in Mongolia was not conducted to determine the risk for infections with these parasite species. Therefore, we investigated the frequency of antibodies to B. bovis and B. bigemina in cattle reared throughout Mongolia. B. bovis-and B. bigemina-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to screen the serum samples sourced from 1946 cattle in 19 of 21 provinces and a provincial municipality (Ulaanbaatar) in Mongolia. We found 351 (18.0%) samples positive for B. bovis and 435 (22.4%) samples positive for B. bigemina infections. The B. bovis- and B. bigemina-positive rates ranged from 0.8 to 61.5% and 4.0 to 50.6%, respectively, among the surveyed provinces. The positive rates of B. bovis and B. bigemina infections were relatively higher in the provinces located in northernmost, northern, eastern, southeastern, and southern Mongolia. Additionally, the B. bovis- and B. bigemina-positive rates were not significantly different between females (18.2 and 22.2%, respectively) and males (17.2 and 18.8%, respectively) or between the 1–3-year-old (16.2 and 19.4%, respectively) and >3-year-old (17.1 and 20.9%, respectively) age groups. The differential seropositivity for B. bovis and B. bigemina infections among the provinces may reflect the variations in the risk of cattle being infected with these parasite species. The findings of the present study highlight the need for country-wide control measures, including tick control programs, to minimize the rates of B. bovis and B. bigemina infections in Mongolian cattle. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

Bovine babesiosis, which is caused by species of genus Babesia, is a leading cause of considerable economic losses to the cattle industry each year. Bovine Babesia species have frequently been detected in non-cattle hosts, such as water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), from which the parasites can be transmitted by ticks to cattle. Therefore, Babesia infections should be minimized not only in cattle but also in non-cattle carriers. In the present study, we surveyed the Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) in Mongolia for three clinically significant bovine Babesia species, including Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, and Babesia sp. Mymensingh, which had been detected previously in Mongolian cattle. We screened blood DNA samples from 305 Bactrian camels in six Mongolian provinces for these species, using parasite-specific PCR assays. Our findings showed that the Bactrian camels in Mongolia were infected with all three Babesia species surveyed. The overall positive rates of B. bovis, B. bigemina, and Babesia sp. Mymensingh were 32.1%, 21.6%, and 24.3%, respectively, whereas 52.5% of the surveyed animals were infected with at least one parasite species. We also found that the female Bactrian camels and the Mongolian native camel breed had significantly higher Babesia positive rates than the male Bactrian camels and the Hos Zogdort breed. In Mongolia, cattle and Bactrian camels usually share common pasture lands for grazing; furthermore, tick species infesting cattle also infest Bactrian camels. Our findings, together with these observations, suggest that the tick transmission of bovine Babesia species might be possible between cattle and Bactrian camels. Therefore, strategies for the control of bovine babesiosis in Mongolia should include methods to minimize bovine Babesia species infections in Bactrian camels.

application/pdf, 179 compounds in a Mongolian compound library were investigated for their inhibitory effect on the in vitro growth of Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii. Among these compounds, brachangobinan A at a half-maximal inhibition concentration (IC50) of 2.62 μM and a selectivity index (SI) of 27.91; 2-(2′-hydroxy-5′-O-methylphenyl)-5-(2″,5″-dihydroxyphenyl)oxazole (IC50 3.58 μM and SI 24.66); chrysosplenetin (IC50 3.78 μM and SI 15.26); 4,11-di-O-galloylbergenin (IC50 3.87 μM and SI 13.38); and 2-(2′,5′-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-(2″-hydroxyphenyl)oxazole (IC50 6.94 μM and SI 11.48) were identified as potential inhibitors of P. falciparum multiplication. Additionally, tricin (IC50 12.94 μM and SI > 23.40) was identified as a potential inhibitor of T. gondii multiplication. Our findings represent a good starting point for developing novel antimalarial and anti-Toxoplasma therapeutics from Mongolian compounds.

Bovine babesiosis caused by Babesia species is an economically significant disease of cattle. Severe clinical babesiosis in cattle is caused by Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, and the recently discovered Babesia sp. Mymensingh. Mongolia is an agricultural country with a large cattle inventory. Although previous studies have detected active infections of B. bovis and B. bigemina in Mongolian cattle, only a few provinces were surveyed. Additionally, the endemicity of Babesia sp. Mymensingh in Mongolia remains unknown. We screened blood DNA samples from 725 cattle reared in 16 of the 21 Mongolian provinces using B. bovis-, B. bigemina-, and Babesia. sp. Mymensingh-specific PCR assays. The overall positive rates of B. bovis, B. bigemina, and Babesia sp. Mymensingh were 27.9% (n = 202), 23.6% (n = 171), and 5.4% (n = 39), respectively. B. bovis and B. bigemina were detected in cattle in all surveyed provinces; whereas Babesia sp. Mymensingh was detected in 11 of the 16 surveyed provinces. On a per province basis, the B. bovis- B. bigemina-, and Babesia sp. Mymensingh-positive rates were 5.9–52.0%, 9.1–76.3%, and 0–35.7%, respectively. In conclusion, this is the first report of Babesia sp. Mymensingh in Mongolia. In addition, we found that species of Babesia that are capable of causing bovine clinical babesiosis, including B. bovis, B. bigemina, and Babesia sp. Mymensingh, are widespread throughout the country.

Equine piroplasmosis caused by

application/pdf, Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Consumption of raw or undercooked meat is the main risk factor for acquiring T. gondii infection in humans. Meat and meat products derived from goats and sheep are mainly consumed in Mongolia; however, there is limited epidemiological information on T. gondii infection in small ruminants in this country. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii in sheep and goats in Mongolia. The seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies was determined by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the recombinant antigens of dense granule protein 7 of T. gondii. A total of 1078 goat and 882 sheep blood samples were collected from 17 of 21 provinces and the capital city of Mongolia. Overall, the seroprevalence of T. gondii among the goat and sheep samples was 32% and 34.8%, respectively. The seroprevalence among goat samples was significantly higher in western (42.7%) and eastern (45.6%) regions compared with other regions (24%). Additionally, the seroprevalence among sheep was significantly higher in eastern regions (55.4%) compared with other regions (26%–33%). Age, but not sex, was considered a risk factor for T. gondii seropositivity in goats, whereas no statistically significant differences were observed in sheep for age or sex. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the high seroprevalence of T. gondii in small ruminants in Mongolia. Our results highlight that country-wide control measures are required to minimize infections in livestock.

Trypanosoma equiperdum primarily parasitizes the genital organs and causes dourine in equidae. We isolated a new T. equiperdum strain, T. equiperdum IVM-t1, from the urogenital tract of a horse definitively diagnosed as having dourine in Mongolia., Trypanosoma equiperdum primarily parasitizes the genital organs and causes dourine in equidae. We isolated a new T. equiperdum strain, T. equiperdum IVM-t1, from the urogenital tract of a horse definitively diagnosed as having dourine in Mongolia. Here, we report the whole-genome sequence, the predicted gene models, and their annotations.

application/pdf, Anaplasma ovis is a tick-borne obligate intracellular rickettsial bacterium that causes anaplasmosis in domestic and wild small ruminants. Sheep and goats, whose combined population is approximately 48.5-million in Mongolia, play a vital role in the country's economy. In this study, we conducted an epidemiological survey of A. ovis in sheep and goats from 19 of 21 provinces in Mongolia. Additionally, DNA samples extracted from unfed ticks collected in 11 Mongolian provinces were also screened for A. ovis. Of 1179 and 871 blood DNA samples from sheep and goats, 813 (69.0%) and 621 (71.3%), respectively, were positive for A. ovis when screened by a PCR assay based on major surface protein 4 gene (msp4). On a per province basis, A. ovis infection rates ranged from 7.4%–93.3% and 13.3%–100% in sheep and goats, respectively. Subsequently, DNA samples prepared from 721 unfed ticks, including Dermacentor nuttalli (n = 378), Ixodes persulcatus (n = 95), Haemaphysalis pospelovashtromae (n = 120), and Hyalomma asiaticum (n = 128), were screened for A. ovis using the same PCR assay. Although nine D. nuttalli were A. ovis-positive, all other tick DNA samples were negative. In addition to reporting A. ovis in sheep and goats from all over Mongolia, this study identified D. nuttalli as a potential transmission vector of A. ovis in Mongolia. The present data highlight the importance of monitoring Mongolian sheep and goats for possible episodes of clinical anaplasmosis and controlling D. nuttalli throughout the country. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

Tick infestation activity has increased in Mongolia in recent years. Rickettsiosis, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease and Q fever are all tick borne zoonoses. We aimed to survey dispersal of these zoonotic disease agents in vector tick population by amolecular diagnostic method. In total, 1462 ticks were harbored from various geographical regions of Mongolia. Genomic DNA was extracted from 400 pasture ticks(Dermacentornuttalli, Dermacentordaghestanicus, Hyalommadromedarii, Hyalommaas. asiaticum) and 100 forest ticks (Ixodespersulcatus). PCR was performed to detect zoonotic pathogens and the prevalence of Rickettsia spp., was 12.5 % and 22.9% in pasture and forest tick DNA samples respectively. Ehrlichiaspp., were detected in 28.5 % and 75 % in pasture and forest ticksrespectively. Interestingly, Lyme disease agentBorreliaspp. has not detected in 200 pasture tick DNA samples, but found in one out of 96forest tick DNA samples. Contrary to this, Coxiellaburnetii, the causative agent of Q fever found only in one out of 240 pasture ticksand was not detected in 96 forest tick DNA samples. Results have proven that molecular diagnostic PCR method is the fastest reliable tool to detect zoonotic pathogens in vector ticks.Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.13(2) 2014:3-7

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a zoonotic agent of public health importance, infecting both humans and animals. An investigation of the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum as well as Anaplasma platys was conducted in a forest area of Selenge province, Mongolia, where ticks are widely distributed and tick-borne diseases are highly endemic. Ticks were collected and tested using polymerase chain reaction based on groEL methodology. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in 14 (6%) of Ixodes persulcatus ticks and four (1%) Dermacentor nuttalli ticks; infection of Anaplasma platys was detected in 1% of Ixodes persulcatus ticks and 10% of Dermacentor nuttalli ticks. The phylogenetic tree showed that the Anaplasma phagocytophilum clustered with the Russian group, most likely due to similar geographical locations. This finding is significant for both veterinary and public health officials given that these agents can cause both animal and human illness.

Among the previously established enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), an ELISA using the full length of a recombinant thrombospondin-related adhesive protein of Babesia gibsoni (rBgTRAPf) is considered as the most sensitive diagnostic method for the detection of an antibody to B. gibsoni in dogs. However, the expression of rBgTRAPf in high concentration is poor and, thus, limits its usefulness as a diagnostic antigen. To improve its expression level, we have truncated BgTRAPf into two fragments having either an N- or a C-terminus (BgTRAPn or BgTRAPc, respectively). The expression of BgTRAPc protein in Escherichia coli yielded adequate recombinant protein. The specificity and sensitivity of ELISAs with the truncated proteins were determined using dog sera experimentally infected with B. gibsoni and specific pathogen-free (SPF) dog sera. A total of 254 field dog sera were examined by the ELISA with rBgTRAPn, rBgTRAPc, and rBgTRAPf as well as by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The specificity of rBgTRAPc was the highest (97.15%), and its kappa value was more (0.8003) than rBgTRAPn (0.7083). With a sufficient level of expression as well as higher specificity and reliable sensitivity, rBgTRAPc appears to be a potential candidate antigen for the serodiagnosis of B. gibsoni infection in dogs.