High level IFN-γ may be one of the characteristics of chronic brucellosis / 中国人兽共患病学报

We sought to compare the level of peripheral blood gamma interferon(IFN-γ),interleukin 4 (IL-4),TGF-β1,IL-10 and IFN-γ/IL-4 between acute brucellosis and chronic brucellosis to look for biochemical markers for chronic brucellosis.A total of 42 acute brucellosis and 42 chronic brucellosis cases were selected randomly from the Endemic Disease Prevention and Control Center of Ulanqab City as the research subjects with 20 local healthy persons as healthy control.Comparisons of IFN-γ,IL-4,TGF-β1,IL-10 and IFN-7/IL-4 in the three groups were tested by One-Way ANOVA analysis.Parameters of IL-4,IFN-γ,TGF-β1,IL-10 and IFN-γ/IL-4 in peripheral blood were analyzed with T-test between acute brucellosis with chronic brucellosis.Results showed that the mean of IFN-,IL-4,TGF-β1 and IFN-γ/IL-4 was significant difference in the three groups(F =6.86,11.90,12.25,4.60,P＜0.01),but not of IL-10(F=2.72,P＞0.05).The mean of IFN-γ,IL-4 andIFN-7/IL-4 was significant difference between acute brucellosis with chronic group(t=-1.99,82,-3.3,P＜0.05),but not of TGF-β1 and IL-10(t=-1.90,-1.81,P＞0.05).Combined with TGF-β1 and IL-10 levels,high level IFN-γ may be regarded as one of the biochemical markers for chronic brucellosis.

An epidemiological investigation of human brucellosis in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia 2011 / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis in Ulanqab of Inner Mongolia.Methods Three hundred and twenty patients with suspected brucellosis were selected,who had registered in the Ulanqab Center for Endemic Disease Control of Inner Mongolia from April to June 2011.The investigation covered general situation,such as gender,age,occupation and main clinical symptoms and so on.Blood samples were collected,and Rose Bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT) was used for serum screening.Those who were tested positive in RBPT were confirmed with tube agglutination test (SAT).Brucellosis was diagnosed according to Diagnostic criteria for Brucellosis (WS 269-2007).Data were analyzed with statistical software(SPSS 17.0).Results One hundred and thirty-four cases were positive in RBPT of the 320 people surveyed,of which 93 cases were positive in SAT; antibody titers were higher than 1 ∶ 100(++),therefore they were diagnosed as brucellosis,and the ratio was 29.1％(93/320).The number of patients with suspected brucellosis who were negative in SAT test was 41,and the ratio was 12.8％ (41/320).Among the 93 people who were infected,the constituent ratio of farmers and herdsmen who engaged in livestock was the highest,accounted for 63.4％(59/93) and 24.7％ (23/93) of the total number of patients ; infection rate of male (30.9％,55/178) was higher than that of females (26.7％,38/142) ; the number(39) of brucellosis patients who were over the age of 51 was the highest,and the ratio is 42.0％.The onset season mainly in May and August; main route of exposure was bare hands lambing,midwifery and contact with infected sheep pollutants.Conclusions Sheep is the main source of human Brucella infection in Ulanqab.It is the key to control the spreading of brucellosis through improving awareness of disease prevention among farmers and herdsmen as well intensifying the prevention and control of Brucella infection between livestock.

Application of multiplex polymerase chain reaction to identify Brucella / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of multiplex polymerase chain reaction(Multiple-PCR) in identification of Brucella strains.Methods Six standard Brucella strains (Brucella abortus,Brucella melitensis,Brucella suis,Brucella canis,Brucella ovis,Brucella neotomae) were used as positive controls and Escherichia coli O∶157 and Yersinia enterocolitica O∶9 were used as negative controls.A total of 29 Brucella strains were tested.Brucella strains were amplified by BCSP31-PCR and the species of Brucella with positive results were identified with Multiple-PCR method.Results The results of all 29 amplified Brucella strains were positive with BCSP31-PCR.The identified results of all Brucella strains were positive with Multiple-PCR,including 20 strains of Brucella melitensis,5 isolates of Brucella suis,3 strains of Brucella abortus and 1 strain of Brucella canis.Conclusion Multiple-PCR method is a rapid,specific,simple and low risk method for identification of Brucella species.

Application of multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis in Brucellosis surveillance / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To establish the standard operating procedures on multiple locus variable number tandem repeat analysis and to evaluate the values in identification of Brucella(B.) melitensis and epidemiological trace-back.Methods Sixteen B.melitensis,22 B.abortus,21 B.suis and 10 B.cnais were investigated by Brucella MLVA-16 genotyping scheme.All data were analyzed using BioNumerics version 5.1 software (AppliedMaths,Belgium).Clustering analysis was based on the categorical coefficient and unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages(UPGMA) method.Polymorphism at each locus was quantified using Nei's diversity index.Resultant genotypes were compared using the web-based Brucella 2010 MLVA database.Results MLVA methods were successfully established and some strains can be clustered.Bruce06,bruce08,bruce11,bruce12,bruce42,bruce43,bruce45 and bruce55 were useful for species identification of Brucella isolates.Bruce04,bruce07,bruce09,bruce16 and bruce 30 afforded a higher discriminatory power for investigation of strain relatedness in regions of endemicity.Conclusions TheMLVAmethod has proved to be highly discriminatory and epidemiological concordance and is easy for Brucellosis surveillance in province-level lab.

Rapid detection of Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae in nasopharyngeal swabs by multiplex PCR / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish multiplex PCR-based assays for detecting H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae. And the PCR-based assays were applied to detect the carriage rates of H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae in nasopharyngeal swab specimens which were collected from healthy children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multiplex primers for species-specific PCR were designed by using DNAstar soft based on the sequences of 16S rRNA genes from genus Haemophilus to detect H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sensitivity of the 16S rRNA PCR assay for detecting H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae was 97.53% and 100% respectively, and the specificity was 95.89% and 96.63% respectively. Youden's Index on the ability to detect H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae was 0.9342 and 0.9663 respectively. 666 nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected from healthy children. The detection rates of H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae were 14.11% and 16.07% respectively by using isolation and culture methods. The detection rates of H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae were 43.54% and 57.96% respectively by 16S rRNA PCR assays. The carriage rates of serotypes a, b, c, d, e, f and non-typeable isolates were 0% (0/666), 0.15% (1/666), 1.20% (8/666), 0.15% (1/666), 1.20% (8/666), 1.80% (12/666), 95.50% (636/666) respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The multiplex PCR assays were very rapid, reliable and feasible methods for detection of H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae in pharyngeal swab specimens which were compared to conventional isolation and culture methods. 95.5% of H.influenzae strains in healthy children were nontypeable. The encapsulated or typable strains were mainly three serotypes which was c, e, and f serotype.</p>

A Flavobacterium lindanitolerans strain isolated from the ascites sample of a Chinese patient with EV71 virus infection / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

A strain of Flavobacterium lindanitolerans isolated from a sick child's ascites was described. The 16S rRNA gene of the strain was 100% identical to that of Flavobacterium lindanitolerans which was first identified in India in 2008. It was first described that the isolate required X factor (Hemin) for growth in the optimal conditions of 37 °C with 5% CO(2). The isolate produced indole and H(2)S. It did not present hemolytic feature on blood agar.

Epidemic situation analysis of human brucellosis in Inner Mongolia during 1952 to 2007 / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To explore the possible factors associated with twice human brucellosis epidemics in Inner Mongolia during 1952 to 2007 to provide scientific tactics for prevention and control brucellosis. Methods Surveillance data and literature about human brucellosis during 1952 to 2007 in Inner Mongolia was collected, descriptive analysis of human brucellosis incidence on distribution in the regions and among occupations was carried out during 1952 to 2007. Results In Inner Mongolia, the first epidemic of human brucellosis peak appeared in the early 1960s, spreading to 12 regions, at an incidence of 55.28/100 000 in 1961, 72.9% of the Brucella infected people were herdsman;another epidemic peak seriously hit middle and eastern regions after 2000, the incidence being 38.44/100 000 in 2005;51.9% and 28.7% of the new brucellosis cases were respectively peasant and herdsman. Conclusions In Inner Mongolia, animal husbandry industry has been rapid developed since the early 1990's, resulting frequent livestock trade without quarantine, at the same time the public health system doesn't match the development, so the epidemic situation of brucellosisbecomes more and more serious after mid-90's, and has reached the peak during 2004 and 2007.

Public health situation and needs assessment after Wenchuan earthquake in Anxian, Sichuan province / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the public health situation and needs in Anxian after Wenchuan earthquake so as to make an effective strategy for disease control and prevention.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>69 concentrated settlements with 100 residents were investigated. Probability proportion to size was adopted for sampling of 2200 residents from 687 scattered households (about 440 000 scattered residents). The content of this survey included drinking water, food hygiene, environment sanitation, planning immunity and medical health service, disease surveillance and so on. SPSS 16.0 was used for data analysis, and statistical interpretation was used to describe the results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>90.9% (31/66) resettled residents in Anxian lived in tents, 7.6% (5/66) lived in the movable-plate house, 93.3% (621/666) scattered households lived in tents and 71.9% (446/621) of them lived in tents which were built by residents themselves; the rate of drinking water disinfection in resettlement sites and scattered households were 97.1% (66/68) and 94.6% (650/687); 12.8% scattered residents had mouldy or food; 50% of resettlement sites raised animals; 43.6% (17/39) medical station didn't have bacterin inoculation service; 66.7% (10/15) lacked sufficient disinfection equipment; register rate was 50.0% (33/66) and report rate of symptoms and infectious diseases was 56.1% (37/66).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There was still some risk of enteric and vector-borne diseases in Anxian, therefore, some tailored measures should be very important.</p>

Mental health assessment among scattered residents after Wenchuan earthquake in Anxian, Sichuan province / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mental health status of residents scattered living in Anxian after Wenchuan earthquake so as to provide scientific basis for further mental health intervention.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A face to face interview was conducted among the scattered residents with designed questionnaire, which had three parts of the physical and emotional reaction, the relax methods and the social care and supports expected. Two-stage probability proportional to size (PPS) sample method was performed to sample 2184 from 0.44 million scattered residents in Anxian. On the basis of statistical description, mental health of different characteristics groups was compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three main symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorders in 2184 residents (11.23+/-3.44) were higher than the 103 fire victims in Hunan in 2003 (10.06+/-3.26), three factor scores of SCL-90 (5.76+/-1.74) were higher than normal in 1998 repair mode (n=23 891) (4.72+/-1.44), and the statistical difference was observed (t=10.77, P<0.05; t=706.04, P<0.05). Comparing the mental health of different groups, some significant differences were found by age, gender and education background.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The earthquake disaster brought prevalent physical and emotional reaction. Elderly people, female, junior students need mental intervention immediately. Therefore, strengthen the mental education and assistance (especially in high risk groups) would be of more significance.</p>

Using direct enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of IgG antibody on Bartonella henselae among healthy people in Changping, Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect Bartonella henselae IgG antibody among healthy people in Changping, Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA) to detect IgG antibody of Bartonella henselae among human beings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were 70.6% and 91.6% respectively, with the positive predictive value of serological test as 82.2%, and the negative predictive value as 84.9%, based on results of IFA. The positive rate was 34.5% among 357 healthy people on indirect ELISA but was 35.6% among 239 people with IFA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results indicated that the indirect ELISA was a very quick, sensitive and available method for detecting Bartonella henselae in human beings, as well as a high positive percent age of Bartonella henselae among the healthy people of Changping Beijing.</p>

Surveillance on severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus in animals at a live animal market of Guangzhou in 2004 / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) like virus in animals at a live animal market of Guanzhou in 2004 before and after culling of wild animal action taken by the local authority, in order to predict the re-emerging of SARS from animal originals in this region.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Animals at live animal market were sampled for rectal and throat swabs in triplicate. A single step realtime reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) diagnostic kit was performed for screening SARS-CoV like virus, the manual nested RT- PCR and DNA sequencing were performed for confirmation. Only specimens which tested positive for both of the N and P genes by nested RT-PCR were scored as positive.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 31 animals sampled in January 5 2004 before culling of wild animals at Guangdong Province, including 20 cats (Felis catus), 5 red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and 6 Lesser rice field rats (Rattus losea), 8 (25.8%) animals were tested positive for SARS-CoV like virus by RT-PCR methods, of which 4 cats, 3 red fox and one Lesser rice field rats were included. However, two weeks after culling of animals and disinfection of the market were implemented, in 119 animals sampled in January 20 2004, including 6 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), 13 cats, 46 red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), 13 spotbill duck (Anas platyrhynchos), 10 greylag goose (Anser anser), 31 Chinese francolin (Franclinus pintadeanus), only rectal swab from one greylag goose was tested positive for SARS-CoV like virus. Furthermore, in 102 animals that including 14 greylag gooses, 3 cats, 5 rabbits, 9 spotbill duck (Anaspoecilorhyncha), 2 Chinese francolin (Franclinus pintadeanus), 8 common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), 6 pigeons, 9 Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), 19 wild boar (Sus scrofa), 16 Lesser rice field rats, 5 dogs, 1 mink (Mustela vison), 3 goats, 2 green peafowl (Pavo muticus) sampled in April, May, June, July, August and November, only rectal swab from one pig was tested positive. However, of 12 and 10 palm civets sampled in November and December including five of which had been at the live animals market for 2 days, none of them was tested positive.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This findings revealed that animals being sampled in April, May, June, July, August and November of 2004, only one rectal swab from a pig was tested positive as SARS-CoV like virus, much lower than the results from the previous year, suggesting that the possibility of re-emerging of human infection from animal origins is low for the winter of 2004-2005.</p>