RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of the Three Gorges Dam on the local ecological environment. We conducted a 3-year cross-sectional survey of natural focus infectious diseases in the area before and after the water level rose to 156 m to evaluate the dam's health impacts. METHODS: Direct and indirect immunofluorescence methods were applied to detect rat antigen and antibody of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Fresh rat kidneys were inoculated in Korth's culture medium to detect Leptospira. A group of captured crabs were ground to observe the metacercariae of Paragonimus. Serum samples were collected from healthy local individuals. ELISA kits were used to detect human antibody against HFRS and paragonimiasis. Human Leptospira infections were detected by a microscopic agglutination test. RESULTS: Upstream rodent density increased significantly with Rattus flavipectus and Apodemus agrarius as the major pathophoric genera. The infection rate of human HFRS and Leptospira in the upstream human population samples was significantly higher than in the downstream samples and correlated with the increase in rodent density. Paragonimus infection rates remained at a low level during the study. Culex pipiens fatigan and Armigeres obturbans were the dominant species of mosquito. CONCLUSIONS: The creation of the Three Gorges Dam changed the proliferation of intermediary agents of diseases, but not notably. However, the ecological effects on the environment may require a prolonged period of time to manifest themselves; thus, long-term and effective surveillance of vectors and related diseases needs to be established.