The aim of the study was to assess the role of the innate immunity gene polymorphism in the population selection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes circulating in the ethnically close groups of Mongoloids: Buryats and Khalkha-Mongols. Materials and Methods. Nucleotide polymorphisms of innate immunity genes were identified in 400 patients with chronic hepatitis C, including 200 people belonging to the ethnic group of Mongols living in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) and 200 to the ethnic group of Buryats living in Ulan-Ude (Republic of Buryatia). The control group (n=531) consisted of apparently healthy people comprising 220 Buryats and 311 Khalkha-Mongols. Genetic studies of twelve single-nucleotide polymorphisms of nine genes: IFNL1 (rs30461); IFNL3 (rs12979860 and rs8099917); IFNL4 (rs368234815); CD209 (rs4804803); TLR3 (rs3775291 and rs13126816); TLR7 (rs179008 and rs179009); IFITM (rs12252); MyD88 (rs6853); IFIH1 (rs1990760) have been performed in the mentioned selections of the sick and healthy individuals. When analyzing the genetic study results, frequencies of gene alleles and their combinations in the form of genotypes have been compared. Results. The dominant prevalence of the HCV genotype 1 (98.0%) was found in the territory of Mongolia which appeared to be significantly higher (p<0.001) than its prevalence in the territory of Buryatia (66.0%). Among the genetic factors which can influence the formation of the circulating genotype structures in Buryat and Mongolian population, single-nucleotide polymorphisms in three genes (IFNL3, TLR3, and TLR7), the frequency of which differed significantly in the examined cohorts, have been detected. In the ethnical Buryat group, the search for the candidate genes in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 and non-1 (2 or 3, 2/3) has established that T allele of rs179008 TLR7 gene occurs 2 times more often in women with chronic hepatitis C infection caused by genotype 2/3 than by genotype 1 (p=0.04). Conclusion. A low prevalence of HCV genotypes 2 and 3 among the population in the territory of Mongolia is likely to be caused by a rare frequency of the mutant T allele of TLR7 gene (rs179008) associated with the predisposition to HCV-2/3 infection, i.e. the situation that has been demonstrated in our work using the ethnical group of Buryats as an example.

Aims: Liver fibrosis and its sequel cirrhosis represent a major health care burden, and assessment of fibrosis by biopsy is gradually being replaced by noninvasive methods.In clinical practice, the determination of fibrosis stage is important, since patients with advanced fibrosis have faster progression to cirrhosis and antiviral therapy is indicated in these patients. To assess the performances of liver fibrosis during antiviral treatment by liver stiffness measurement (LSM)using Fibroscan in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods: We followed and evaluated treatment outcome of 56 patients with CHB, initiating their TDF regimen at Happy Veritas Clinic and Diagnostic Center. Each patient underwent transientelastography measurements, HBV quantification and serum liver marker assays before treatment with TDF, orally once daily. Results: The mean age of the patients 45±11. Before treatment LSM results indicated fibrosis stage F0 in 18(32.1%) patients, F1 in 6(10.7%), F2 in 19(33.9%), F3 in 18(16.1%), and F4 in 4(7.1%) patients. After SVR 12, SVR 24 months the mean stiffness score of F1 increased from 7.8 to 8.3kPa. F2 increased from 9.4 to 10.3 kPa, F3 decreased from 13.3 to 12.3kPa, F4 increased from 23.8 to 28.4 kPa. In table 1 shows the changes of liver stiffness by Fibroscan after treatment. There was a significant negative correlation between platelet count and liver stiffness score. Conclusions: In chronic hepatitis B patients who is receiving TDF regimen, annual LSM revealed that significant advanced fibrosis improvement slows but continues during treatment.

Aims: Mongolia is a unique country with high endemicity for three blood borne hepatitis viruses, namely HBV, HCV and HDV. The number of patients with acute hepatitis decreased considerably with an estimated annual number of cases 13,000/ year in 1991 to 1700/year in 2013 in Mongolia.Hepatitis B and C virus infection are one of the major causes of liver cirrhosis and HCC in Mongolia. However, viral hepatitis C is still one of the serious public health concerns in Mongolia. To investigate of HCV infection among apparently healthy populations in Mongolia. Methods: The study population was consisted of 1512 subjects from 13 provinces and Ulaanbaatar city which is the capital city of Mongolia, and the age ranged from 0 to 80 years. Results: According to our study results, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 15.6%, and the HCV RNA was detected in 11 %; therefore, we can say that the prevalence of this infection is very high in Mongolia.The prevalence of anti-HCV and HCV RNA had a tendency to increase with age. The prevalence of anti-HCV and HCV RNA in population aged over 61 years was significantly higher than those aged 31 to 40 year. The history of dental care, surgery, and tattooing was significantly more frequent in anti-HCV positive subjects compared with anti-HCV negative subjects. Interestingly, the most of HCV infection is caused by genotype 1. However, Genotype 2 of HCV is very rare, less than 2 percent in Mongolia. The extreme predominance of HCV genotype 1b in the Mongolian population may be explained by the greater ethnic and genetic homogeneity of current Mongolian population. Conclusions: The epidemiological situation of HCV infection in Mongolia is catastrophic. This infection was evenly distributed in all areas and has endemic characteristics for the country. The rate of positive anti-HCV and HCV-RNA was increasing age-dependently. The predominant genotype of HCV in Mongolia is 1b.