ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the central government-funded echinococcosis control programme in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, so as to provide insights into echinococcosis control. Methods Administrative villages were sampled using a multi-stage cluster random sampling method from Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, and all residents at ages of 12 years and older in the sampled villages were screened for echinococcosis, and schools were sampled using a cluster sampling method, and all children at ages of 12 years and older in the sampled schools were screened for echinococcosis. Domestic dogs were sampled using a systematic random sampling method, and one domestic dog stool sample was collected from each household. Stray dog stool samples were collected outside the villages, and Echinococcus coproantigens were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in domestic and stray dogs. In addition, echinococcosis was screened in sheep and cattle in designated slaughterhouses in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County. The trends in the prevalence of echinococcosis in humans and livestock and the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens in dogs were examined with the Cochran-Armitage trend test. In addition, individuals screened for echinococcosis were randomly sampled from 2007 to 2022 for survey on the awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge. Results A total of 290 356 person-times were screened for echinococcosis among residents at ages of 12 years and older in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, with 1 094 residents detected with cystic echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a gradual decline over years (χ2 = 358.602, P < 0.001). A total of 32 931 person-times were screened for echinococcosis among children at ages of 12 years and older in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, with 296 children detected with echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a gradual decline over years (χ2 = 267.673, P < 0.001). A total of 33 230 domestic dog stool samples were tested for Echinococcus coproantigens in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, with 1 777 Echinococcus coproantigens-positive samples tested, and the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens appeared a tendency towards a decline in domestic dogs over years (χ2 = 2 210.428, P < 0.001), while the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens showed a tendency towards a rise in domestic animals from 2016 to 2022 (χ2 = 37.745, P < 0.001). The positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens remained relatively stable in stray dogs in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2019 to 2022 (χ2 = 0.315, P = 0.575). A total of 10 973 sheep were screened for echinococcosis in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County from 2007 to 2022, with 334 sheep detected with echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a decline in sheep over years (χ2 = 53.579, P < 0.001); however, there was no significant change in the detection of echinococcosis during the period from 2015 through 2022 (χ2 = 1.520, P = 0.218). A total of 2 400 cattle were screened for echinococcosis in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County from 2017 to 2022, with 231 cattle detected with echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis showed a tendency towards a decline over years (χ2 = 5.579, P < 0.05). The awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge increased from 44.37% in 2007 to 94.00% in 2022 among residents at ages of 12 years and older and from 52.50% in 2007 to 92.50% in 2022 among children at ages of 12 years and older in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, respectively. Conclusions There has been a reduction in the detection of echinococcosis in humans and domestic animals and the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens in dogs and a rise in the awareness of the echinococcosis control knowledge following the implementation of the central government-funded echinococcosis control programme in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province; however, integrated echinococcosis control measures are still required for further control of the prevalence of echinococcosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To further investigate the prevalence of tea-drinking-borne endemic fluorosis in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County (referred to as Tianzhu) Gansu Province, to accurately master the information of patients with tea-drinking-borne endemic fluorosis, and to provide scientific basis for popularizing low fluoride brick tea and carrying out patient rescue and treatment.Methods:From 2019 to 2020, according to the "Investigation Plan of Tea-drinking-borne Endemic Fluorosis in Gansu Province in 2019", in the administrative villages with the habit of drinking and selling tea, drinking water samples of local residents were collected to detect the fluorine content of water in Tianzhu, 10 families were randomly selected in each village, basic situation of each family member and the drinking situation of tea were investigated, and tea samples were collected to determine the fluorine content. At the same time, all children aged 8 - 12 in the investigation village were examined for dental fluorosis; clinical examination of bone and joint symptoms and signs was conducted for permanent residents over the age of 25 in the investigation village (excluding 25 years old), X-ray examination of bone and joint was conducted for patients with clear clinical symptoms or signs of skeletal fluorosis, and urine samples were collected to detect urinary fluorine. Ion selective electrode method was used to detect fluorine in water, tea and urine, and dental fluorosis was diagnosed by "Diagnosis of Dental Fluorosis" (WS/T 208-2011), and the "Diagnostic criteria for Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis" (WS 192-2008) was used for the diagnosis of skeletal fluorosis.Results:A total of 161 water samples were collected, and the fluorine content in water was from 0.07 to 0.68 mg/L, which met the domestic drinking water standard ( < 1.0 mg/L). A total of 1 644 side-tea samples were collected, and the annual per capita consumption of side-tea of permanent residents over 16 years old was 1.05 kg. The average fluoride content of tea was 601.99 - 991.38 mg/kg. According to the detection results of tea fluorine, 16 administrative villages with an average daily intake of tea fluorine more than 3.5 mg/d were screened, the lowest intake was 4.91 mg/d in Tuta Village Danma Township, and the highest intake was 18.98 mg/d in Huashan Village Maozang Township. A total of 253 children aged 8 - 12 years old in 14 administrative villages were investigated. There were 3 cases of very mild dental fluorosis, 2 cases of mild dental fluorosis, and 1 case of moderate dental fluorosis. The overall prevalence of dental fluorosis was 4.74% (12/253). The clinical examination of bone and joint symptoms and signs was carried out for 3 100 permanent adults over the age of 25 (excluding the age of 25) in 15 administrative villages. The X-ray examination of bone and joint was carried out for 104 patients with definite clinical symptoms and/or signs of skeletal fluorosis. Six patients with skeletal fluorosis were diagnosed, including 3 mild and 3 severe, aged 56 - 76 years. The average urinary fluorine in the investigated villages was 0.73 - 4.74 mg/L (the number of investigated was 3 100). According to the determination and classification standards of tea-drinking-borne fluorosis area, Tuta Village Danma Township, Xiding Village Dahonggou Township and Daiqian Village Zhuaxixiulong Township were determined to be in the mild area of tea-drinking-borne endemic fluorosis, while Nannigou Village Zhuaxixiulong Township was in the moderate area of tea-drinking-borne endemic fluorosis.Conclusion:Tea-drinking-borne endemic fluorosis is prevalent in Tianzhu, Gansu Province, and targeted prevention methods and control measures need to be taken.