Inhibitory Effects of Pepstatin A and Mefloquine on the Growth of Babesia Parasites

We evaluated the inhibitory effects of pepstatin A and mefloquine on the in vitro and in vivo growths of Babesia parasites. The in vitro growth of Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, B. caballi, and B. equi was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) by micromolar concentrations of pepstatin A (50% inhibitory concentrations = 38.5, 36.5, 17.6, and 18.1 μM, respectively) and mefloquine (50% inhibitory concentrations = 59.7, 56.7, 20.7, and 4 μM, respectively). Furthermore, both reagents either alone at a concentration of 5 mg/kg or in combinations (2.5/2.5 and 5/5 mg/kg) for 10 days significantly inhibited the in vivo growth of B. microti in mice. Mefloquine treatment was highly effective and the combination treatments were less effective than other treatments. Therefore, mefloquine may antagonize the actions of pepstatin A against babesiosis and aspartic proteases may play an important role in the asexual growth cycle of Babesia parasites.     

Flavonoids isolated from the flowers of Pulsatilla flavescens and their anti-piroplasm activity

Journal of Natural Medicines - Pulsatilla species are known as “Yargui”, and their flowers are traditionally used in Mongolia as a tonic and for the treatment of inflammatory diseases....     

Anthrax in animals and humans in Mongolia

Anthrax is endemic throughout Mongolia, except in the semi-desert and desert areas of the south. The prevalence of anthrax in Mongolia had drastically decreased since the 1950s due to the use of anthrax antiserum and vaccines, but the privatisation of the animal husbandry sector and changes in the structures of the veterinary and medical delivery systems in Mongolia over the last decade have resulted in challenges for disease control. Animal and human anthrax has become an increasing problem since the mid-1990s. Human cutaneous anthrax is common in Mongolia as a result of exposure to infected animals. In this paper, the authors identify potential causes forthe increase of anthrax in Mongolia. The current prevention efforts may not be adequate. Anthrax surveillance and control must be intensified, particularly in areas of high prevalence.     

Evidence of recombination in a new isolate of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype Asia 1

Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of VP1 revealed that a new isolate of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype Asia 1 identified in Mongolia in 2005 was related to Chinese and Russian strains isolated during the same year. In this study, these strains were defined as East Asian strains having a common geographical origin, and the complete genomic sequence of the Mongolian strain (As1/MOG/05) was determined and compared to other strains of serotype Asia 1. As1/MOG/05 showed 100% identity with an East Asian strain from China (As1/Qinghai/CHA/05) in terms of its VP1 nucleotide sequence. However, the Mongolian strain has a four-amino acid extension in 3D that is missing from all other strains of serotype Asia 1, and which is not due to an insertion. A full genomic scan revealed that the Mongolian strain is closer to the East Asian strain As1/JS/CHA/05 than to all other strains of serotype Asia 1 in nearly all genomic regions. Within the narrow region of low similarity between the two sequences, As1/JS/CHA/05 was found to have a mosaic structure with a partial 2C fragment supposedly transferred from Hong Kong strain As1/HNK/CHA/05. The genomic mosaicism and extension detected in non-structural protein-coding regions in this study may be used to trace the origins and evolution of problematic strains of serotype Asia 1 that have arisen in East Asia since 2005.