[Survey of intestinal parasitic infections and related knowledge and behavior of residents in Jiaodong area of Shandong Province].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the status of intestinal parasitic infections and the related knowledge and behavior in residents of Jiaodong area of Shandong Province, so as to provide the evidence for making an appropriate preventive and control strategy. METHODS: A total of 18 villages from 6 counties in Jiaodong area were selected as investigation sites according to the stratified sampling method. The feces samples of the permanent residents aged above 3 years were collected and examined by Kato-Katz technique to find the intestinal parasite eggs, and the children under 12 years old were examined by the method of cellophane anal swab to detect the Enterobius vennrmicularis eggs. In addition, 50 households in each survey sites were randomly selected to investigate the basic family situation and the condition of awareness on prevention knowledge and formation of correct behavior of residents by using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Totally 6 163 residents involved in the feces examinations, and the total infection rate of intestinal parasites was 6.91%. The infection rates of Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm were 6.56%, 0.62% and 0.21%, respectively. The infection rate of E. vermicularis in children under 12 years old was 0.51%. The eggs of Clonorchis sinensis and Taenia solium were not found in this survey. The awareness rate of knowledge about preventing parasitic diseases was 49.54%. The formation rates of washing hands before eating, washing hands after using the toilet, never eating raw fruit and vegetable without washing clean, never working in the field with bare feet, and never drinking unboiled water were 97.78%, 91.95%, 88.81%, 92.42% and 86.48% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The infection rate of intestinal parasites is low in Jiaodong area, but there is a significant difference among different counties. The awareness rate of knowledge about preventing parasitic diseases is low, but the formation rate of healthy behavior is high. In the future, the health education and the strategy of taking medicine among the key population should be enhanced, and the project of reconstructing safe water supply and lavatory should be advanced.

[Control strategy and practice of soil-transmitted parasitic diseases in Shandong Province].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the sustainable development control strategies on soil-transmitted parasitic diseases appropriate to current epidemic characteristics so as to effectively reduce the epidemic level and harm to people in Shandong Province. METHODS: This project was led by the Shandong Medical Department, governed and instructed by the Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, concretely implemented by the centers for disease control and prevention in counties or cities. All the work was carried out according to the Control Programming of National Key Parasitic Diseases, and with the combination of routine and key control strategies according to the actual situation. RESULTS: The average infection rate of soil-transmitted parasitic diseases in Shandong Province was 18.26% in 2003. During the 2007 to 2009 period, 3,115,194 people from 74 counties in 9 cities received anthelmintic medicine. The numbers receiving health education were 39 866 923 in county, 34,730,663 in city, 3,2000 in province, respectively. The coverage rate of non-hazardous sanitary latrines was 58.05%. In 2009, 6,581 people were surveyed from 7 counties or cities and the infection rate of soil-transmitted parasitic diseases was 7.61%. During three years, 30 provincial training classes were held and 2,130 people attended, 52 municipal classes were held and 3110 people attended, and 403 county classes were held and 12,789 people attended. In the whole province, the infection rate of soil-transmitted parasitic diseases reduced to 7.10% in 2009, with the reduction rate of 61.12%, reaching the national objective. CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive control model for soil-transmitted parasitic diseases is very successful in Shandong Province.

[Epidemiological study on taeniasis and cysticercosis in Shandong Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate current epidemiological status of Taenia solium infection and cysticercosis in Shandong Province. METHODS: By house to house interview in the field, fecal examination and serological tests, the prevalence data of taeniasis and cysticercosis in human and pig population, and epidemiological factors in relation to the diseases were carried out. RESULTS: The prevalence of Taenia infection and cysticercosis in human population were 0.048% and 0.057% respectively. The sero-positive rate of the specific IgG4 of anti-Cysticercus was 1.91%. The prevalence differed among occupations and from region to region, but there was no significant difference between men and women, city and suburb. Unhealthy eating and unhygienic habits commonly practised among residents, 92.3% of the families have "latrines connected to pigsties". The surrounding sanitation and the disposal of fecal material were poor. The detection rate of porcine cysticercosis was 0.06%, and the positive rate of anti-Cysticercus antibody in pigs was 1.99%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of taeniasis and cysticercosis is decreasing. However, the endemic area is expanding and the epidemiological factors are still existing. Continued effort is therefore needed for sustain the control programme.