ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the differences in pathogenicity and gene expression profiles between adult Schistosoma japonicum isolated from hilly and marshland and lake regions of Anhui Province, so as to provide the scientific evidence for formulating the precise schistosomiasis control strategy in different endemic foci. Methods C57BL/6 mice were infected with cercariae of S. japonicum isolates from Shitai County (hilly regions) and Susong County (marshland and lake regions) of Anhui Province in 2021, and all mice were sacrificed 44 days post-infection and dissected. The worm burdens, number of S. japonicum eggs deposited in the liver, and the area of egg granulomas in the liver were measured to compare the difference in the pathogenicity between the two isolates. In addition, female and male adult S. japonicum worms were collected and subjected to transcriptome sequencing, and the gene expression profiles were compared between Shitai and Susong isolates of S. japonicum. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Results The total worm burdens [(14.50 ± 3.96) worms/mouse vs. (16.10 ± 3.78) worms/mouse; t = 0.877, P = 0.392], number of female and male paired worms [(4.50 ± 0.67) worms/mouse vs. (5.10 ± 1.45) worms/mouse; t = 1.129, P = 0.280], number of unpaired male worms [(5.50 ± 4.01) worms/mouse vs. (5.60 ± 1.69) worms/mouse; t = 0.069, P = 0.946], number of eggs deposited in per gram liver [(12 116.70 ± 6 508.83) eggs vs. (16 696.70 ± 4 571.56) eggs; t = 1.821, P = 0.085], and area of a single egg granuloma in the liver [(74 359.40 ± 11 766.34) µm2 vs. (74 836.90 ± 13 086.12) µm2; t = 0.081, P = 0.936] were comparable between Shitai and Susong isolates of S. japonicum. Transcriptome sequencing identified 584 DEGs between adult female worms and 1 598 DEGs between adult male worms of Shitai and Susong isolates of S. japonicum. GO enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs between female adults were predominantly enriched in biological processes of stimulus response, cytotoxicity, multiple cell biological processes, metabolic processes, cellular processes and signaling pathways, cellular components of cell, organelles and cell membranes and molecular functions of binding and catalytic ability, and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways of vascular endothelial growth factor signaling, glutathione metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism. In addition, the DEGs between male adults were predominantly enriched in biological processes of signaling transduction, multiple cell biological processes, regulation of biological processes, metabolic processes, development processes and stimulus responses, cellular components of extracellular matrix and cell junction and molecular functions of binding and catalytic ability, and these DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways of Wnt signaling, Ras signaling, natural killer cells-mediated cytotoxicity, extracellular matrix-receptor interactions and arginine biosynthesis. Conclusions There is no significant difference in the pathogenicity between S. japonicum isolates from hilly and marshland and lake regions of Anhui Province; however, the gene expression profiles vary significantly between S. japonicum isolates.
ABSTRACT
Objective To understand the current status and changing tendency of human hookworm infections in Anhui Province. Methods According to the unified national survey scheme, a total of 48 survey sites were sampled from 16 counties (cities) in 4 ecological regions of Anhui Province using a stratified cluster random sampling method from 2014 to 2015. The hookworm eggs were detected in the fecal samples from permanent residents at ages of over one year living in the survey sites using a modified Kato-Katz thick smear method, and the subjects’health knowledge and behaviors were investigated using questionnaire survey. Results A total of 12 300 persons were examined in the 48 survey sites from 4 ecological regions of Anhui Province between 2014 and 2015, and 259 subjects were identified with hookworm infections, with a mean prevalence of 2.11%. Among the four ecological regions, the North China Plain had the highest prevalence of human hookworm infections (3.02%) and in all survey sites, Linquan County had the highest prevalence (7.03%). Ancylostoma duodenale was the predominant hookworm species identified (62.16%), and 65.64% had mild infections. The prevalence of human hookworm infections was significantly greater in women than in men (χ2 = 4.16, P < 0.05), and showed a tendency towards a rise with ages (χ2trend = 113.36, P < 0.01). In addition, the prevalence of human hookworm infections varied in occupations (χ2 = 159.41, P < 0.01) and education levels (χ2 = 34.95, P < 0.01). Questionnaire survey showed low prevalence of human hookworm infections in subjects knowing the question“how hookworm infection occurs”and denying“using fresh stools for fertilization”(χ2 = 15.05, P < 0.01; χ2 = 4.19, P < 0.05). Conclusions The prevalence of human hookworm infections has greatly decreased in Anhui Province; however, the prevalence remains relatively high in some regions and populations. The North China Plain should be regarded as the key area for hookworm disease prevention and control, and housewives and populations with advanced ages and low educational levels are key targeted populations in Anhui Province.