ABSTRACT
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease ,which is still endemic in western China .An earthquake struck south-western China on May 12th ,2008 ,which affected Longnan City of Gansu Province considerably .The objective of this survey is to determine the effect of the Wenchuan earthquake on the Kala-azar epidemic in Longnan City .In this study ,VL cases were collected from 2005 to 2013 and diagnosed on positive test for anti-rK39IgG antibodies by the Kala-azar Detect rK39 dip-stick (InBios ,USA) .The incidence rates were calculated among various counties of Longnan City with SPSS 19 .0 soft-ware .The epidemiological characteristics of the disease were analyzed before and after the Wenchuan earthquake .From 2005 to 2013 ,there were 825 VL cases in Longnan City ,with an annual incidence of 3 .36/100 000 and a significantly higher incidence in males than that in females (P＜ 0 .001) .All age groups were affected .During this period ,there was an obvious upward trend from 2005 to 2008 ,and a distinct downward tendency since 2010 .The incidences of VL between 2008 and 2010 were sig-nificantly different with that in other years (P＜0 .01) .Results revealed that VL was widespread in Longnan City ,which was likely exacerbated by the earthquake in 2008 .Earthquake created diverse natural environment and social circumstances ,w hich may contribute to the spread of the VL epidemic .Together ,our data strongly suggest that the epidemic of VL should be close-ly monitored after earthquake .
ABSTRACT
To demonstrate the possibility of radiotherapy for echinococcosis of rats and to explore its mechanism of action, the effects of different doses of 6 MV X-ray radiotherapy on the activity of Echinococcus granulosus in rats were investigated. After being irradiated by 10, 20, 30 and 40Gy of 6 MV X-ray, a lot of examinations were carried out, such as examination of the ultrastructure of the Echinococcus granulosus cysts in rat with electron microscope, the total amount of proteins and Ca2+ ion in hydatid cyst fluid(HCF) .The potassium-pyroantimonate(PPA) cytochemical method was used to demonstrate whether the blocked calcium channels would be one reason for radiotherapy on Echinococcus granulosus cysts in rat. It was found that the ultrastructures of E.granulosus cysts showed different extents of alterations or damages with abnormal changes and destruction in tissues or cells of cysts. The total protein amount in HCF was increased, while Ca2+ ions in HCF were reduced obviously in the treated groups of rats , especially in high dose groups. With PPA, some electron-dense precipitates were observed on the mitochondria and endocytoplasmic reticulum in the treated groups. It is evident that the structure of cysts of Echinococcus granulosus in rat can be damaged by radiotherapy with certain extent of the quantity-efficiency relationship.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate in vitro anti-hydatid efficacy on Echinococcus granulosus protoscolex(EgPSC) by using albendazole sulfoxide(ASOX) and its two enantiomeric antipodes, L-ASOX and D-ASOX.Methods Eg protoscoleces were divided into eight groups and cultured in the DMEM culture media under two concentrations(50 ?g/ml and 100 ?g/ml) of ASOX, L-ASOX and D-ASOX respectively.The appropriate controls included(i) a culture containing an equal amount of DMSO and(ii) a culture medium alone.The mortality of EgPSC in each group was daily counted until 100% EgPSC death in some groups.Results Significant difference of EgPSC mortality was found among the three drugs with various concentrations compared to control group(P0.05), but between ASOX group and L-ASOX group(P
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of pentoxifylline(PTX),albendazole(ABZ),and a combination of PTX and ABZ in mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis(E.M).Methods The first part of the experiment was to observe the in vitro effect of PTX on the cultured E.M protoscolex.In the second part,mice were infected by abdominal inoculation of E.M and divided into groups given by ABZ 50 mg/kg?d,PTX 360 mg/kg?d,PTX 180mg/kg?d,and a combined regimen ABZ 50 mg/(kg?d)+PTX 180 mg/(kg?d).Another infected group and a uninfected group served as controls which received normal saline only.100 days post-treatment,the mice were sacrificed for further observation.Indicators included wet weight of the cyst,cyst inhibition rate,level of serum cytokines TGF-? determined by ELISA,IL-2 and IL-10 determined by radio-immunoassay(RIA).Results The inhibition rate on cysts of the combined ABZ and PTX was 88%,considerably higher than 58 % of the group ABZ.The serum TGF-? and IL-10 decreased and IL-2 increased after treatment in comparison to the controls.Conclusion The PTX and ABZ combination shows better effect on E.multilocularis infection than that of single ABZ.PTX might help increase immunity of the mice.