The present situation of echinococcoses in Mongolia

Abstract

This review presents the historical and current situation of echinococcoses in Mongolia. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Mongolia's health surveillance infrastructure has been very poor, especially as it pertains to chronic diseases, including neglected zoonotic diseases (NZDs). Although there is anecdotal evidence of people dying from hepatic disease due to infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus spp., there are very few published reports. All confirmed cases of echinococcoses in Mongolia are from hospitals located in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Cases of cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by either Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto or Echinococcus canadensis are believed to be relatively common throughout Mongolia. In contrast, cases of alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, are believed to be rare. Recent wild-animal surveys have revealed that wolves (Canis lupus) are the major definitive hosts of E. canadensis, whereas both wolves and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are the primary definitive hosts of E. multilocularis. Although wild-animal surveys have begun to elucidate the transmission of Echinococcus spp. in Mongolia, there have yet to be large-scale studies conducted in domestic dogs and livestock. Therefore, further epidemiological studies, in addition to education-based control campaigns, are needed to help combat this NZD.

Global Distribution of Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis

“…Based on this prevalence of 4.7%, a much higher national prevalence can be estimated as shown in Table 3. In Mongolia, AE is less common than CE (Ito and Budke, 2015). Echinococcus multilocularis has been documented in wild canids (red foxes and wolves) in northern Mongolia .…”

“…Apart from one infected vole (Microtus limnophilus) from Khovd Province (Gardner et al, 2013) (Ito and Budke, 2015). So far five cases of AE have been documented in four provinces, mainly in the northwest of Mongolia (Ito and Budke, 2015). Molecular studies from metacestodes of three AE patients revealed both Asian and the Mongolian E. multilocularis haplotypes (Ito et al, 2010).…”

“…The documentation of echinococcosis cases goes back to the 1950s in Mongolia; for a recent comprehensive review presenting the historical and current situation of echinococcosis in Mongolia, see Ito and Budke (2015). In Mongolia, the life cycle of E. granulosus (G1) is typically maintained between dogs and livestock due to the traditional nomadic lifestyle, but the epidemiology of the other genotypes, G10 and G6/7, is not well described so far.…”

“…Echinococcus multilocularis has been documented in wild canids (red foxes and wolves) in northern Mongolia . Apart from one infected vole (Microtus limnophilus) from Khovd Province (Gardner et al, 2013) (Ito and Budke, 2015). So far five cases of AE have been documented in four provinces, mainly in the northwest of Mongolia (Ito and Budke, 2015).…”

“…In a recent study covering all provinces, seroprevalence was 3.6% in 590 sheep, 5.9% in 779 cattle and 9.2% in 338 goats using recombinant Antigen B (8/1) (rAgB8/1) (Chinchuluun et al, 2014). Camels are an important livestock species in some regions of Mongolia and have been found to be infected with E. granulosus [cited in Ito and Budke (2015)]. p1725…”