Prevalence and risk factors of Giardia lamblia infections among colorectal cancer patients in Henan Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and identify the risk factors of Giardia lamblia infections among patients with colorectal cancer in Henan Province. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed for questionnaire surveys among colorectal cancer patients in Henan Cancer Hospital during the period from March to July, 2021. Patients’ stool samples were collected, and the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) gene of G. lamblia was amplified in stool samples using nested PCR assay to characterize the parasite genotype. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the risk factors of G. lamblia infections among colorectal cancer patients. Results A total of 307 colorectal cancer patients were investigated, including 176 males (57.3%) and 131 females (42.7%). PCR assay detected 8.1% [95% confidential interval (CI): (0.056, 0.117)] prevalence of G. lamblia infections among the study subjects, and there was no significant difference in the prevalence between men [9.1%, 95% CI: (0.057, 0.143)] and women [6.9%, 95% CI: (0.037, 0.125)] (χ2 = 0.495, P = 0.482). In addition, there was no age-specific prevalence of G. lamblia infections among the participants (χ2 = 1.534, P = 0.675). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified use of septic tanks [odds ratio (OR) = 3.336, 95% CI: (1.201, 9.267)], daily use of well water [OR = 3.042, 95% CI: (1.093, 8.465)] and raising livestock [OR = 3.740, 95% CI: (1.154, 12.121)] as risk factors of G. lamblia infections among colorectal cancer patients, and the prevalence of abdominal pain was significantly greater in colorectal cancer patients with G. lamblia infections than in those without infections (P = 0.017). Among the 25 patients with G. lamblia infections, assemblage A was characterized in 24 (96.0%) cases and assemblage B in one case (4.0%). Conclusions The prevalence of G. lamblia is high among colorectal cancer patients in Henan Province, and assemblage A is the dominant genotype of G. lamblia. Use of septic tanks, daily use of well water and raising livestock are risk factors of G. lamblia infections among patients with colorectal cancer.

Progress of researches on Blastocystis infections in humans and animals in China / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Blastocystis is a unicellular, anaerobic, intestinal protozoan that infects humans and a variety of animals, which is widely prevalent across the world. Blastocystis infections have been detected in healthy populations, children, students, outpatients and inpatients, as well as diarrhea patients in China. High prevalence of Blastocystis infections has been reported in immunocompromised patients, and relatively high prevalence was seen in individuals living in Guangxi and Yunnan regions. Based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequence, a total of 17 subtypes (ST1 to ST17) of Blastocystis have been characterized until now, among which ST1 to ST9 and ST12 infect humans and animals, and ST10 to ST17 only infect animals. In China, ST1 to ST3 are predominant human Blastocystis subtypes, and ST1/ST3, ST1/ST2 and ST2/ST3 mixed infections have been also identified. This review mainly describes the epidemiology and genotypes of Blastocystis in humans and animals in China.

Prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infections among AIDS patients in Nanchang City / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infections among AIDS patients in Nanchang City. MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among AIDS patients in Nanchang City during the period between May and September, 2016. B. hominis infection was detected in patients’stool samples using a PCR assay, and the CD4+ T cell count was measured in subjects’blood samples. In addition, the risk factors of B. hominis infection in AIDS patients were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results A survey was conducted in Nanchang City from May to September 2016. A total of 505 AIDS patients were investigated, and the prevalence of B. hominis infection was 4.16%. Univariate analysis revealed that B. hominis infection correlated with the occupation (χ2 = 8.595, P = 0.049), education level (χ2 = 14.494, P = 0.001), type of daily drinking water (χ2 = 10.750, P = 0.020), root of HIV infections (χ2 = 8.755, P = 0.026) and receiving anti-HIV therapy (χ2 = 23.083, P = 0.001) among AIDS patients, and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified daily direct drinking of tap water as a risk factor of B. hominis infections [odds ratio (OR) = 7.988, 95% confidential interval (CI): (1.160, 55.004)] and anti-HIV therapy as a protective factor of B. hominis infection [OR = 0.183, 95% CI: (0.049, 0.685)]. Conclusions The prevalence of B. hominis is 4.16% among AIDS patients in Nanchang City. Daily direct drinking of tap water is a risk factor, and anti-HIV therapy is a protective factor of B. hominis infection among AIDS patients living in Nanchang City.

[Study on rapid recognition technique of schistosome susceptibility water body I Animal skin making and effect assessment].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a bionic animal skin and evaluate its detective effect of Schistosoma japonicum cercariae so as to provide a new technique for the monitoring of the schistosome susceptibility water body. METHODS: A bionic animal skin was made with pigskin and the experiments were carried out for evaluating its detective effects of S. japonicum cercariae in laboratory and simulate fields, and at the same time, the sentinel mouse method was used as the control. RESULTS: In the laboratory, the cercariae were found in 10-, 30-, 60-cercaria subgroups in the bionic animal skin group after 1 and 2 hours, but the cercariae were found only in the 60-cercaria subgroup in the sentinel mouse group. In the simulate fields, in the water body with 5 schistosome-infected Oncomelania hupensis snails, the cercariae were found in 2 bionic animal skin devices (2/4) and 3 bionic animal skin devices (3/4) after 2 hours and 4 hours respectively, and in the water body with 10 schistosome-infected O. hupensis snails, the cercariae were found in 4 bionic animal skin devices (4/4) and 3 bionic animal skin devices (3/4) after 2 hours and 4 hours respectively in the bionic animal skin group. In the the sentinel mouse group, in the above-mentioned water bodies (with 5 or 10 schistosome-infected O. hupensis snails), the cercariae were found in 2 sentinel mice (2/4) and 1 sentinel mice (1/4) after 2 hours and 4 hours respectively; and the cercariae were found in 2 sentinel mice (2/4) and 3 sentinel mice (3/4) after 2 hours and 4 hours respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The bionic animal skin device can be used to detect the S. japonicum cercariae, and its sensibility and efficiency are superior to the traditional sentinel mouse method.

Study on rapid recognition technique of schistosome susceptibility water bodyⅠAnimal skin making and effect assessment / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To develop a bionic animal skin and evaluate its detective effect of Schistosoma japonicum cercariae so as to provide a new technique for the monitoring of the schistosome susceptibility water body.Methods A bionic animal skin was made with pigskin and the experiments were carried out for evaluating its detective effects of S.japonicum cercariae in labo-ratory and simulate fields,and at the same time,the sentinel mouse method was used as the control.Results In the laborato-ry,the cercariae were found in 10-,30-,60-cercaria subgroups in the bionic animal skin group after 1 and 2 hours,but the cer-cariae were found only in the 60-cercaria subgroup in the sentinel mouse group.In the simulate fields,in the water body with 5 schistosome-infected Oncomelania hupensis snails,the cercariae were found in 2 bionic animal skin devices(2/4)and 3 bionic animal skin devices(3/4)after 2 hours and 4 hours respectively,and in the water body with 10 schistosome-infected O.hupensis snails,the cercariae were found in 4 bionic animal skin devices(4/4)and 3 bionic animal skin devices(3/4)after 2 hours and 4 hours respectively in the bionic animal skin group.In the the sentinel mouse group,in the above-mentioned water bodies(with 5 or 10 schistosome-infected O.hupensis snails),the cercariae were found in 2 sentinel mice(2/4)and 1 sentinel mice(1/4)af-ter 2 hours and 4 hours respectively;and the cercariae were found in 2 sentinel mice(2/4)and 3 sentinel mice(3/4)after 2 hours and 4 hours respectively.Conclusion The bionic animal skin device can be used to detect the S.japonicum cercariae, and its sensibility and efficiency are superior to the traditional sentinel mouse method.

[Knowledge, attitude and practice on schistosomiasis control of chronic schistosomiasis patients in Poyang Lake area, Nanchang City].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the present situation of the chronic schistosomiasis patients' knowledge, attitude and practice on schistosomiasis control in Nanchang City. METHODS: The knowledge, attitude and values on schistosomiasis control of 523 chronic schistosomiasis patients in Nanchang County, Jinxian County and Xinjian District in the Poyang Lake District were investigated with questionnaires. And the accuracy rates of the knowledge, attitude and practice among the patient groups of different counties, genders, age groups, occupations and educational levels were analyzed. RESULTS: The accuracy rates of the knowledge, attitude and practice of patients on schistosomiasis control were 95.76%, 82.80%, and 81.73% in Nanchang County; 91.37%, 93.32%, and 76.48% in Jinxian County; 88.25%, 67.56%, and 49.40% in Xinjian District. In the accuracy rates of knowledge, attitude and practice, the differences among the three counties (districts) were statistically significant (χ2 = 57.511-301.378, all P < 0.05) . CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy rates of chronic schistosomiasis patients' attitude and practice on schistosomiasis control in Nanchang City remain low. Therefore, the intensity of attitude and practice intervention should be strengthened in the Poyang Lake District in order to enhance the self-protection awareness of the patients.

[Investigation on human Toxoplasma gondii infections in Nanchang City in 2014].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the endemic situation of human Toxoplasma gondii infection in Nanchang City in 2014 and analyze the influencing factors, so as to provide the evidence for control measures. METHODS: The high-risk population of T. gondii infection in Nanchang City was collected as an experiment group, and a control group was settled with the ratio of 1∶1. The serum tests and epidemiology surveys were conducted simultaneously, and the influencing factors were analyzed. RESULTS: The total positive rate of human T. gondii was 5.17% (124/2 400) among the whole population in Nanchang City in 2014. The positive rate was 7.50% (90/1 200) in the experiment group and 2.18% (34/1 200) in the control group, and the difference was significant (χ2 =26.668, P＜0.05). The results of univariate analysis indicated that different dietary habits and health habits were closely related to the infection of T. gondii (χ2 =16.522, 64.954, both P＜0.05). The result of Logistic analysis showed that the risk factors of T. gondii infection were occupation, educational levels, raising cats, contacting animals or raw meat, and eating raw or uncooked beef. CONCLUSIONS: The high risk population of T. gondii infection is the key population of the toxoplasmosis control. Unhealthy dietary and living habits are key influencing factors of toxoplasmosis, and the related health education and surveillance work should be strengthened.