The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific (Dec 2021)
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Mongolia: Results from a national population survey
- Battogtokh Chimeddorj,
- Undram Mandakh,
- Linh-Vi Le,
- Batzorig Bayartsogt,
- Zolzaya Deleg,
- Oyunsuren Enebish,
- Oyunbaatar Altanbayar,
- Battur Magvan,
- Anuujin Gantumur,
- Otgonjargal Byambaa,
- Gerelmaa Enebish,
- Bat-Erdene Saindoo,
- Mandakhnaran Davaadorj,
- Avarzed Amgalanbaatar,
- Khangai Enkhtugs,
- Usukhbayar Munkhbayar,
- Batkhuu Bayanjargal,
- Tuyajargal Badamsambuu,
- Myagmartseren Dashtseren,
- Zolmunkh Narmandakh,
- Khongorzul Togoo,
- Enkh-Amar Boldbaatar,
- Ariunzaya Bat-Erdene,
- Yerkyebulan Mukhtar,
- Oyu-Erdene Shagdarsuren,
- Mandukhai Ganbat,
- Ochbadrakh Batjargal,
- Bayasgalantai Bavuusuren,
- Batzaya Batchuluun,
- Gereltsetseg Zulmunkh,
- Ganbaatar Byambatsogt,
- Khurelbaatar Nyamdavaa,
- Tserendagva Dalkh,
- Damdindorj Boldbaatar,
- Tuvshinjargal Tseren,
- Darambazar Gantulga,
- Otgonbayar Damdinbazar,
- Byambasuren Vanchin,
- Lorenzo Subissi,
- Isabel Bergeri,
- Davaalkham Dambadarjaa,
- Nymadawa Pagbajabyn,
- Gregory Greif,
- Ryenchindorj Erkhembayar
Affiliations
- Battogtokh Chimeddorj
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention Control, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Mongolia Japan Hospital, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Undram Mandakh
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Linh-Vi Le
- World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
- Batzorig Bayartsogt
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Zolzaya Deleg
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention Control, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Oyunsuren Enebish
- Department of Planning and Research, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Oyunbaatar Altanbayar
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention Control, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Battur Magvan
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention Control, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Anuujin Gantumur
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention Control, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Otgonjargal Byambaa
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention Control, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Gerelmaa Enebish
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention Control, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Bat-Erdene Saindoo
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention Control, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Mandakhnaran Davaadorj
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention Control, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Avarzed Amgalanbaatar
- Department of International Cyber Education, Graduate School, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Khangai Enkhtugs
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Usukhbayar Munkhbayar
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Batkhuu Bayanjargal
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Tuyajargal Badamsambuu
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Myagmartseren Dashtseren
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Zolmunkh Narmandakh
- Department of Immunology, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Khongorzul Togoo
- Department of Immunology, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Enkh-Amar Boldbaatar
- Department of Immunology, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Ariunzaya Bat-Erdene
- Department of Immunology, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Yerkyebulan Mukhtar
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Oyu-Erdene Shagdarsuren
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Mandukhai Ganbat
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Ochbadrakh Batjargal
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention Control, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Bayasgalantai Bavuusuren
- Mongolia Japan Hospital, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Batzaya Batchuluun
- Mongolia Japan Hospital, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Gereltsetseg Zulmunkh
- Mongolia Japan Hospital, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Ganbaatar Byambatsogt
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Khurelbaatar Nyamdavaa
- Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Tserendagva Dalkh
- Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Damdindorj Boldbaatar
- Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Tuvshinjargal Tseren
- Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Darambazar Gantulga
- Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Otgonbayar Damdinbazar
- Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Byambasuren Vanchin
- Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Lorenzo Subissi
- World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
- Isabel Bergeri
- World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
- Davaalkham Dambadarjaa
- Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Nymadawa Pagbajabyn
- Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Gregory Greif
- Department of International Cyber Education, Graduate School, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Ryenchindorj Erkhembayar
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Department of International Cyber Education, Graduate School, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Corresponding Author. Dr Ryenchindorj Erkhembayar, Department of International Cyber Education, Graduate School, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, S.Zorig Street, Ulaanbaatar, 14210
- Journal volume & issue
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Vol. 17
p. 100317
Abstract
Background: With the global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in early 2020, Mongolia implemented rapid emergency measures and did not report local transmission until November 2020. We conducted a national seroprevalence survey to monitor the burden of SARS-CoV-2 in Mongolia in the months surrounding the first local transmission. Methods: During October-December 2020, participants were randomly selected using age stratification and invited for interviews and blood samples at local primary health centres. We screened for total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, followed by two-step quantitative SARS-CoV-2 IgG serology tests for positive samples. Weighted and test-adjusted seroprevalences were estimated. We used chi-square, Fisher's exact and other tests to identify variables associated with seropositivity. Findings: A total of 5000 subjects were enrolled. We detected SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in 72 samples. Crude seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 1•44% (95%CI,1•21-1•67). Population weighted and test-adjusted seroprevalences were 1•36% (95%CI,1•11-1•63) and 1•45% (95%CI,1•11-1•63), respectively. Age, sex, geographical, and occupational factors were not associated with seropositivity (p>0•05). Symptoms and signs within past 3 months and seropositivity were not associated at the time of the survey (p>0•05). Interpretation: SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Mongolia was low in the first year of the pandemic potentially due to strong public health measures, including border restrictions, educational facilities closure, earlier adoption of mask-wearing and others. Our findings suggest large-scale community transmission could not have occurred up to November 2020 in Mongolia. Additional serosurveys are needed to monitor the local pandemic dynamic and estimate how far from herd immunity Mongolia will be following-up with vaccination programme in 2021 and 2022. Funding: World Health Organisation, WHO UNITY Studies initiative, with funding by the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and the German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) COVID-19 Research and development. Translation: Cyrillic and Traditional Mongolian translation of abstract is available on appendix section.
