[Effect of short-term global health training on tropical diseases and its related factors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of short-term global health training on tropical diseases in China, so as to provide the reference in professional trainings. METHODS: The study took the short-term global health training project on tropical diseases in China as an example. The structured questionnaires were distributed to each trainee pre- and post-training course. RESULTS: A total of 89 trainees were included in the survey, and 68.5% (61 cases) of the trainees were older than 35 years and 85.4% (76 cases) of the trainees came from provincial institutes. The passing rate for the test of global health knowledge was significantly improved from the pre-training test (18.0%, 16/89) to the post one (68.2%, 58/85) (χ2 = 44.930, P < 0.05) . The knowledge of global health was closely related to the professionals' capacity, i.e., the education level, age, professional title, and experience of international cooperation, but was not statistically related to their genders. CONCLUSIONS: This kind of short-term trainings not only greatly improves the professionals' knowledge of tropical diseases control, but also is expected to play a leading role in the international cooperation of global health and tropical diseases control in the future.

[Preparation of recombinant retrovirus pRevTRE-E77.43 and its protective effect in a mouse model of Schistosoma japonicum infection].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the biological functions of E77.43, a gene segment of Microtus fortis, in treating Schistosoma japonicum infection. METHODS: Recombinant retroviral vectors of pRevTRE-E77.43 was constructed, and recombinant retroviral vectors were transfected into PA317 cells, and the stable cell lines were obtained by hygromycin screening, followed by the packaging, concentration and purification of recombinant retrovirus. The virus was transferred to the mice infected by S. japonicum via intravenous or intraperitoneal injection, through which the express of target gene and the treatment function in vivo were observed. RESULTS: The experiment showed the recombinant virus injected mice could efficiently express E77.43 on the 7th day after the injection which lasted for forty-five days thereafter. A significant reduction in adult worms (31.0%) and a high reduction (35.0%) in liver eggs were induced by pRevTRE-E77.43, while the reduction in adult worms and that in liver eggs was 1.2% and 0.9% induced by pRevTRE respectively (t = 3.524, 9.485, both P＜0.01). CONCLUSIONS: pRevTRE-E77.43 could be used for the treatment of S. japonicum infection, indicating that E77.43 may involve in the natural resistance of M. fortis to S. japonicum infection.

[Endemic status of schistosomiasis in People's Republic of China in 2016].

This report presents the endemic status of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China at national level in 2016, and analyzes the data collected from the national schistosomiasis prevention and control system and 454 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites. Among the 12 provinces (municipality and autonomous region) of endemic of schistosomiasis japonica in P. R. China, 5 provinces (municipality and autonomous region), i.e., Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi, had achieved elimination, and 7 provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan had achieved transmission control by the end of 2016. There are 451 endemic counties (cities, districts) covering 257 million people, specifically including 29 692 endemic villages of 69.39 million people at risk. Among the 451 endemic counties (cities, districts), 35.25 % (159/451), 42.35% (191/451) and 22.39% (101/451) reached the criteria of elimination, transmission interruption and transmission control, respectively in 2016. By the end of 2016, it was estimated of 54 454 infections of schistosome, decreased by 29.46% compared with 77 194 in 2015. No acute schistosomiasis case was reported in 2016. There were 30 573 advanced schistosomiasis cases documented in 2016. A total of 8 500 710 individuals received schistosomiasis examinations and 600 individuals were parasitologically diagnosed, decreased by 83.36% compared with 3 606 in 2015. The Oncomelania hupensis snail survey was performed in 22 140 endemic villages and O. hupensis snails were found in 7 106 villages, accounting for 32.109% of the total villages, with 20 newly detected villages with snails. The snail survey covered area of 813 963.91 hm2 and snails were found in an area of 235 096.04 hm2, including a newly detected area of 1 346.48 hm2. No schistosome-infected snails were found in 2016. A total of 881 050 bovines were raised in the schistosomiasis endemic area. Of them, 510 468 bovines received examinations, resulting in 8 schistosome-infected bovines. There were 147 642 schistosomiasis cases receiving drug treatment in 2016, with 2 303 555 individuals undergoing expanded chemotherapy; there were 9 bovines with schistosomiasis receiving drug treatment, with 439 857 bovines undergoing expanded chemotherapy; a total of 139 483.84 hm2 area with snail control by using molluscicides, with actual molluscicide-treated area of 73 941.75 hm2; and 3 101.52 hm2 snail habitants were treated by environmental modification. Based on the data from the 454 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites, the mean Schistosoma japonicum infection rate was 0.02% and 0.0078% in humans and bovines, respectively. No schistosome-infected snails were found in all the surveillance sites. The results demonstrate a decline in the endemicity of schistosomiasis in P. R. China compared with the level of 2015. However, the distribution area of snails in China is still large and the infection source of schistosomiasis still exists to some extent in some endemic areas; in some regions, the task to reach the standard of transmission interruption is still arduous. There are still objective factors of epidemic and transmission and risk factors of endemic reversal and rebound for schistosomiasis. So, further control and effective surveillance as well as accurate prevention and control should be implemented to promote the elimination process on schistosomiasis in P. R. China.

[Endemic status of schistosomiasis in People's Republic of China in 2015].

This report presented the endemic status of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China at a national level in 2015, and analyzed the data collected from the national schistosomiasis prevention and control system and 457 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites. Among the 12 provinces (municipality, autonomous region) endemic for schistosomiasis japonica in P. R. China, 5 provinces (municipality, autonomous region), i.e., Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi, had achieved transmission interruption, and 7 provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan had achieved transmission control by the end of 2015. There were 453 endemic counties (city, district) covering 252 million people, specifically including 29 980 endemic villages of 68.61 million people at risk of infection. Among the 453 endemic counties (city, district), 75.72% (343/453) and 24.28% (110/453) reached the criteria of transmission interruption and transmission control, respectively. By the end of 2015, it was estimated of 77 194 cases of schistosomiasis, which were decreased by 33.23% compared with 115 614 cases in 2014. No acute schistosomiasis cases were reported in 2015. There were 30 843 advanced schistosomiasis cases documented in 2015. A total of 8 736 036 individuals received schistosomiasis examinations and 3 606 individuals were parasitologically diagnosed, which were decreased by 56.40% compared with 8 270 cases in 2014. An Oncomelania hupensis snail survey was performed in 19 965 endemic villages and the snails were found in 5 609 villages, accounting for 28.09% of total villages, with 31 newly detected villages with snails. The snail survey covered an area of 593 572.66 hm2 and snails were found in an area of 173 462.50 hm2, including a newly detected area of 666.04 hm2. No infected snails were found in 2015. A total of 879 373 bovines were raised in the schistosomiasis endemic regions. Of them, 526 062 bovines received stool examinations, resulting in 315 infected bovines. There were 170 438 schistosomiasis cases receiving drug treatment in 2015, with 2 449 696 individuals undergoing expanded chemotherapy. There were 318 bovines with schistosomiasis receiving drug treatment, with 483 213 bovines undergoing expanded chemotherapy. A total of 144 305.52 hm2 area was subject to snail control by using molluscicides, with an actual molluscicide-treated area of 69 221.57 hm2, and 4 572.06 hm2 snail habitats were treated by environmental modification. Based on the data from the 457 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites, the mean Schistosoma japonicum infection rate was 0.05% and 0.04% in humans and bovines, respectively. No infected snails were found in all the surveillance sites. The results demonstrate a decline in the endemicity of schistosomiasis in P. R. China and the country reached the criteria of transmission control at the national level. However, the endemic situation of schistosomiasis is unstable in some regions with newly-reached transmission control, and further control and effective surveillance should be strengthened to consolidate the achievements and reduce the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in P. R. China.