ABSTRACT
Echinococcosis is a serious zoonotic parasitic disease caused by infections with larval Echinococcus. The life cycle of Echinococcus involves a variety of animal hosts, including hoofed animals and rodents as intermediate hosts and carnivores as definitive hosts. The transmission of human echinococcosis is closely associated with the life cycle of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis among animal hosts in nature. This review summarizes the recent advances in the prevalence and influencing factors of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis infections in animal hosts, so as to provide insights into precision control of echinococcosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities and challenges for schistosomiasis elimination in Laos, so as to propose the corresponding healthy policies and suggestions. Methods A SWOT analysis was performed to analyze the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat for the schistosomiasis elimination program in Laos, and the corresponding policy suggestions were proposed. Results The national schistosomiasis elimination program of Laos receives governmental emphases and great supports. A strategy based on mass drug administration was proposed and a sentinel site-bases surveillance system has been built for schistosomiasis elimination in Laos; however, there are several challenges for the national schistosomiasis elimination program in Laos, including insufficient financial supports, inadequate professional capability, weak schistosomiasis control awareness in community populations and difficulty in vector control. Conclusions Persistent governmental leadership, increasing financial supports, strengthening professional team building and improving schistosomiasis control awareness in community populations are required to facilitate the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in Laos.
ABSTRACT
Objectives To understand the risk factors of cystic echinococcosis in Tibetan population,so as to provide the reference for development of prevention and control strategies.Methods Four cystic echinococcosis highly-prevalent townships were selected from Naqu County of Tibet and Shiqu County of Sichuan Province,which had similar environmental and altitude conditions,from August to September,2017.Applying the 1:1 case-control study,a household survey was conducted to investi-gate the risk factors of echinococcosis in humans. Results A total of 378 residents were investigated,of which the numbers of cases and non-cases were both 189.The univariate analysis showed that the years of keeping dogs(OR=1.032,P<0.05),the number of keeping dogs(OR=1.260,P<0.05),the way of raising dogs(OR=1.434,P<0.05),feeding with raw viscera (OR=1.531,P<0.05),and there being stray dogs around(OR=1.946,P<0.05)were the risk factors of echinococcosis.As a result of the multivariate logistic regression analysis,only three risk factors,feeding with raw viscera,there being stray dogs around,and drinking water resource,were included in the regression model.Conclusion Feeding with raw viscera,there be-ing stray dogs around,and drinking water resource are the risk factors of echinococcosis in humans.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of short-term global health training on tropical diseases in China,so as to provide the reference in professional trainings.Methods The study took the short-term global health training project on tropical diseases in China as an example.The structured questionnaires were distributed to each trainee pre-and post-training course. Results A total of 89 trainees were included in the survey,and 68.5%(61 cases)of the trainees were older than 35 years and 85.4%(76 cases)of the trainees came from provincial institutes.The passing rate for the test of global health knowledge was sig-nificantly improved from the pre-training test(18.0%,16/89)to the post one(68.2%,58/85)(χ2=44.930,P<0.05).The knowledge of global health was closely related to the professionals'capacity,i.e.,the education level,age,professional title, and experience of international cooperation,but was not statistically related to their genders. Conclusion This kind of short-term trainings not only greatly improves the professionals'knowledge of tropical diseases control,but also is expected to play a leading role in the international cooperation of global health and tropical diseases control in the future.
ABSTRACT
The Regional Network for Asian Schistosomiasis and Other Helminth Zoonoses(RNAS+)plays an important role in promoting the research and control of helminthes in Asia.The development course of RNAS+is summarized in this article and the information of RNAS+annual meeting is collected.The questionnaire survey and expert interview are used to evaluate the role of RNAS+in promoting the prevention and control of helminthes in various Asian countries.The experience of RNAS+operation and its future development are summarized.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The rodentia and lagomorpha animals are the intermediate hosts of Echinococcus multilocularis, their distribution and infection of this parasite may facilitate the infection of definitive hosts such as dogs. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of the intermediate hosts of Echinococcus multilocularis in Shiqu County, Sichuan, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A systematic sampling method was used to investigate the density of burrows of rodents and lagomorphs at 97 pasture sites in winter and summer pastureland and remote sensing (RS) technology was used to correlate their densities to the distribution of these animals in different landscape types.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Based on the densities of Ochotona curzoniae, Microtus fuscus (dependent variable) and their burrow densities (independent variable) in survey points, regression equations were fitted respectively (Ochotona curzoniae, P < 0.0001, R(2) = 0.8705; Microtus fuscus, P < 0.0001, R(2) = 0.9736). Their burrow density in summer pastureland was higher than in winter pastureland (F = 36.65, P < 0.0001). The burrow densities of Ochotona curzoniae and Microtus fuscus in bareland and half-bareland are higher than in grassland (F = 7.73, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The regression relationship between the densities of Ochotona curzoniae and Microtus fuscus and their burrow densities indicate that the burrow densities could reflect the animal densities and that the burrow density was greater in summer pastureland than in winter pastureland. The main distribution areas of the intermediate hosts were in bareland and half-bareland.</p>