Detection of IgM antibody against hantavirus by chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CLEIA) for the detection of HTNV IgM antibody.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Black solid 96 well microplate was coated with anti-human IgM-microantibody, HRP labeled HTNV recombinant nucleotide antigen was used as detection antigen, luminol-H2O2 was used as substrate, a CLEIA was established for the detection of HFRS patient serum IgM antibody and comparison of detection sensitivity, specificity, and stability were made between CLEIA and MacELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Correlate coefficient of CLEIA with MacELISA is 0.97; detection sensitivity of CLEIA is 100 percent while that of MacELISA is 92.1 percent; detection specificity of CLEIA and MacELISA are both 100 percent; coefficient of variance for intra-assay and inter-assay of CLEIA are both less than 15 percent, which are comparative with MacELISA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The established method of CLEIA is a sensitive, selective, and stable method; it is suitable for the early detection of HFRS patient serum IgM antibody.</p>

Epidemiologic characteristics of influenza in China, from 2001 to 2003 / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the epidemiologic characters of influenza in China from 2001 to 2003.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) each week and outbreaks of influenza were collected through National Influenza Surveillance Network, which includes 11 northern and 12 southern provinces of China. Samples were collected in the outpatients of ILI from 2001 to 2003 and influenza viruses were isolated and identified.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Epidemiological and laboratory surveillance data showed that the annual seasonality of influenza epidemic was clear. The peak of epidemic of influenza in northern areas was in winter season, during December to January. However, there were three peaks distributed to Spring (Apr.-May.), Summer (Jun.-Aug.) and Winter (Dec.-Jan.) seasons in the southern areas. In the peak months, the number of ILI visits per day and per surveillance hospital had increased two-fold in northern and by 37% in southern China. The baseline of percentages for ILI visits, which calculated with 75th percentiles (P75), was 13.68% in the north and 13.08% in southern China. The age distribution of ILI was related to seasonal types of influenza. When the predominated strain of the season was influenza B virus, the ratio of the ILI visits younger than 15 year-old, increased obviously. When the predominated stains became influenza A virus, the ratio of patient visits for ILI aged over 25 year-old increased. Of 63 outbreaks of influenza, 92% of them occurred at primary and middle schools and usually occurred in May (32%). The type of strains usually changed around June.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The quality of national influenza surveillance system is reliable since it was matched between percentages of ILI visits and rates of influenza virus isolation. The different epidemiologic characteristics in north and south of China was noticed. Peak in spring was shown in southern area and which called for more analysis. The change of the types of strains in the outbreaks during April to June in the southern China could provide data for better understanding on the trend of epidemics in the next season.</p>

The epidemic characteristics and preventive measures of hemorrhagic fever with syndromes in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize and analyze the epidemic situation of hantaviruses including geographic distribution, types and prevalent intensity of epidemic areas of hantavirus for the last 30 years in China, and to discuss relative preventive measures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Collecting and analyzing the data of hantaviruses epidemics in China.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The annual number of cases of hantavirus disease rapidly increased from 3295 in 1970 to 115,804 in 1986 then sustained between 40,000 and 60,000 cases annually in the 1990's, and then decreased thereafter. The epidemic areas existed in all provinces except Qinhai and Xinjiang and there were the hospitalized cases of hantavirus disease reported in other provinces. In recent years, the prevalence of hantavirus infection had increased in some cities, and the seasonal distribution of the cases changed as well.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Data suggested that the new epidemic characteristics of hantaviruses had emerged in China suggesting that it was necessary to strengthen surveillance programs and to take comprehensive preventive measures for the control and prevention of hantaviruses in China.</p>

The epidemic situation of human rabies from 1984 to 2002 and its preventive measures in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize and analyze the epidemic situation of human rabies from 1984 to 2002 in China, and to explore the possible factors causing the increase of cases so as to provide evidence for preventive and control measures.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>National and some provincial data on the prevalence of rabies during 1984 to 2002 were collected and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From 1984 to 1989, the annual reported cases were between 4 000 and 6 000 but decreased after 1990. In 1996, the reported cases decreased to the lowest level from 3 520 in 1990 to 159. However, number of reported cases has been continuously increasing since 1998 which reached 1 122 in 2002, a 7.06 times increase as compared to the number in 1996. The epidemic areas were mainly located in the southeast and southwest parts of the country, such as Sichuan, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Anhui, Fujian, etc. Furthermore, there was no significant seasonal distribution as it showed before.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Such facts as the increasing numbers of dogs, low inoculation rate to dogs, poor control on the quality of rabies vaccine, mistreatment to the wounds, and lacking good cooperation between different official departments regarding rabies control might serve as important factors responsible for the recurrence of rabies. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the above mentioned points and to take comprehensive preventive measures to bring down the prevalence of rabies in China.</p>