Results of Epizootiological Survey on Plague and Other Zoonotic Infections in the Northern Provinces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam During Spring Months of 2019

Abstract

Objective of the study is to detect circulation of plague agent and agents of other zoonotic infections (tularemia, pseudotuberculosis, leptospirosis, West Nile fever, Lassa fever, Dengue fever, Chikungunya fever, CrimeanCongo hemorrhagic fever, Q fever, Hantaviruses, tick-borne encephalitis, human monocytic ehrlichiosis, granulocytic anaplasmosis, and borreliosis) among small mammals and their ectoparasites in the territory of seven northern provinces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Materials and methods. We have carried out epizootiological survey of seven northern provinces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lào Cai, Hà Giang, Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng, and Quảng Ninh). Over the period of the study, 3400 trap/nights were accumulated, 179 specimens of small mammals caught, belonging to 10 species, 213 fleas of seven different species – collected, and 143 specimens of gamaside ticks falling under two species. The material gathered was investigated using enzyme immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction at the premises of mobile laboratory for monitoring and diagnostics. Results and discussion. Two-fold testing of 136 blood samples from small mammals revealed antibodies to F1 of Y. pestis in 14 (10.3 %) of them. Investigation of 158 samples of lung and kidney suspensions of small mammals showed that 22 (13.9 %) samples contained 16S rRNA of pathogenic leptospira, Leptospira spp. Analysis of 60 brain samples for the presence of Leptospira spp. revealed three (5.0 %) positive ones. 25 samples of gamaside ticks were tested for the presence of the DNA of Q fever, plague, tularemia and granulocytic anaplasmosis agents, and for the RNA of tick-borne encephalitis, human monocytic ehrlichiosis, and borreliosis agents. One sample (4 %) of gamaside ticks, Laelaps echidninus, contained RNA of Borrelia.

Identification of Vietnamese Flea Species and Their Associated Microorganisms Using Morphological, Molecular, and Protein Profiling

“…X. cheopis was the species most predominantly captured from wild rodents in Vietnam [ 5 ]. X. cheopis is best known for being a vector in the transmission of Y. pestis , the bacterial agent of the bubonic plague primarily responsible for two pandemics that marked human history in Vietnam [ 4 ] and that still poses a threat to public health in endemic countries [ 38 , 39 ]. X. astia is also included here because it has been identified in other plague-hit countries [ 40 , 41 ].…”

Experience in Using Mobile Laboratory for Monitoring and Diagnostics in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

“…Использование МЛМД при проведении эпизоотологического обследования северных провинций Вьетнама. в марте 2019 г. с задействованием млмд организована первая совместная экспедиция с целью рекогносцировочного эпизоотологического обследования семи северных провинций социалистической республики вьетнам: дьенбьен, лайтяу, лаокай, хазянг, каобанг, лангшон и куагнинь [9,10]. также в задачи экспедиции входило исследование клинического материала от больных с диагнозом «лихорадка неясной этиологии» из госпиталей семи обследуемых провинций.…”