1. Rabies in Mongolian steppes
A. Botvinkin, D. Otgonbaatar,
S. Tsoodol, I. Kuzmin
- Irkutsk State Medical University, Russia.
- Center of Infectious Diseases with Natural
Foci, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.

2. Mongolia: - human population – 2.5 mln - cattle – 35.0 mln

3. - About one million of Mongolian people lives in traditional houses – “yurta” - Local name of rabies is “galzoo” – kind of wicked spirits

4. Epidemiological features of rabies in Mongolia
– 11 human rabies cases;
in average index 0.4 per mln
Cattle-breeder children (4-7 years old) – 50% of all human cases
64% of human cases were caused by wildlife
Bites of herd dogs – 90% of PET

5. Animal rabies in Mongolia (total case number 1976-2006) Cattle – more than 80% of reported cases

6. Human rabies in Mongolia (total case number 1972-2006)

7. Distribution of the steppes in Mongolia and neighbouring countries

12. Main vectors and reservoirs of rabies virus in Mongolia

13. Main vectors and reservoirs of rabies virus in Mongolia
Human rabies in Mongolia ( ; n=11):
Wolf – 5
Red fox – 2
Dog - 4
Active surveillance in Chita region of Russia ( ; n=370):
- Red fox – 3,7%
- Steppe fox – 3,5%

14. Sequencing of rabies virus isolates from Mongolian type steppes
Location
Species
Year
Number
Mongolia
(west)
red fox, wolf, cow, camel
2006
3,4,6,7
Russia
(Tuwa)
wolf, cow
1980
365w, 786c
(Chita region)
steppe fox
1977
304c,
248c

16. Instead of conclusion
Does Mongolia a place of contact of different clones of rabies virus?
From there did fox rabies appeares in Mongolian steppes?
Can we consider rabies in Mongolian steppes as a relict of wildlife rabies in central Asia?