Identification and sequencial analysis on rabies virus isolated from a donkey / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To identify and analyze the genetic characteristics of nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) genes of rabies virus (RABV) isolated from a donkey in Wuhan.N gene and G gene of the virus were compared with other representative street strains isolated around Hubei areas as well as the vaccine strains used in China and abroad.Methods RABV in brain tissue of a donkey was detected by direct immunofluorescent method and then inoculated in suckling mice to observe the incidence of rabies.Brain samples of the donkey and infected suckling mice were detected by ELISA.The N gene and G gene fragment of the isolated RABV were amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into pMD18-T vector for sequencing and genetic analysis.Results RABVs were detected in both donkey brain and suckling mice brain samples.The N gene and G gene nueleotide homology of RABV isolated from the donkey with other representative street strains found around Hubei areas as well as vaccine strains used in China and abroad were 85.7％-99.1％ and 82.2％-99.7％,and the deduced amino acid identity were 95.6％-99.8％ and 87.8％-99.4％,respectively.Conclusion Novel RABV was successfully identified and isolated from a donkey and showed close relationship to the representative street strains found around Hubei areas as well as vaccine strains used in China through genetic analysis.

Identification of Haemaphysalis longicomis and Rhipicephalus microplus / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To establish a method combined morphology and molecular marker for identifying Haemaphysalis longicomis and Rhipicephalus microplus. Methods Ticks were collected from domestic animals and wild environment in epidemic area of Hubei and Henan provinces where cases of fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome were prevalent. We classified the ticks by morphology characteristics before 12S rDNA of ticks were amplified by PCR and subsequently sequenced. Phylogenetic tree was constructed by PAUP4.0. Results The ticks belonged to Haemaphysalis longicomis and Rhipicephalus microplus through observation and analysed by the morphological characteristics of the ticks. 12S rDNA was cloned and sequenced while data confirmed the morphological identification of the results. Conclusion The method based on morphology that combined with molecular marker seemed a good method for the identificaton of ticks.

Study on the distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients visiting one methadone maintenance clinic in Wuhan / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and characteristics on molecular biology related to HCV among patients who were enrolled in a Methadone maintenance clinic in Wuhan.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum samples from 332 injection drug users (IDUs) were obtained and anti-HCV IgG was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbrent assay(ELISA), together with 86 anti-HCV positive specimens genotyped. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) assay using conserved primers deduced from the core-envelopel (C-E1) region of the HCV genome was employed to amplify a 474 bp fragment. Phylogenetic analysis of the C-E1 sequences was conducted by direct sequencing of the RT-nPCR products and alignment with determined by nucleotide sequencing followed by composition of a phylogenetic tree.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 313 cases (94.3%) appeared positive anti-HCV IgG in the 332 patients from a Methadone maintenance clinic in Wuhan. It was demonstrated that there were four different subtypes of HCV in that clinic in Wuhan, including 6a--71 cases (82.5%), 3b--7 cases (8.2%), 1a--5 cases (5.8%) and 1b--3 cases (3.5%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Infection of 6a genotype HCV was predominant in patients from the Methadone maintenance clinic in Wuhan, followed by HCV 3b, 1a and 1b.</p>

An epidemiological study of rabies virus in domestic dogs, cats and wildlife and the immunogenicity study for rabies vaccines derived from different cell cultured virus strains / 病毒学报

For epidemiological investigation of the rabies virus carrier rates of domestic dogs, cats and wild animals like rodent animals and bats,three kinds of regions where rabies had higher incidence (Hunan and Guizhou Provinces), lower incidence (Jiangsu Province, Wuhan City) and provisionally rabies-free (Shenyang City) were selected. Then the antigenic types, the genovariation of the isolaled viruses and the currently vaccine matching of the virus strains were analyzed. The results showed that in China the principal host of rabies is dog,the total virus carrier rate of the captured dogs was 2.56%, and the highest positive isolation rate was 20.0% in some monitoring site. However,there was no evidence about the rabies virus carrier rate in rodent animals,bats or other wild animals. The rabies vaccines which prepared from aG and CTN strains have already been produced successfully in China. The research showed that the nucleotide sequences of the newly isolated viruses were more similar with the glycoprotein gene of CTN strain. In order to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of the vaccines currently used, two groups (50 people each) were injected with vaccine of aG strain and CTN strain respectively in five surveillance points. The neutralizing antibody tested were 0.49 IU/mL-0.52 IU/mL and 6.7 IU/mL-7.53 IU/mL after the 7 and the 14 days of vaccine injection respectively. In addition, the rates of antibody positive seroconversion were 45.1%-47.9% and 100% respectively, and there was no moderate or severe adverse reactions observed. These data showed the vaccines have satisfactory effect on safety and protection.

The impact of social norm and susceptibility on drug use among adolescents / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of knowledge, attitude and perceived social norm on the use of New Type of Drugs (NTD) and to construct the mediated model among these factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With stratified random group sampling, 3018 students from 3 middle schools, 3 high schools, 3 vocational high schools and a municipal-own university in Wuhan city completed questionnaires under anonymous and voluntary practice. A conceptual model was developed based on Reasoned Behavior Theory. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the proposed model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall prevalent rate of NTD was 3.28%, with 4.81% for males, 1.94% for females,1.80% for middle school students, 2.91% for general high school students, 7.83% for vocational school students and 3.25% for college students. SEM seemed to have been fixed nicely into the model. Adolescent NTD was significantly predicted by knowledge, attitude, perceived social norm which were all directly affecting or medicated by the susceptibility of drugs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Knowledge, attitude, perceived social norm might increase the risks for NTD use among adolescents, suggesting that preventive education on drug use among adolescents should be paid to improve the knowledge on drugs.</p>

Molecular Epidemiology and Sequencing of the G-L Intergenic Region of Rabies Viruses Isolated in China / 中国病毒学

A group of 25 rabies viruses (RABVs),recovered from 24 dogs and one human case,were collected from various areas in China between 2004 and 2006.Genetic and phylogenetic analyses of the G-L intergenic region were carried out in 25 street RABV isolates and CTN vaccine strains of 7 generations.The study was based on the comparison of a 519 bp nucleotide sequence,encompassing the G-L intergenic region.The nucleotide sequence homologies of Chinese street strains were from 95.5% to 100%.The phylogenetic analysis showed that all Chinese isolates clearly supported the placement of all Chinese viruses in Lyssavirus genotype 1 and they were distributed according to their geographical origins.All of the Chinese strains were closely related but they could still be divided into two groups:group of street strains and group of CTN strains.This study presents details about the molecular epidemiology of rabies viruses based on the sequences of the G-L Intergenic region.

Survival Analysis on the Hazard of Hypertension at Initial Diagnosed Age / 中国慢性病预防与控制

Objective To investigate the hazard of hypertension at initial diagnosis ages.Methods Using stratified cluster sampling,6 091 adults aged more than 18 years with/without hypertension were interviewed;meanwhile their blood pressures were measured.The hazard of hypertension at initial diagnosed age was analyzed with survival analysis.Results The prevalent rate of hypertension was 19.9%and the average initial diagnosed age of hypertension was 52.0?13.12)yrs.The hazard persistently increased with the age after 35 years old for male,and reached its peak of prevalent rate(26%)at the age of 75 years for female.Not significant difference of hazard existed between male and female.Conclusion Our data indicated that there is a close relationship between the risk of hypertension onset and the age,the hazard increasing with ages,especially for the population aged over 35 years old.Therefore,an early prevention of hypertension should be taken from adolescent period.

Influenza surveillance and antigenic and genetic characterization of predominant strains in Wuhan area in 2003 / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study influenza epidemic and analyze antigenic and genetic characterization of the predominant strains in Wuhan area in 2003.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Epidemiological data and specimens from influenza patients were collected from surveillance sites weekly. Viruses were isolated from the specimens. Three H3 isolates were chosen to do antigenic analysis by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and their HA1 region was sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 58 influenza viruses were isolated from 418 specimens, 57 of them were identified as H3 subtype and 1 of them was B subtype; both monthly positive rate and numbers of influenza like illness had two peaks of winter and summer, the highest peak appeared in July. The 3 new H3 isolates were antigenically different from vaccine strain A/Panama/2007/99, 14 amino acid changes have been found in HA1 domain of these 3 strains compared with A/Panama/2007/99, phylogenetic analysis also confirmed the difference in HA1 domain.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Influenza epidemic had two peaks in Wuhan area in 2003. The activity of H3 virus was strengthened remarkably. And they are antigenically and genetically different from the vaccine strain.</p>