Analysis on prevalence and epidemic risk of animal plague in different ecological plague foci in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region / 中华预防医学杂志

The risk of plague epidemics and relapse of various types of plague foci persists in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. For Marmota sibirica plague foci, the animal plague has not been found but antibody has been detected positive. Nowadays, Marmota sibirica has been increasing in population and distribution in China. In bordering countries Mongolia and Russia, the animal plague has been continuously prevalent. For Spermophilus dauricus plague foci, the animal plague has been taken place now and then. Compared to the above foci, the animal plague is most prevalent in Meriones unguiculatus plague foci and frequently spread to humans. Due to higher strain virulence and historical disaster in Marmota sibirica plague foci and Spermophilus dauricus plague foci, plague prevention and control should be strengthened on these foci. In addition to routine surveillance, epidemic dynamics need to be further monitored in these two foci, in order to prevent their relapse and spread to humans.

Investigation on distribution of Yersinia enterocolitica in Henan province between 2005 and 2011 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the distribution of Yersinia enterocolitica in Henan province from 2005 to 2011.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 6700 samples of stool specimen were collected from diarrhea patients and different domestic animals between 2005 and 2011 from Zhengzhou, Suixian and Dengfeng, as well as flies and the daub specimens of raw and cooked meat products. The bacteria were isolated by cold enrichment method, analyzed by the systematic biochemistry to determine the serotypes and bio-types, and tested the virulence genes by PCR method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 216 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica were isolated from 11 kinds of animal hosts and foods, while 29.63% (64/216) of them were from swine. The dominant epidemic serotypes of the Yersinia enterocolitica were O: 5 and O: 8, accounted for 23.2% (50/216) and 20.4% (44/216), respectively; type 1A was the dominant bio-type, accounted for 84.7% (183/216). The dominant serotype and bio-type differed a lot among various hosts.16 pathogenic strains were isolated from swine, followed by diarrhea patients (6 strains) and dogs (6 strains).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The distribution of the host of Yersinia enterocolitica was widespread, while swine was the dominant animal host.</p>

An etiological survey on a foodborne disease epidemic outbreak caused by Salmonella enteritidis / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To conduct an etiological molecular epidemiological survey and laboratory test on a foodborne disease epidemic outbreak to make clear of the cause and implement effective prevention and control on it.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>On May 12th 2012, 135 kindergarten children were sent to Xuzhou City People's Hospital and Children's Hospital with gastrointestinal infection disease. A total of 34 anus swab samples and 4 vomit samples were collected from the patients. Real-time PCR rapid detection, strains separation and cultivation, phage lysis experiments, ATB automated identification system were used to make etiological detection and identification. The genomic DNA of salmonella enteritidis were typed with the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), cluster analysis were carried out together with the patterns of local Salmonella infections.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Children in 20 classes were suffered from the gastrointestinal infection among the 21 classes. There were no significant aggregation of class distribution. Among the 135 patients, 76 were boys (56.3%) and 59 were girls (43.7%). The main symptoms were fever (above 38°C), diarrhea and bellyache. Through real-time PCR detection and strains separation, 19 salmonella enteritidis were isolated from 34 anus swab samples of suspected cases and the detection rate was 56%. There were no strains detected from vomit samples. All of the 19 salmonella enteritidis showed the same serological subtype, biochemical reaction, drug sensitivity and phage lysis pattern. The salmonella enteritidis had the identical PFGE pattern (100% similarity), and were different from the pattern of local sporadic infection cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It was confirmed that this was an epidemic outbreak of foodborne disease caused by homologous salmonella enteritidis by epidemiological survey, clinical information, lab etiological test and molecular typing.</p>

Comparison of lipopolysaccharide and protein immunogens from pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica bio-serotype 1B/O:8 and 2/O:9 using SDS-PAGE / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Yersinia enterocolitica is an extracellular pathogen and its related antigens interact with the host immune system. We investigated the difference in immunological characteristics between a highly pathogenic and poorly pathogenic strain of Y. enterocolitica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We used SDS-PAGE and western blotting to characterize lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Yersinia outer membrane proteins (Yops), membrane proteins, and whole-cell proteins from poorly pathogenic Y. enterocolitica bio-serotype 2/O:9, isolated from China, and highly pathogenic bio-serotype 1B/O:8, isolated from Japan.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>These two strains of Y. enterocolitica had different LPS immune response patterns. Comparison of their Yops also showed differences that could have accounted for their differences in pathogenicity. The membrane and whole-cell proteins of both strains were similar; immunoblottting showed that the 35 kD and perhaps the 10 kD proteins were immunogens in both strains.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The major antigens of the two strains eliciting the host immune response were the LPS and membrane proteins, as shown by comparing protein samples with reference and purified preparations.</p>

Analysis of the variation and changes of Yersinia enterocolitica in Ningxia area from 1984 to 2011 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the genetic evolution and bacterial type changes of Yersinia enterocolitica in the Ningxia area between year 1984 and 2011.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 296 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica was collected from diarrhea patients, pig, rodents, sheep and dogs between year 1984 and 2011. The serotype, biotype, ail, ystA, ystB, yadA, virF and other toxic genes were detected. The PFGE subtypes of serotype O:3 and O:9 strains and the cluster features were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Out of 296 Yersinia enterocolitica strains, pig was the main host, accounting for 65.20% (193/296), followed by rodents, accounting for 32.43% (96/296). Serotype and biotype had their own respective dominant types in different periods. During 1984 and 1985, 2 strains of serotype O:3 and 3 strains of serotype O:9 were isolated, all belonged to biotype 3. Because of lack of strains, there were no obvious dominant types found. Between 1997 and 1999, 177 strains of serotype O:9 Yersinia enterocolitica were isolated as the dominant strain; and there were 178 strains of biotype 2 Yersinia enterocolitica were found. During 2007 and 2011, 54 strains of serotype O:3 Yersinia enterocolitica were isolated as dominant strain; followed by 26 strains of serotype O:5. There were separately 44 and 59 strains of biotype 1A and biotype 3. The PCR test divided the 248 strains into 4 types, including pathogenic strains as type I (ail(+), ystA(+), ystB(-), yadA(+), virF(+)). The PFGE divided the serotype O:3 into 12 types, in which K6GN11C30021 and K6GN11C30012 were the dominant types, accounting for 63.64% (42/66). The serotype O:9 were divided into 14 types, in which K6GN11C90010, K6GN11C90008, K6GN11C30018 and K6GN11C90003 were the dominant types, accounting for 89.01% (162/182).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The different serotypes of isolated strains in Ningxia district showed different dominant bacteria in different periods; while the biotypes also changed with serotypes. The Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from different years showed great variation.</p>

Molecular analysis on non-O1 and non-O139 Vibrio cholerae isolates / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective According to results from the two-month consecutive surveillance program in Maanshan,six suspected cases of non-O1 non-O139 Vibrio (V.) cholerae infection,were found that called for identification of pathogens as well as molecular-epidemiological analysis to determine the aggregation of the epidemic situation.Methods Biochemical and serotype identification,hemolysis test,and drug sensitive test were used to detect the drug resistance spectrum.Real-time PCR and conventional PCR were used to detect the presence of V.cholerae specific genes,virulent genes and its related genes,including ompW,ctx,tcpA,toxR,hlyA,zot,ace,rstR and g ⅢCTX.Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to analyze the molecular type of strains.Results All the six isolates of non-O 1 non-O 139 V.cholerae were identified by biochemical and serologic tests,and appeared to be β hemolytic.Twelve out of the 14 kinds of drugs showed 100％ sensitive.All isolates were positive of ompW gene by real-time PCR,but negative for ctx,tcpA,zot,ace,rstR and gⅢ CTK.Five of the six isolates were positive for toxR and hlyA,except for strain 1001434446.All strains had different PFGE types,but two strains had similar types.All strains had a low similarity compared to the toxigenic V.cholerae.Conclusion Six cases ofnon-O1 and non-O139 nontoxigenic V.cholerae infection appeared in the same period.Along with epide(m)iological information,we noticed that these cases had a sporadic nature,but frequently appeared in the same area.We got the impression that public health measurements should be strengthened,with special attention paid to those diarrhea outbreaks caused by non-O 1 /non-O 139 strains since V.cholerae had appeared in low incidence.

Characteristics of Yersinia enterocolitica genes isolated in Ningxia Hui autonomous region from 1997 to 2010 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the distribution of virulent genes of Yersinia enterocolitica (Y. enterocolitica) in Ningxia Hui autonomous region and the characteristics of the molecular patterns of Y. enterocolitica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>283 strains of Y. enterocolitica were isolated in Ningxia Hui autonomous region between year 1997 and 2010. The genes ail, ystA, ystB, yadA and virF were analyzed by PCR method; the chromosomal DNA of Y. enterocolitica was digested by restriction endonucleases NotI and processed by pulsed-field gel electrophoreses (PFGE); and then the cluster analysis were conducted by BioNumeric computer software towards the above results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of all, 209 strains of serotypes O:3 and O:9 Y.enterocolitica showed positive virulence of genes ail, ystA, yadA and virF; 97.6% (204/209) of which, the ystB virulence were negative. The virulence of all genes in serotype O:8 and serum-unclassified strains were negative. 9 out of 11 strains of serotype O:5 Y. enterocolitica showed negative virulence of the above five genes. By PFGE, according to the NotI Macrorestriction Map on chromosomal DNA, the 29 strains of serotype O:3 Y. enterocolitica were divided into 12 PFGE patterns, 2 of which were dominant patterns which could be found in over 5 strains; and the 180 strains of serotype O:9 Y. enterocolitica were divided into 13 patterns, 4 of which were dominant patterns which existed in over 10 strains; which were isolated individually from pigs and house mouse, pigs and dogs as well as pigs and wild rabbits.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Y.enterocolitica serotypes O:3 and O:9 were pathogenic in Ningxia, and serotype O:3 becomes predominant gradually. O:5, O:8 and serum-unclassified serotypes were non-pathogenic.</p>

Study on the integration site and arrangement of SfII and SfX prophages in Shigella flexneri serotype 2b strains / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the integration site and arrangement of SfII and SfX prophages in Shigella flexneri serotype 2b strains. Methods A series of primers were designed based on potential integration site of SfII and SfX prophages in Shigella flexneri serotype 2b strains, and PCR were performed for 50 serotype 2b strains to amplify special genes located in host and prophages. PCR products were sequenced to identify integration sites and arrangement of SfII and SfX. Results In all the serotype 2b strains, prophage SfII and SfX were adjacent to each other, and integrated into the thrW tRNA gene of the host, which were located between genes proA and yaiC of host. Prophage SfX was located immediately upstream of prophage SfII in all the detected 50 serotype 2b strains exception for strain 51251. Conclusion This was the first report on the integration site and arrangement of serotype-converting prophages SfII and SfX in Shigella flexneri 2b strains.

Development of a protocol on pulsed field gel electrophoresis analysis for Streptococcus suis / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To develop a PFGE protocol for Streptococcus suis.Methods We developed and optimized a PFGE protocol for S.suis,in terms of plug preparation,choice of restriction endonucleases and optimized electrophoresis parameters.By analyzing the genome sequences of S.suis P1/7 with Mapdraw of DNAStar.we found three restriction enzymes,Swa Ⅰ,Sma Ⅰ and Apa Ⅰ,were more suitable than others.Results Analysis of 100 isolates of S.suis including 34 of 35 serotypes identified,59,53 and 43 patterns were obtained from Swa Ⅰ,Sma Ⅰ and Apa Ⅰ restriction,respectively.The enzyme Swa Ⅰ had the greatest power for discrimination ability.Conclusion By optimization of the protocol at various conditions,a rapid,reproducible,economic and practical PFGE method for S.suis was developed.

Clone and express ctb-stx2 b fusion gene in Enterohemrrhagic escherichia coli O157:H7 Shigeai toxin 2B subunit and V cholera toxin B subunit and the detection of their immunogenicity / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To clone and express the fusion gene encoding Enterohemrrhagic escherichia coli O157:H7(EHEC O157:H7)Shigela toxin 2B subunit(Stx2B)and vibrio cholera toxin B subunit (CTB)as well as to detect the immunogenicity and GM1-binding ability of fusion protein.Methods To design a primer to amplify stx2b gene and ctb-stx2b fusion gene encoding Stx2B and CTB-Stx2B respectively and to clone the genes into express plasmid pET30a(+)C in order to construct pET30a-ctb-stx2b after T-A sequencing was varified,then to transform constructed plasmid into E.coliBL21(DE3)induced by IPTG and purified by a purify kit and to detect molecular weight and immunogenicity by SDSPAGE and Western-blot.Results The amplified ctb-stx2b fragments appeared to he 750 bp and gene sequence was identical to designed sequence.The prokaryotic expression system pET30a-ctb-stx2b/BL21 could express protein weight about Mr20×103and the expressed protein could react to CTB monoclone anti-body.The fusion protein CTB-Stx2B could bind GM1.Conclusion CTB-Stx2B had successfully been expressed in prokaryotic while the expressed protein had good immunogenicity and GM1-Binding ability.This study provided information on further EHEC O157:H7 vaccine research.

Immunoproteomic assay of secretive proteins from Streptococcus suis type 2 strain SC84 / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify antigenic proteins secreted by Streptococcus suis (S. suis) type 2 strain SC84.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), western-blot assay and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis were performed to search and identify antigenic proteins secreted by S. suis strain SC84, which triggered an outbreak of the disease in Sichuan province,China, in 2005.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total number of 14 western blot spots were found on PVDF membrane. 11 spots which could be found the existence of matching protein on coomassie G-250-stained 2-DE gel were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. The 11 proteins, all located at extra-cellular or cell wall, were classified into 8 kinds of proteins. Among of them, muramidase-released protein (MRP), suilysin (Sly) and extra-cellular factor (EF) were the known antigenic proteins, but several proteins such as putative 5'-nucleotidase, ribo-nucleases G and E, and predicted metal-loendo-peptidase were newly found antigenic proteins. All the identified protein were found to have had the coding gene in genomic of S. suis strain 05ZYH33, isolated from patients in Sichuan province, China in 2005.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The newly found proteins could be used as voluntary antigens for detection and vaccination of S. suis.</p>

Molecular epidemiology of enterohaemorrhagic Esacherichia coli O157 in some areas in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the epidemiological characteristics of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 and to determine the degree of its genetic relations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques and chromosomal DNA digested by restriction enzyme Xba I according to PulseNet directions by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method were applied to 300 E. coli O157 strains isolated from patients and animal sources from 1988 to 2005 from Henan, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Very high prevalence of stx2 gene in EHEC O157:H7 strains isolated from some provinces of China was found and variation existed in some strains. We got 161 PFGE patterns from 300 strains. The stx2-producing strains could be clearly separated from stx2 variation-producing strains.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The variability of restriction enzyme-digestion patterns of O157 genomes suggested that the presence of some genomic diversity among the strains did exist.</p>

Pleiotropic effect of tatC mutation on metabolism of pathogen Yersinia enterocolitica / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the impact of depletion of the twin arginine translocation (TAT) system on virulence and physiology of Yersinia enterocolitica for a better understanding of its pathogenicity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We constructed a DeltatatC::SpR mutant of Yersinia enterocolitica by P1 phage mediated transduction using Escherichia coli K-12 DeltatatC::SpR strain as a donor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A P1-mediated genetic material transfer was found between the two species of enterobacteria, indicating a great potential of acquisition of antibiotic resistance in emergency of a new threatening pathogen by genetic material exchanges. Periplasmic trimethylamine N-oxidase reductase activity was detected in the wild type Y. enterocolitica strain and translocation of this enzyme was completely abolished by the DeltatatC::SpR mutation. In addition, the DeltatatC::SpR mutation showed a pleiotropic effect on the metabolism of Y. enterocolitica. However, the tat mutation did not seem to affect the mobility and virulence of Y. enterocolitica under the conditions used.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Unlike other pathogenic bacteria studied, the TAT system of Y. enterocolitica might play an important role in the pathogenic process, which is distinct from other pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7.</p>

Identification of harboring stx2::IS1203 Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains isolated in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the variation of Shiga toxin (stx) genes of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains isolated in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identity the types of stx genes and the nucleotide sequences of the amplified stex variants genes were determined. Compare to the cytotoxicity of Stx,variants were tested by HeLa cell assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We found novel stx2 genes in 3 of 289 strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 isolated from 1999 to 2002 in China. The novel stx2 genes were inserted by a 1.3-kb insertion sequence (IS) and the nucleotide sequences of IS showed 100% homology with that of IS1203 variant (IS1203v). The IS1203v inserted in the stx2 genes of three E. coli O157:H7 strains at different sites and the direction of the open reading frames (ORFs) of IS1203v of each strain was different. In addition to the above mentioned findings, the nucleotide sequences of three stx2 genes were completely identical and the type of the three Stx2 was Stx2 prototype. Compare to the cytotoxicity of Stx2 prototype, the novel Stx2 was found to be obviously lower.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>E. coli O157:H7 strains harboring stx2::IS1203v genes were isolated in China. Consequently, the results of HeLa cell assay showed that the insertion of IS1203v could lead to low cytotoxicity of Stx2.</p>

An outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections presenting with toxic shock syndrome in Sichuan, China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In mid-July 2005, five patients presented with septic shock to a hospital in Ziyang city in Sichuan, China, to identify the etiology of the unknown reason disease, an epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory study were conducted.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An enhanced surveillance program were established in Sichuan, the following activities were introduced: active case finding in Sichuan of (a) laboratory diagnosed Streptococcus suis infection and (b) clinically diagnosed probable cases with exposure history; supplemented by (c) monitoring reports on meningococcal meningitis. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection was confirmed by culture and biochemical reactions, followed by sequencing for specific genes for serotype and virulence factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From June 10 to August 21, 2005, 68 laboratory confirmed cases of human Streptococcus suis infections were reported. All were villagers who gave a history of direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in their backyards where slaughtering was performed. Twenty six (38%) presented with toxic shock syndrome of which 15 (58%) died. Other presentations were septicaemia or meningitis. All isolates were tested positive for genes for tuf, species-specific 16S rRNA, cps2J, mrp, ef and sly. There were 136 clinically diagnosed probable cases with similar exposure history but incomplete laboratory investigations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>An outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections occurred in villagers after direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in Sichuan. Prohibition of slaughtering in backyards brought the outbreak to a halt. A virulent strain of the bacteria is speculated to be in circulation, and is responsible for the unusual presentation of toxic shock syndrome with high case fatality.</p>

Study on the dynamic prevalence of serum antibody against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in employees from wild animal market in Guangzhou / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the dynamic trend of specific antibody against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV in serum collected at various periods among employees in Guangzhou Xinyuan animal market.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Volunteers from employees of the animal market were recruited and their serum specific antibody against SARS-CoV were determined by enzyme linked immunesorbent assay (ELISA) method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Positive SARS-CoV specific IgG antibody was found 25.61% (n = 328), 13.03% (n = 238), 12.59% (n = 135), 5.04% (n = 139) and 9.43% (n = 53) among volunteers, which were sampled in May 2003, Dec. 2003, Jan. 2004, July 2004 and June 2005 respectively. No specific IgM antibody was found in all of those samples. Among 129 samples which were tested twice or more, 97 were all negative, 18 all positive, 13 changed from positive to negative but only one sample from negative to positive. When the volunteers were divided by the duration of their working experiences as short-term or long-term, those who had worked at animal market for less than or more then 6 months when being tested, the positive rate for long-term employees were relatively constant, however, all of the persons employed after January 2004, when the palm civets and raccoon dogs were culled from the market, were tested negative.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence of specific antibody against SARS-CoV in employees of the animal market were somehow related with the presence or absence of palm civet. No serum was tested positive for persons who were employed after palm civets and raccoon dogs were culled from market. This data indicated that the SARS-CoV might have been from the palm civets and raccoon dog, and the animal market seemed to serve as one of the sources of infection.</p>

Molecular typing of the pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains with pulsed field gel electrophores isolated in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the epidemiological and molecular typing features of the pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains isolated in China,using pulsed field gel electrophoresis(PFGE) and standardized PFGE method as well as typing database of Yersinia enterocolitica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PFGE analysis was performed as Laboratory Directions for molecular subtyping of Salmonella by PFGE (PulseNet,USA) with some modifications and the results of PFGE were analyzed by BioNumerics soft (Version 4.0, Applied Maths BVBA, Belium).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>114 O:3 Yersinia enterocolitica strains were typed by 25 patterns to have found that K6GN11C30012 (50 strains), K6GN11C30015(19 strains) and K6GN11C30016(10 strains) were the major patterns. K6GNllC30012 had 92.2% cluster similarity with K6GN11C30009-K6GN11C30023. This clone included 91.23% strains of 114 0:3 Yersinia enterocolitica strains. 51 0:9 Yersinia enterocolitica strains were typed by 14 patterns; K6GN11C90004 (22 strains) and K6GN11C90010 (13 strains)were the major patterns. K6GN11C90004 had 81.8% cluster similarity with K6GN11C90010 patterns. The major patterns of 0:3 and 0:9 serotypes were quite different.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>O:3 Yersinia enterocolitica strains might originate from the same clone and had very few variation in different years and provinces but O:9 Yersinia enterocolitica strains from two different clones with some changes.</p>

Study on the distribution of Yersinia enterocolitica in Nantong, Jinagsu Province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the distribution of Yersinia enterocolitica and its virulence factors in Nantong, Jiangsu.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Yersinia strains were isolated from livestock and poultry. Conventional PCR was used to detect the virulence factors of all strains and strain 0:8 was analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The combined isolation rate of Yersinia enterocolitica from livestock and poultry was 31.06% and the gene distribution characters were: 39.57% of them were ail-, ystA- , ystB-, yadA- , virF-; 60.43% were ail- , ystA- , ystB + , yadA- , virF- respectively. The two reference strains from America and Denmark showed similar electrophoresis patterns but were significantly different with O:8 strains isolated from China while the serotypes of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 and O:9 which were the main epidemic strains in China, were not found in this area.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitis O:3 and O:9 were not found in Nantong,Jiangsu province.</p>

Surveillance on severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus in animals at a live animal market of Guangzhou in 2004 / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) like virus in animals at a live animal market of Guanzhou in 2004 before and after culling of wild animal action taken by the local authority, in order to predict the re-emerging of SARS from animal originals in this region.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Animals at live animal market were sampled for rectal and throat swabs in triplicate. A single step realtime reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) diagnostic kit was performed for screening SARS-CoV like virus, the manual nested RT- PCR and DNA sequencing were performed for confirmation. Only specimens which tested positive for both of the N and P genes by nested RT-PCR were scored as positive.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 31 animals sampled in January 5 2004 before culling of wild animals at Guangdong Province, including 20 cats (Felis catus), 5 red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and 6 Lesser rice field rats (Rattus losea), 8 (25.8%) animals were tested positive for SARS-CoV like virus by RT-PCR methods, of which 4 cats, 3 red fox and one Lesser rice field rats were included. However, two weeks after culling of animals and disinfection of the market were implemented, in 119 animals sampled in January 20 2004, including 6 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), 13 cats, 46 red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), 13 spotbill duck (Anas platyrhynchos), 10 greylag goose (Anser anser), 31 Chinese francolin (Franclinus pintadeanus), only rectal swab from one greylag goose was tested positive for SARS-CoV like virus. Furthermore, in 102 animals that including 14 greylag gooses, 3 cats, 5 rabbits, 9 spotbill duck (Anaspoecilorhyncha), 2 Chinese francolin (Franclinus pintadeanus), 8 common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), 6 pigeons, 9 Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), 19 wild boar (Sus scrofa), 16 Lesser rice field rats, 5 dogs, 1 mink (Mustela vison), 3 goats, 2 green peafowl (Pavo muticus) sampled in April, May, June, July, August and November, only rectal swab from one pig was tested positive. However, of 12 and 10 palm civets sampled in November and December including five of which had been at the live animals market for 2 days, none of them was tested positive.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This findings revealed that animals being sampled in April, May, June, July, August and November of 2004, only one rectal swab from a pig was tested positive as SARS-CoV like virus, much lower than the results from the previous year, suggesting that the possibility of re-emerging of human infection from animal origins is low for the winter of 2004-2005.</p>

Epidemiological study on an outbreak caused by E. coli O157:H7 in Jiangsu province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To carry out epidemiological study on an outbreak caused by E. coli O157:H7 infection in Jiangsu province in 1999.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Epidemiological, microbiological and moleculebiological methods were used to find out the source, route of transmission and risk factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>95 severe O157:H7 infected patients with acute renal failure in 9 counties and districts of 2 municipalities were reported in Jiangsu province, 1999 while 83 of the patients died with a death rate of 87.37%. Most patients were seen in mid or late June. The ratio of male to female was 1 to 1.44 and 88.42% of the patients were over 50 years old. 38 patients occurred in 2000 with 34 deaths. Major factors contributing to the outbreak would include without drinking tap water, eating leftover food, poor sanitary status in kitchen, not washing hands before meal and after bowl movement. 2 strain of O157:H7 was isolated from severe patients and 3 from diarrhea cases. Carrier rate among animals was up to 9.62% and 99.41% of the strains carried toxic gene. Strains isolated from feces of patients and animals belonged to the same colonies.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This outbreak was severe which caused by O157:H7 and was first seen in China, which was closely related to the high carrier rate of O157:H7 in animals and to the positive rate of high toxic gene of the strains. There were various routes of transmission and the main factors of infection would include poor personal health habits and poor sanitation of the household.</p>