ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and identify the risk factors of Giardia lamblia infections among patients with colorectal cancer in Henan Province. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed for questionnaire surveys among colorectal cancer patients in Henan Cancer Hospital during the period from March to July, 2021. Patients’ stool samples were collected, and the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) gene of G. lamblia was amplified in stool samples using nested PCR assay to characterize the parasite genotype. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the risk factors of G. lamblia infections among colorectal cancer patients. Results A total of 307 colorectal cancer patients were investigated, including 176 males (57.3%) and 131 females (42.7%). PCR assay detected 8.1% [95% confidential interval (CI): (0.056, 0.117)] prevalence of G. lamblia infections among the study subjects, and there was no significant difference in the prevalence between men [9.1%, 95% CI: (0.057, 0.143)] and women [6.9%, 95% CI: (0.037, 0.125)] (χ2 = 0.495, P = 0.482). In addition, there was no age-specific prevalence of G. lamblia infections among the participants (χ2 = 1.534, P = 0.675). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified use of septic tanks [odds ratio (OR) = 3.336, 95% CI: (1.201, 9.267)], daily use of well water [OR = 3.042, 95% CI: (1.093, 8.465)] and raising livestock [OR = 3.740, 95% CI: (1.154, 12.121)] as risk factors of G. lamblia infections among colorectal cancer patients, and the prevalence of abdominal pain was significantly greater in colorectal cancer patients with G. lamblia infections than in those without infections (P = 0.017). Among the 25 patients with G. lamblia infections, assemblage A was characterized in 24 (96.0%) cases and assemblage B in one case (4.0%). Conclusions The prevalence of G. lamblia is high among colorectal cancer patients in Henan Province, and assemblage A is the dominant genotype of G. lamblia. Use of septic tanks, daily use of well water and raising livestock are risk factors of G. lamblia infections among patients with colorectal cancer.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infections among AIDS patients in Nanchang City. MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among AIDS patients in Nanchang City during the period between May and September, 2016. B. hominis infection was detected in patients’stool samples using a PCR assay, and the CD4+ T cell count was measured in subjects’blood samples. In addition, the risk factors of B. hominis infection in AIDS patients were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results A survey was conducted in Nanchang City from May to September 2016. A total of 505 AIDS patients were investigated, and the prevalence of B. hominis infection was 4.16%. Univariate analysis revealed that B. hominis infection correlated with the occupation (χ2 = 8.595, P = 0.049), education level (χ2 = 14.494, P = 0.001), type of daily drinking water (χ2 = 10.750, P = 0.020), root of HIV infections (χ2 = 8.755, P = 0.026) and receiving anti-HIV therapy (χ2 = 23.083, P = 0.001) among AIDS patients, and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified daily direct drinking of tap water as a risk factor of B. hominis infections [odds ratio (OR) = 7.988, 95% confidential interval (CI): (1.160, 55.004)] and anti-HIV therapy as a protective factor of B. hominis infection [OR = 0.183, 95% CI: (0.049, 0.685)]. Conclusions The prevalence of B. hominis is 4.16% among AIDS patients in Nanchang City. Daily direct drinking of tap water is a risk factor, and anti-HIV therapy is a protective factor of B. hominis infection among AIDS patients living in Nanchang City.
ABSTRACT
Blastocystis is a unicellular, anaerobic, intestinal protozoan that infects humans and a variety of animals, which is widely prevalent across the world. Blastocystis infections have been detected in healthy populations, children, students, outpatients and inpatients, as well as diarrhea patients in China. High prevalence of Blastocystis infections has been reported in immunocompromised patients, and relatively high prevalence was seen in individuals living in Guangxi and Yunnan regions. Based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequence, a total of 17 subtypes (ST1 to ST17) of Blastocystis have been characterized until now, among which ST1 to ST9 and ST12 infect humans and animals, and ST10 to ST17 only infect animals. In China, ST1 to ST3 are predominant human Blastocystis subtypes, and ST1/ST3, ST1/ST2 and ST2/ST3 mixed infections have been also identified. This review mainly describes the epidemiology and genotypes of Blastocystis in humans and animals in China.
ABSTRACT
Objective To develop a bionic animal skin and evaluate its detective effect of Schistosoma japonicum cercariae so as to provide a new technique for the monitoring of the schistosome susceptibility water body.Methods A bionic animal skin was made with pigskin and the experiments were carried out for evaluating its detective effects of S.japonicum cercariae in labo-ratory and simulate fields,and at the same time,the sentinel mouse method was used as the control.Results In the laborato-ry,the cercariae were found in 10-,30-,60-cercaria subgroups in the bionic animal skin group after 1 and 2 hours,but the cer-cariae were found only in the 60-cercaria subgroup in the sentinel mouse group.In the simulate fields,in the water body with 5 schistosome-infected Oncomelania hupensis snails,the cercariae were found in 2 bionic animal skin devices(2/4)and 3 bionic animal skin devices(3/4)after 2 hours and 4 hours respectively,and in the water body with 10 schistosome-infected O.hupensis snails,the cercariae were found in 4 bionic animal skin devices(4/4)and 3 bionic animal skin devices(3/4)after 2 hours and 4 hours respectively in the bionic animal skin group.In the the sentinel mouse group,in the above-mentioned water bodies(with 5 or 10 schistosome-infected O.hupensis snails),the cercariae were found in 2 sentinel mice(2/4)and 1 sentinel mice(1/4)af-ter 2 hours and 4 hours respectively;and the cercariae were found in 2 sentinel mice(2/4)and 3 sentinel mice(3/4)after 2 hours and 4 hours respectively.Conclusion The bionic animal skin device can be used to detect the S.japonicum cercariae, and its sensibility and efficiency are superior to the traditional sentinel mouse method.