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Objective To study the effects of environmental temperature and humidity on the survival and reproduction of Oncomelania snails, and to provide a basis for the development of scientific strategies and measures for snails control. Methods Based on the field experimental base of Oncomelania snails in Hubei Province, through long-term and systematic ecological observation of snails, the living conditions of snails at different temperatures were recorded, and the average densities of live snails and young snails as well as the amount of spawning were calculated. Results In a certain temperature range (15°C-30°C), the average densities of live snails and young snails were positively correlated with the changes of temperature and humidity, and the effect of temperature on the spawning of snails was also significant. The optimal breeding temperature of Oncomelania snails was 25°C. Conclusion In a certain temperature range (15°C-30°C), the environmental temperature and humidity have a significant impact on the survival and reproduction of snails in the field.
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Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the application of Wondfo Rapid Diagnostic Kit (RDTs) in the diagnosis of imported malaria cases in the Malaria Reference Laboratory of Hubei Provence. Methods The complete blood samples of malaria cases and negative card deletion cases reported in Hubei Province from January 2015 to June 2018 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. The results of the provincial malaria reference laboratory were used as the standard, and were compared with those results detected by RDTs, microscopic examination and nested PCR. The differences were statistically analyzed. Results A total of 440 complete samples were collected by the Malaria Reference Laboratory of Hubei Provence, of which 418 samples were confirmed as positive, and 22 samples were confirmed as negative. In terms of the identification ability of P. falciparum, RDTs performed the best, with a coincidence rate of 100.00%, and the coincidence rates nested PCR and microscopic examination were 97.49% and 91.40%, respectively. In terms of the identification specificity for another 3 species of Plasmodium (P. vivax, P. ovarian and P. vivax), nested PCR was the best, the microscopy method was the second best, and RDTs was the lowest. Based on the comprehensive analysis of 12 individual indicators, RDTs had the highest score (32), while the microscopic examination and nested PCR scored 24 and 19, respectively. Conclusion RDTs had certain advantages in the detection of malaria, but they had a low identification specificity for different species. Thus, they can be used as auxiliary tools for microscopic examination and widely used in surveillance work after malaria elimination in Hubei Province.
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Objective To understand the malaria epidemic situation in Hubei Province from 2010 to 2014,so as to provide the evidence for formulating the effective malaria elimination strategies and measures in this province. Methods The data from the Disease Reporting Information System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention were collected and analyzed with the descriptive epidemiological method for the epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Hubei Province from 2010 to 2014. Results A total of 997 malaria cases were reported in Hubei Province from 2010 to 2014,there were 618 cases of vivax malaria,352 cases of falciparum malaria,18 cases of Plasmodium ovale infection,and 9 cases of Plasmodium malariae infec?tion. Among all the reported cases,479 were local cases and 518 were imported cases. No local malaria cases were reported from Hubei Province since 2013. The overall imported malaria cases showed a gradual increasing trend from 2010 to 2014,the pro?portion of falciparum malaria increased quite significantly from 2010 to 2014. The malaria cases were mainly distributed in Xiangyang,Wuhan,Xiaogan,Yichang,Jingmen and Suizhou cities,reaching 81.85%of the cases of the whole province. There were 810 male cases and 187 female cases,with a sex ratio of 4.33∶1. The local malaria cases were mainly aged from 40 to 69 years,accounted for 78.29%of the total local cases,and 88.22%(457/518)of the whole local cases were concentrated in 20-49 age groups. The local cases were mainly farmers(67.01%). Among the imported malaria cases,the occupation distribution concentrated mainly on the worker,migrant worker,and farmer(63.90%). Conclusions The local malaria epidemic situation has been effectively controlled in Hubei Province,which reflects the initiative achievements of malaria elimination. However, there are still many imported malaria cases from abroad. Therefore,the imported malaria from abroad still remains the key of ma?laria control in Hubei Province.
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Objective To analyze the malaria control measures and epidemic trend in Hubei Province from 1974 to 2015, so as to provide the evidence for malaria elimination path analysis. Methods The malaria control data in Hubei Province from 1974 to 2015 were collected and analyzed retrospectively by descriptive epidemiological methods. Results The epidemic pro?cess of malaria in Hubei Province was divided into four stages. From 1974 to 1979,it was high prevalence state of malaria,and the average annual incidence was 174.47/10 000. From 1980 to 1999,the main control strategies were to control the infection source and mosquitoes,and the average annual incidence was 17.30/10 000,significantly downward. From 2000 to 2009, through the surveillance of infection sources and controlling malaria outbreaks and strengthening the floating population manage?ment,the average annual incidence was 0.42/10 000. After 2010,followed by the elimination phase of malaria,the incidence continued to decline. In 2013,there was no local infection for the first time. The difference of average annual incidence among above?mentioned stages was statistically significant(χ2=1 254.36,P<0.05). Conclusions The malaria epidemic process in Hubei Provincial experienced the high epidemic stage,sharply drop stage,low incidence phase and the elimination phase. How?ever,the natural factors affecting malaria still exist. Therefore,strengthening the control of imported malaria and surveillance should be the main task in the process of eliminating malaria in the future.