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ObjectiveTo understand the epidemiological characteristics of influenza in Jingzhou from 2016 to 2021， so as to provide scientific evidence for the formulation of influenza prevention and control policies in this region， and effectively protect people's health. MethodsData of influenza-like illness （ILI） and pathogen surveillance in Jingzhou during 2016‒2021 were collected and statistically analyzed. ResultsA total of 46 272 ILI cases were reported from two hospitals in Jingzhou City from 2016 to 2021. The difference in the constituent ratio of ILI was statistically significant among different age groups （P<0.05）. A total of 12 812 specimens were collected from two hospitals for influenza surveillance. A total of 1 513 cases were RNA positive，and the positive rate of influenza virus nucleic acid detection was 11.81％. The RNA positive specimens were mainly B （Victoria）， accounting for 39.33％. There were statistically significant differences in the positive rate of influenza virus nucleic acids and different types of influenza virus nucleic acids among different years （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe influenza epidemic in Jingzhou peaks in winter and spring， and the new A （H1），A （H3）， B （Victoria） and B （Yamagata） types alternate and mixed epidemics dominate.
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COVID-19 is a novel respiratory infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants poses a serious threat to the public health. A bedside device with high specificity and sensitivity for real-time and rapid detection is of great value for the prevention and control of COVID-19. Moreover, understanding the transmission behavior of airborne pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 is also vital for scientific disease prevention. Biosensors are devices that can convert biomolecular reaction signals into detectable physical or chemical signals and have been increasingly used for the detection and analysis of pathogenic microorganisms. Biosensors bases on the conventional detection methods such as colony counting, immunoassays and molecular techniques are often time-consuming, labor-intensive and complicated. Nanomaterial-based biosensors are more portable and can be used for rapid on-site detection. This review summarized the progress in biosensors for pathogen detection and the application of nanomaterial based-biosensors in the surveillance of airborne pathogens.
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@#Objective To understand pathogenic distribution and epidemiological characteristics of diarrhea syndrome in Gansu Province． Methods Fecal specimens from diarrhea syndrome surveillance cases at sentinel hospitals in Gansu Province from 2009 to 2018 were collected，and virus nucleic acids were detected by real－time fluorescent chain reaction，and bacteria were detected by isolation culture． Ｒesults 1 547 positive cases were detected from 4 406 stool specimens with the positive rate of 35. 11%． Among the positive samples，1 281 cases were positive for virus with the positive rate of 47. 20%; 287 ca- ses were positive for bacteria with the positive rate of 8. 57%． Top five of pathogenic spectrum were rota- virus ( 46. 04%) ，astrovirus ( 13. 37%) ，norovirus ( 13. 15%) ，Shigella ( 9. 90%) and adenovirus ( 7. 81%) ． In different age groups，statistically significant differences were found in the positive rates of rotavirus，norovirus，astrovirus，Shigella and non typhoid Salmonella ( all P＜0. 05) ． The positive rate of virus was higher from November to March of next year，and the positive rate of bacteria was higher from June to August． The epidemic seasons of pathogens were different，of which rotavirus was dominating in four seasons． Conclusions The pathogenic spectrum of diarrhea is wide relatively in Gansu Province， and viral diarrhea is more common，with obvious seasonal peak． Continuous monitoring should be strengthened to grasp characteristics and epidemic trends of pathogens，and it is helpful to take targeted and seasonal preventive measures in population at high risk．
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Objective@#To provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), we analyzed the epidemiological characteristics and pathogen surveillance of HFMD cases which were reported in Liaoning Province from 2008 to 2017.@*Methods@#The information of cases and laboratory monitoring were collected from the HFMD reports of 2008-2017. The epidemic intensity, three distribution and pathogen composition of HFMD were analyzed by using descriptive epidemiological method .@*Results@#There were 290 339 cases reported during 2008 to 2017 and the average incidence was 66.56/100000. The peak incidence was found for June to August, The incidence of crowd was mainly in the 0-6 years old children, and the male / female incidence ratio was 1.50∶1. Among 16 498 laboratory diagnosis cases, EV-A71 positive cases were 4 974 (30.15%), CV-A16 positive cases were 5 130(31.10%), and the other enteroviruses positive cases were 6 394 (38.76%).@*Conclusions@#The overall situation of HFMD in Liaoning province showed a fluctuating downward trend from 2008 to 2017. The epidemic had obvious seasonality and population, and the pathogenic characteristics were constantly changing, Monitoring should be strengthened.
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Objective@#To evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease in Zhejiang province between 2009 and 2017, so that scientific evidence could be provided for prevention and control of hand, foot and mouth disease.@*Methods@#Spatial, temporal and population distribution of HFMD was analyzed. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase cain reaction was used to test Enterovirus A71 and Coxsackievirus A16 in samples.@*Results@#Between 2009 and 2017, 1 108 093 HFMD cases were reported in Zhejiang with the prevalence of 226.24/100000; 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 had a higher prevalence than other years. Prevalence of HFMD peaked in April-July and September-October. Wenzhou, Taizhou and Ningbo had a higher prevalence than other cities. In total, 69.27% cases were children who were not enrolled in nursery school, and 65.67% were 1-3 years old. Pathogen surveillance showed that EV-A71 decreased in mild cases, whereas other enterovirus increased. However EV-A71 was still predominant in severe and fatal cases (56.0%).@*Conclusions@#Temporal and spatial distribution of HFMD is characteristic in Zhejiang province. EV-A71 predominated in severe cases and fatal cases, while other enterovirus (non-EV-A71, non CV-A16) were the main pathogen for mild cases.
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Objective To investigate the infection status, serotype distribution, drug sensitivity and molecular characteristics of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) in patients with diarrhea in Guangdong Province. Methods Fecal samples were collected, cultured and isolated by traditional methods. Suspected Escherichia coli isolates were confirmed by multiplex PCR used for detecting specific virulence genes and bio-chemical methods. Positive strains were serotyped, characterized for drug sensitivity and analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis ( PFGE). Results The total positive rate of DEC in patients with diarrhea was 6.26%. The positive rates of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), enteroadherent Escherichia coli (EAEC) and en-teroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) were 2. 47% , 1. 54% , 1. 32% , 0. 62% and 0. 09% , respectively, with infections primarily in children aged 0-<7 years. The total seropositive rate was 52. 54% , with EHEC accounting for 15. 00% . DEC showed high sensitivity to imipenem, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime and cefo-taxime. The multidrug resistance rate of DEC was 58. 45% , with EPEC being the most serious for multidrug resistance. PFGE results showed that ETEC, EHEC, EPEC and EAEC had a high degree of polymorphism. Conclusion EPEC is the predominant type of DEC circulating in Guangdong Province. Third-generation cephalosporins are the first drugs of choice for treating infections in children. Ciprofloxacin can be used to treat adults. The problem of multiple drug resistance of DEC is severe and efforts to monitor DEC infections and drug resistance should be strengthened.
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Background The surveillance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the Chilean coast has been mainly performed by multiplex PCR amplification of three different hemolysin genes, which are specie-specific virulence factors. These genes are also employed in the determination of V. parahaemolyticus pathogenic load in seafood and for characterization of pathogenic strains associated to diarrhea cases in human. During environmental surveillance that we performed every summer, we occasionally observed a thermolabile hemolysin (tlh) PCR product of a slightly smaller size than expected, which was coincident with low loads of V. parahaemolyticus in the environment. In order to understand this observation, we probed the specificity of tlh primers for the detection of V. parahaemolyticus at different bacterial loads and DNA concentrations. Results Primers used for the detection of V. parahaemolyticus specific tlh amplified a slightly smaller tlh gene, which is found in Vibrio alginolyticus and other related strains. These amplicons were observed when V. parahaemolyticus was absent or in undetectable loads in the environment. Conclusions Surveillance of V. parahaemolyticus using tlh primers can be imprecise because amplification of a V. parahaemolyticus specific marker in V. alginolyticus and other related strains occurs. This situation complicates potentially the estimation of bacterial load in seafood, because do not ensure the correct identification of V. parahaemolyticus when his load is low. Additionally, it could complicate the tracking of outbreaks of V. parahaemolyticus infections, considering the genetic markers used would not be specie-specific.