[Approaches used for assessment of the burden of advanced schistosomiasis japonica: a comparative study].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the approaches used for the assessment of disability adjust life years (DALYs) for advanced schistosomiasis japonica, so as to provide scientific evidence for accurate assessment of the burden of advanced schistosomiasis japonica. METHODS: The patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica receiving treatment and assistance programs in Hunan Province in 2017 were enrolled, and the years lived with disability (YLD) for the patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica was calculated using the common global burden of disease (GBD) estimation method, the modified GBD method with addition of common syndromes of advanced schistosomiasis japonica, and the quality of life assessment method. RESULTS: The YLDs of patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica, the mean YLDs per capita, and the percentages of YLD were 673.94, 728.77 person-years and 1 761.99 person-years; 0.181, 0.196 person-years and 0.474 person-years; and 10.61, 11.48 person-years per 100 thousand persons and 27.75 person-years per 100 thousand persons with the common GBD method, modified GBD method and the quality of life method, respectively. The YLDs of the patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica in Hunan Province estimated with the modified GBD method and the quality of life method were 8.14% and 2.61 times higher than that with the common GBD method. Of the major symptoms included in the calculation, the 5 symptoms with the greatest contribution to the burden of advanced schistosomiasis japonica included ascites, moderate anemia, severe anemia, diarrhea and hematochezia. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life method may more comprehensively assess the YLDs in patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica than the common and modified GBD methods.

[Global burden and challenges of parasitic diseases in Africa].

Parasitic diseases are common infectious diseases closely related to poverty, which are mainly endemic in the tropical and subtropical regions. Africa is the major epidemic area of parasitic diseases, and the global burden of malaria and schistosomiasis is over 85% in Africa. This paper reviews the disease burden, regional distribution and control strategies of the main parasitic diseases in Africa, in order to promote the prevention and control of parasitic diseases in this area.

[Surveillance and risk assessment system of schistosomiasis in Jiangsu Province â ¢ Risk of schistosomiasis transmission in the area along the Yangtze River in Yangzhou City].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential risk of schistosomiasis transmission in the area along the Yangtze River in Yangzhou City, so as to provide evidences for establishing a post-transmission surveillance system for schistosomiasis in marshland regions. METHODS: The water infectivity, floating boatmen and fishermen infection, reservoir host infection and wild feces contamination were investigated in five districts/counties along the Yangtze River in Yangzhou City, including Guangling, Hanjiang, Jiangdu, Yizheng and Development Zone, and the transmission factors and risky characteristics were assessed after interruption of schistosomiasis transmission in marshland regions. RESULTS: A total of 15 key water regions were identified in the area along the Yangtze River in Yangzhou City in 2015. A total of 1 500 sentinel mice were placed, after breeding, their overall survival rate was 99.33%; 1 490 were dissected, with no schistosome infection. Of the 5 576 floating boatmen and fishermen examined, no schistosome infection was observed, and among the 3 566 domestic animals (including 171 cattle, 1 895 sheep and 1 500 pigs), no infections were detected. During the period between January and March, 2016, there were 3 200 mouse traps placed on 8 marshlands, and 62 wild mice were captured from 6 marshlands, with a capture rate of 1.94%, and no schistosomeinfected wild mice were seen. In addition, there were 35 pieces of fresh wild feces captured from 7 marshlands, including 11 pieces of bovine feces (31.43%), 17 pieces of sheep feces (48.57%), 2 pieces of dog feces (5.71%) and 5 pieces of other feces (14.29%), and no infections were detected. CONCLUSIONS: There is a low risk of schistosomiasis transmission in the area along the Yangtze River in Yangzhou City. However, the contamination of feces from bovine and sheep that are freely pastured on marshlands is a big threat to schistosomiasis control.

[Role of goat in transmission of schistosomiasis japonica â £ Schistosome development in goat and egg count and distribution in goat feces].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the growth and development of Schistosoma japonicum in goat and the intensity and temporal distribution of eggs excreted by goat feces, so as to provide baseline data for the control and elimination of the role of goat in the transmission of schistosomiasis. METHODS: The goat animal models of schistosomiasis were established, and stool samples were collected for parasitological examinations. The number of adult worms recovered, variation of schistosomes in goat at different time points post-infection, number of eggs in schistosomes, variation in number and temporal profiles of eggs excreted from goat feces were observed. RESULTS: Of the 6 schistosome-infected goat, 415 adult worms were recovered, with a mean adult worm recovery of 34.58% (range, 23.00% to 45.50%). Among the 5 goat infected with 200 cercariae each, 47, 93, 77, 74 and 73 adult worms were recovered 2, 5, 8, 11 and 14 months post-infection, respectively. There were (200.00±42.33), (226.20±45.88), (168.20±25.85), (183.80±55.13) and (190.80±53.53) eggs detected in female schistosomes. The mean prepatent period of eggs excreted by 10 infected goat was (37.7±3.02) d. From 2 to 14 months post-infection, 7 batches of goat feces were hatched, and there were 30, 23, 14, 1 and 2 times for miracidium intensity of "++++", "+++", "++", "+" and "-", respectively, with 42.86%, 32.86%, 20.00%, 1.43% and 2.86% constituent ratios of miracidium intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1/3 S. japonicum cercariae may develop to adults in goats post-infection, and the prepatent period of eggs is (37.7±3.02) d. There is no remarkable decrease seen in the number of adult worms, eggs in female schistosomes and eggs in goat feces within 14 months post-infection. Our findings suggest a long duration for infected goat in the transmission of schistosomiasis, and there is no evidence to prove the "self-cure" phenomenon in goat, indicating that goat is an important source of infection for schistosomiasis japonica.

[Study on schistosomiasis control measures in mobile boat fishermen. III. Construction and application of regional joint mechanism for schistosomiasis examination and treatment in boatmen].

OBJECTIVE: To construct the regional joint mechanism for schistosomiasis examination and treatment and the examination protocol among mobile boatmen, so as to provide effective measures for control of mobile infectious sources of schistosomiasis in the Yangtze River basin. METHODS: According to the characteristics of the cargo frequent mobility of ships with fixed anchor points, the health, maritime and transport sections were jointly cooperated to set up sites for schistosomiasis examination and treatment in ship locks, wharfs and harbors. The infection of schistosomiasis was detected by means of rapid immunological screening and stool examination, and the regional joint mechanism was constructed. The sero-positives were traced for further parasitological examinations and treatment by using the regional joint network for schistosomiasis examination and treatment. The schistosome infections in boatmen were analyzed and compared between different examination and treatment sites and among different navigation coverage. RESULTS: A total of 16 sites for examination and treatment of schistosomiasis, including 5 fixed sites and 11 mobile sites, were set up in 12 townships of 6 districts (counties) of Yangzhou City. During a period between June and August, the examination of schistosomiasis was conducted in 40 sites, and of the 1 225 boatmen from 967 boats detected, 19 cases were sero-positive, with a positive rate of 1.55%. Among the 14 sero-positives examined, no stool positive patients were found. Among the 1 225 boatmen detected, 820 were from fixed sites and 405 from mobile sites, and 4 and 15 cases were found, respectively, with positive rates of 0.49% and 3.70%, respectively, and the sero-positive rate was higher in mobile sites and that in fixed sites. A total of 898 boatmen from the Yangtze River basin and 305 from the local inland rivers were examined, and 3 and 16 sero-positive cases were detected, respectively, with positive rates of 0.33% and 5.25%, respectively, and the sero-positive rate was significantly higher in the boatmen from the local inland rivers than that from the Yangtze River basin. CONCLUSION: Regional joint mechanism is an effective strategy for examination and treatment of schistosomiasis among mobile boatmen, which provides a new approach to control mobile infectious sources of schistosomiasis in the Yangtze River basin.