[Interpretation of Criteria for Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis].

The criteria for Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis (WS/T 486-2015)（referred to as the Criteria） was compiled following the Management Measures for Health Criteria and GBT 1.1-2009 Standardization Working Guidelines. The Criteria is composed of six chapters, including the range of application, terms and definitions, diagnostic principle, diagnostic standard, and differential diagnosis. Four informative appendices (etiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and differential diagnosis) and one normative appendix (laboratory examination) are appended. The Criteria was issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China through No.21 of Chinese Health Announcement in 2015. The Criteria provides for the first time technical reference for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in medical institutions and disease control institutions.

[Risk Assessment of Snail Output Via the Mud Balls of Transplanted Seedlings in a Nursery Stock Park in Middle Region of Zhejiang Province].

Objective: To investigate the distribution of snails in a nursery stock park in the middle region of Zhejiang Province and assess the risk of snail output via the mud balls of transplanted seedlings, to provide scientific data for making strategies for snail control. Methods: We selected three species of seedlings including Osmanthus fragrans (a large tree), Camellia sasanqua (a small tree), and Purpus privet (a type of shrub) in a nursery stock park in a snail-positive middle region of Zhejiang Province during 2014-2016 to calculate the areas of regions with snails and the density of living snails. In 30 trees of each species, the distribution of snails within the seedlings ground diameter (radius of investigation, 100 cm for Osmanthus fragrans; 30 cm for Camellia Sasanqua and Purpus Privet) and in different soil layers (surface and superficial layers, 0-3 cm; deep layer, 3-10 cm) was assessed. In addition, the presence of snails in mud balls of 50 trees of Photinia fraseri (a small tree with high density of snails) was investigated to assess the risk of snail output. Results: In the planting areas of Osmanthus fragrans（3 930 m2）, Camellia sasanqua（2 000 m2）, and Purpus privet （1 700 m2）, the areas of snail-positive regions were 200, 900 and 800 m2, respectively, with the density of living snails being 0.08, 0.56 and 0.55/0.1 m2. For Osmanthus fragrans, Camellia sasanqua and Purpus privet, 238, 654 and 645 snails were detected respectively within their seedlings ground diameter, including 159（66.8%）, 461（70.5%） and 376 （58.3%） snails in the surface layer, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the superficial and deep layers（P＜0.01）. Snails were found in all the 50 trees of Photinia fraseri（3 726 snails, 706 adult snails and 3 020 immature snails, 75 snails/tree on average）. Conclusion: There is a high density of snails in the nursery stock park in the middle region of Zhejiang Province. The snails are distributed mainly in the surface layer, suggesting a risk of snail output through mud balls.

[Research progress on the molluscicidal effect of niclosamide compounded with other molluscicides against Oncomelania hupensis].

Niclosamide is the only molluscicide recommended by the World Health Organization. It is effective for snail control but have some disadvantages. Therefore, the research goal is to increase the molluscicidal activity of niclosamide and reducing its defects. This article reviews the research advances on the molluscicidal effect of niclosamide compounded with other molluscicides against Oncomelania hupensis.

Assessment of the influence of levees along Yangtze River on Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum.

BACKGROUND: Oncomelania hupensis is the exclusive intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in China. Snail control is an essential component of schistosomiasis elimination programme. With 70 years of continuous efforts, the range of O. hupensis had reduced significantly, but slowed down in last decades. A large number of levees against flooding were constructed along Yangtze River and its affiliated lakes in the middle and lower reaches, which influenced the hydrology and ecology in the alluvial plains. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of levees on the distribution of O. hupensis in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. METHODS: The snail habitats were digitalised by hand-held GPS system. The years for discovery and elimination of snail habitats were extracted from historical records. The accumulated snail-infested range for each habitat was calculated on the basis of annual reports. The current distribution of O. hupensis was determined by systematic and environmental sampling. The geographical distribution of levees was obtained from satellite imagery. To assess the impact of levees, the data pertaining to O. hupensis were divided into two parts: inside and outside the Yangtze River. Joinpoint regression was utilised to divide the study time span and further characterise the regression in each period. The 5-year-period moving averages of eliminated area infested by snails were calculated for the habitats inside and outside Yangtze River. The moving routes of corresponding geographical median centres were simulated in ArcGIS. Hotspot analysis was used to determine the areas with statistical significance clustering of O. hupensis density. RESULTS: Three periods were identified according to Joinpoint regression both inside and outside Yangtze River. The area infested by O. hupensis increased in the first two periods. It decreased rapidly outside Yangtze River year over year after 1970, while that inside the Yangtze River did not change significantly. Furthermore, the latter was significantly higher than the former. It was observed that the present density of O. hupensis inside Yangtze River was lower than outside the Yangtze River. The median centre for eliminated ranges inside Yangtze River wavered between the east (lower reach) and the west (middle reach). In contrast, the median centre for eliminated ranges continuously moved from the east to the west. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that the levees had a considerable negative impact on the distribution of O. hupensis outside Yangtze River. Some hotspots observed in the irrigation areas need a sluice system at the inlet of branch for snail control. The major distribution of O. hupensis located in Hubei might be caused by severe waterlogging. The intensive surveillance should be implemented there. The biggest two freshwater lakes, the major endemic regions historically, were identified as cold spots. The long-term impact of Three Gorges Dam on the distribution of O. hupensis in the lakes should be monitored and evaluated.

[Establishment and application of rapid dipstick of latex immunochromatographic assay for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a simple and fast diagnostic assay for schistosomiasis. METHODS: Based on the immunochromatographic technique and the principle of indirect assay of ELISA, using soluble egg antigen (SEA) of Schistosoma japonicum and mouse anti-human monoclonal antibody labelled with red latex as color developing agents, a latex immunochromatographic assay (DLIA) was developed. Serum samples from 69 schistosomiasis patients were detected by DLIA. Tested were also 264 sera from healthy people, 15 sera from clonorchiasis patients, 8 sera from patients with angiostrongyliasis cantonensis, 11 sera from patients with intestinal nematode infection and 19 sera from paragonimiasis patients. ELISA was used as a parallel control. RESULTS: The sensitivity for detecting schistosomiasis antibodies with DLIA and ELISA was 94.2% (65/69) and 95.7% (66/69), respectively (chi2=0.15, P>0.05). The specificity in examining healthy persons was 97.4% (257/264) and 94.7% (250/264), respectively (chi2=2.43, P>0.05). No cross reaction was found with the sera of clonorchiasis, intestinal nematode infection and angiostrongyliasis. The cross reaction rate with paragonimiasis of the two assays was 42.1% (8/19) and 47.4% (9/19), respectively (chi2=0.11, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: DLIA is a simple, fast, sensitive and specific assay for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis.

[Recent investigation and treatment of 1 060 advanced schistosomiasis cases in Zhejiang Province].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the current status of advanced schistosomiasis patients, deliver medical treatment, and improve the case management in Zhejiang Province. METHODS: The cases previously diagnosed or suspected as advanced schistosomiasis in the province were the subjects of the investigation. Questionnairing (demographical information, disease history, etc.), clinical examination (ascites syndrome, abdominal palpation), laboratory examination (blood biochemistry, anti-Schistosoma japonicum antibody, eggs), and ultrasonography of the abdomen were used confirming the diagnosis. Treatment was given to the patients. RESULTS: There were 1 060 advanced schistosomiasis patients in 32 counties of 7 prefectures in the province. Majority of them distributed in water network regions, and lived with poor economic conditions. The average age of the patients was (66.3 +/- 9.3), with 89.3% ranged from 50 to 80 years old. Clinically 71.3% of the cases were with splenomegaly, 27.6% with ascites, 0.9% cases of multiple granuloma in the colon and 0.2% cases with dwarfism. 1 023 patients (96.5%) had received medical treatments. 69.4% of the cases had serious complications with advanced schistosomiasis and 52.5% had concurrently disorders in other systems. 71.1% of the patients had subjective symptoms and 65.2% had hepatosplenomegaly with hepatic fibrosis and dysfunction. The serum positive rate of anti-S. japonicum antibody was 15.7%. Stool hatching test and microscopy revealed no eggs in fecal samples, but 24 out of 38 cases were found metamorphic eggs by rectal biopsy. Three years' medical treatment improved the clinical conditions in 74.3% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Situation of the advanced schistosomiasis patients is quite critical. Treatment and care are urgently needed especially for those aged 50 to 80 years old. [

A randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial on the efficacy of ivermectin against intestinal nematode infections in China.

To assess the efficacy of ivermectin against intestinal nematode infections, a randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial was carried out in a total of 816 human individuals infected with different nematodes from three counties in China. The subjects were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups and orally given a single dose of 0.1, 0.2, 0.2 and 0.2mg/kg ivermectin against Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura and Enterobius vermicularis, respectively. Parallel control groups to each of the ivermectin groups were given a single oral dose of 6.7 mg/kg albendazole. The cure rates with ivermectin and albendazole were 100% (102/102) and 99.0% (101/102) for Ascaris, and 66.7% (68/102) and 67.7% (69/102) for Trichuris, respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.05) between the two treatments. The parasitological cure rates of albendazole were 69.6% (71/102) for hookworm and 94.1% (96/102) for Enterobius, which were significantly higher than ivermectin (33.3% and 52.9%, respectively, P<0.0001). The expulsion of worm in the feces reached its peak 1-2 days after ivermectin treatment. The study showed that ivermectin, with few side effects, could be used as an additional treatment tool for intestinal nematodes, especially for the treatment of Ascaris and Trichuris infections in China.

[Current status and prospects on candidate vaccines against Schistosoma japonicum].

Great progress has been made on vaccine research for schistosomiasis, including those on immune mechanism and Schistosoma genome which have made active effect to vaccine development. This paper reviews the progress on the candidate vaccine antigens including protein vaccine, DNA vaccine and multivalent vaccine against Schistosoma japonicum.

[Observation on the change of anti-S. japonicum antibody level in population migrated from outside embankment to new town].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the change of the anti-S. japonicum antibody level after people migrated from outside embankment to newly established town. METHODS: Three pilot spots were established for the investigation: one spot that both inhabitancy and cultivation disuse (A), one spot that only inhabitancy disuse but farming continued (B) and the third one served as control (C). DIGFA and ELISA were used to detect the antibody level in the populations from 2002 to 2005. RESULTS: The positive rate of anti-S. japonicum antibody declined significantly from 6.63% to 3.52% by DIGFA and from 7.26% to 3.71% by ELISA at spot A (chi2=5.2625, P<0.05; chi2=6.3296, P<0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference on the positive rate of antibody in spots B and C. The average A450 value of ELISA in the three spots was statistically analyzed by One-Way ANOVA. It was only in spot B that the average A450 value declined from 0.182 in 2003 to 0.147 in 2005 (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The anti-S. japonicum antibody level in human population has decreased at certain degree after they migrated from outside embankment to new town.

Thoracic paravertebral regional anesthesia for pain relief in patients with breast cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of thoracic paravertebral regional anesthesia (TPVBRA) in patients with breast cancer surgery. METHODS: In total, 72 patients undergoing breast cancer surgery were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group; each group contained 36 subjects. Both groups received TPVBRA with 20 mL 0.25% bupivacaine. In addition, subjects in the intervention group also received an additional 1 µg/kg dexmedetomidine. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pain intensity (measured by visual analogue scale, VAS), and analgesic consumption were assessed; adverse events were also recorded. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in HR (P < .05), SBP (P < .05), and DBP (P < .05) at the 30-minute point during surgery between the 2 groups. In addition, the time of the first administration of analgesia (P = .043) and the mean consumption of analgesic agents (P = .035) in the intervention group were much better than those in the control group. However, no significant differences in HR or VAS were found at any time point after surgery (P > .05). Furthermore, similar adverse events were detected in both groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that TPVBRA combined with bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine can enhance the duration and quality of analgesia without serious adverse events.

[Development of a PCR assay for detecting Schistosoma japonicum-infected Oncomelania hupensis].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a sensitive and specific PCR assay for detecting Schistosoma japonicum-infected Oncomelania hupensis. METHODS: Based on 18S-rRNA gene of S. japonicum, a PCR assay for detecting Oncomelania snails infected with S. japonicum was established. The PCR product was sequenced, and the sensitivity, cross-reaction and mass detection experiments of PCR assay were performed. RESULTS: The location of PCR product for detecting Oncomelania snails infected with S. japonicum was similar to the target DNA, with a length of 469 bp and the same sequence as the target DNA. It was registered in GenBank (Accession No. DQ442999). There was no PCR product for detecting uninfected snail. Experiments showed that the minimum DNA concentration of S. japoncium miracidium to be detected was 40 pg/Rpl. DNA from snail infected with single-tail cercaria could not be detected. The maximum dilution concentration of infected snail DNA pooled with uninfected snail DNA that could be detected was 1:640. CONCLUSION: The PCR assay for detecting S. japonicum-infected Oncomelania snails shows high sensitivity, specificity and effect of mass detection.

Surveillance and control of post-transmission schistosomiasis in Jiaxing prefecture, Zhejiang province, China.

A surveillance system has been put in place in the Zhejiang province since achieving there the criteria for transmission interruption of schistosomiasis japonica. Suspected patients and special high-risk groups (e.g. the so called 'floating population' and children under 14 years of age) are screened for Schistosoma japonicum using serological tests. Those with positive serological result are subjected to faecal examination and if S. japonicum eggs are found they are treated with praziquantel and followed by regular re-examination until complete cure, i.e. absence of S. japonicum eggs in faecal samples. Patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica are continuously followed-up. Implementation of the surveillance system from 1995 to 2002 detected two S. japonicum-infected persons; one came from Anhui province and the other from Jiangsu province, but no new infection occurred among local residents. The number of patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica decreased from 1524 in 1995 to 906 by the end of 2002; a reduction of 40.6%. However, post-transmission schistosomiasis still continues to weigh on the medial resources. We conclude that the surveillance system in Zhejiang province is effective and a useful means for monitoring the endemic situation of schistosomiasis. Hence, it is recommended to be pursued in the years to come.

Evaluation on the applied value of the dot immunogold filtration assay (DIGFA) for rapid detection of anti-Schistosoma japonicum antibody.

The dot immunogold filtration assay (DIGFA) is a rapid technique for the detection of anti-Schistosoma japonicum antibody. Its sensitivity with regard to sera obtained from patients with acute or chronic schistosomiasis was shown to be 100 and 96.9%, respectively. The specificity when using sera of people living in an area non-endemic for schistosomiasis japonica was 100%. Cross-reaction rates for paragonimiasis and clonorchiasis patients were 14.3% and 0%, respectively. Parallel serum tests of 1091 residents from an area endemic for S. japonicum by means of DIGFA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect haemagglutination test resulted in positive rates of 9.3%, 11.5% and 11.0%, respectively. Thus, there was a high level of agreement between the sets of results (P>0.05). In conclusion, DIGFA holds considerable promise for rapid and accurate diagnosis of S. japonicum, as it does not require any specific instruments and can be applied with ease. DIGFA has therefore several advantages over conventional diagnostic approaches and is useful not only for screening and sero-epidemiological surveys in the field, but also in clinical settings.

A new surveillance and response tool: risk map of infected Oncomelania hupensis detected by Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) from pooled samples.

Although schistosomiasis remains a serious health problem worldwide, significant achievements in schistosomiasis control has been made in the People's Republic of China. The disease has been eliminated in five out of 12 endemic provinces, and the prevalence in remaining endemic areas is very low and is heading toward elimination. A rapid and sensitive method for monitoring the distribution of infected Oncomelania hupensis is urgently required. We applied a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting 28S rDNA for the rapid and effective detection of Schistosoma japonicum DNA in infected and prepatent infected O. hupensis snails. The detection limit of the LAMP method was 100 fg of S. japonicum genomic DNA. To promote the application of the approach in the field, the LAMP assay was used to detect infection in pooled samples of field-collected snails. In the pooled sample detection, snails were collected from 28 endemic areas, and 50 snails from each area were pooled based on the maximum pool size estimation, crushed together and DNA was extracted from each pooled sample as template for the LAMP assay. Based on the formula for detection from pooled samples, the proportion of positive pooled samples and the positive proportion of O. hupensis detected by LAMP of Xima village reached 66.67% and 1.33%, while those of Heini, Hongjia, Yangjiang and Huangshan villages were 33.33% and 0.67%, and those of Tuanzhou and Suliao villages were 16.67% and 0.33%, respectively. The remaining 21 monitoring field sites gave negative results. A risk map for the transmission of schistosomiasis was constructed using ArcMap, based on the positive proportion of O. hupensis infected with S. japonicum, as detected by the LAMP assay, which will form a guide for surveillance and response strategies in high risk areas.

[Appropriate technology: a driver to eliminate schistosomiasis in China. In- sights gained from the First Forum on Schistosomiasis Control in China].

This paper described the First Forum on Schistosomiasis Control in China. With "Appropriate technology is essential to schistosomiasis prevention and control" as the topic, the forum shared the main interventions and experiences for schistosomiasis control and elimination, exhibited the recent achievements gained from the development of appropriate technology for schistosomiasis control, showed the technical support of appropriate technology for schistosomiasis elimination, and proposed the priority for the future research and development of appropriate technology for schistosomiasis control and elimination in China. It is considered that the forum builds a bridge for communicating information between the administrative sectors and specialized prevention and control institutions, between research institutions and manufactures, and between experts/professors and grassroots professional staff, and provides a platform to communicate the national schistosomiasis control knowledge of China.

[Evaluation on molluscicidal effect of chlorosalicylicamide on Oncomelania hupensis in schistosomiaisis endemic areas of eight provinces in China].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a novel molluscicide, the salt quinoid-2', 5-dichloro-4'-nitrosalicylanilide from niclosamide (LDS), with 10% wettable powder, in main schistosomiasis epidemic areas of China, including Hunan, Jiangxi, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Yunnan and Zhejiang Province. METHODS: In the immersion test, 6 effective concentrations of 10% LDS were tested respectively: 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 g/m3 in the field; at the same time, 50% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt (WPN) with effective concentrations of 1.0 g/m was used as the molluscicide control, and the fresh water as the blank control, then the mortality rates of 0. hupensis snails were recorded at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after the immersion. In the spraying test and powder-spraying test, 5 effective dosages of 10% LDS were tested respectively: 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 g/m2, while 50% WPN 1.0 g/m2 was used as the molluscicide control, and the fresh water as the blank control in the field for 1 d, 3 d and 7 d, then the mortality rates of O. hupensis snails were recorded at 1 d, 3 d and 7 d after the spraying and powder-spraying. RESULTS: The snail mortality rates of LDS using the immersion test for 72 h were more than 95% in the field of eight provinces (0.1 g/m in Sichuan, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, 0.2 g/m3 in Yunnan, Hunan and Hubei provinces, and 0.4 g/min Anhui Province); the snail mortality rates of LDS using the spraying test for 7 d were more than 85% (0.2 g/m2 in Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces, 0.4 g/m2 in Sichuan and Anhui provinces, 0.6 g/m2 in Yunnan and Jiangsu provinces). The snail mortality rates of LDS the powder-spraying test for 7 d were more than 85% (0.6 g/m2 in Yunnan, Sichuan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces). According to the standards of "Efficacy test methods and evaluation of molluscicide for pesticide registration (NY/T 1617-2008)", LDS is a qualified molluscicide. CONCLUSIONS: LDS has good molluscicidal effects through the immersion, spraying and powder-spraying test in the fields. It is suitable for a variety of environments to control O. hupensis snails of schistosomiasis endemic areas in China. The recommended dosages of LDS are 0.1-0.2 g/m3 by the immersion method, 0.2-0.4 g/m2 by the spraying method, and 0.4-0.6 g/m2 by the powder-spraying method in the fields.

Molecular epidemiology of human T lymphotropic virus type 1 transmission in Okinawa, Japan.

To clarify the route of human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) transmission, we sequenced three proviral genome regions (gag, env, int) of HTLV-1 from 18 carriers in 7 families in Okinawa, Japan and compared the strains with isolates from other countries. The nucleotide substitution frequency among sequences derived from a single carrier was low; 0-0.24% in gag, 0-0.54% in env, and 0-0.34% in int. All sequences showed the closest identity to the Cosmopolitan strain, with differences of only 0-1.91%. All 8 mother/child pairs had identical nucleotide sequences. Of 3 pairs of spouses, 2 had identical sequences, with transmission probably from husband to wife. The mothers of both wives were HTLV-1-negative. The HTLV-1 sequence of the other wife showed three nucleotide differences from the sequence of her husband, but was identical to the sequence of her mother. These results support previous seroepidemiological studies that HTLV-1 transmission occurs from mother to children and also between spouses.

[A sampling survey on the distribution of Oncomelania snails in Zhejiang Province].

OBJECTIVE: To find out current distribution of Oncomelania snails and Schistosoma infection in snails in Zhejiang Province, so as to improve the project of schistosomiasis control. METHODS: Investigation spots were selected by stratified cluster sampling method, 100 villages of 34 counties were selected from 7106 villages of 55 counties as survey spots. Synchronously systematic and environmental samplings were used for the survey. Snails were dissected to determine the infection status and spots with sham snails were set to assess the quality of the survey. RESULTS: The result showed that snails were found in 223 strips, 1572 frames and 73,300 m2 area in 32 villages of 21 counties. Snails were found in an area covering 72,640 m2 in 29 villages of 18 counties in hilly region, which accounted for 99.1% of total snail habitats. The significantly larger area with snails was revealed in hilly region than that in water network region (t = 3.04, P < 0.01). 1st, 2nd strata occupied 71,680 m2 snail area, which accounted for 97.8% of total snail area, much higher than that in the 3rd stratum (t = 3.71 , P < 0.01). Snail habitats in the irrigation ditches and canals accounted for 62.6% of total snail area, significantly higher than that of farmland (t = 3.02, P < 0.01). No snails were found infected among 7892 living snails by dissection. The theory value of snail area in Zhejiang Province was 1,361,940 m2. CONCLUSION: It is estimated that the snail-ridden area is about 1,500,000-2,000,000 m2 in the Province, mostly found in the villages of hilly region with a record of snail habitats during the recent 4 years and the primary environment of the snail areas were ditches and canals. No infected snails were found from the survey.

[Prophylactic effect of artesunate against experimental infection of Schistosoma mansoni].

OBJECTIVE: To study the prophylactic effect of artesunate against the infection of Schistosoma mansoni in mice and its optimal scheme for preventing schistosomiasis mansoni. METHODS: BALB/c mice were infected by tail dipping method with S. mansoni cercariae. Mice were administered orally with artesunate at different developmental stage of the parasite, with different regimens. The reduction rates of total and female worms, the number of eggs in the liver and intestine, and the fecundity were calculated and treated statistically. RESULTS: The optimal dosage of artesunate to prevent murine schistosomiasis was 300 mg/kg. The parasite was found to be especially susceptible to artesunate in its schistosomula stage of 14 and 21 d after infection, resulting in worm reduction rate of 84% and 93% respectively compared with control. High protection was reached with worm reduction rate of 99% by the regimens of 300 mg/kg once a week for 4 consecutive weeks beginning 14 d after infection. The fecundity was significantly suppressed, suggesting that the drug inhibited sexual maturation of female worms. The effective protection could also be gained with prolonged interval time of two weeks with worm reduction rate of 97% and 96% beginning 14 or 21 d after infection. CONCLUSION: Artesunate kills schistosomula and reduces the fecundity of females effectively, the infected mice do not develop schistosomiasis mansoni when treated with artesunate. It's proposed that an optimal scheme for field use be the first administration 14 or 21 days after infection with 1 or 2 weeks interval.

[Clinical observation on the efficacy of ivermectin in the treatment of intestinal nematode infections].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and side effects of ivermectin in the treatment of intestinal nematode infections. METHODS: A single dose of ivermectin 0.1, 0.2, 0.2 and 0.2 mg/kg was orally administered to cases with infection of Ascaris, hookworm, Trichuris and Enterobius respectively. A single dose of albendazole 400 mg was used as control. RESULTS: The egg negative conversion rates of ivermectin and albendazole were both 100% (34/34) for Ascaris infection, 17.6% (6/34) and 76.5% (26/34) respectively for hookworm infection, 67.6% (23/34) and 47.1% (16/34) respectively for Trichuris infection, 58.8% (20/34) and 100% (34/34) respectively for Enterobius infection. The worm discharge reached a peak in 1-2 days after treatment. The side effect of ivermectin was mild and transient showing no adverse effect on blood picture, liver function, renal function or ECG. CONCLUSION: Ivermectin shows similar effect on Ascaris with albendazole, better effect on Trichuris and poorer effect on hookworm and Enterobius than albendazole.