Study on the polymorphism in circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium vivax before the completion on elimination program of malaria, in Hainan province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the polymorphism in circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium vivax before malaria was eliminated in Hainan island.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PCR amplification, sequencing, and alignment methodologies were conducted and phylogenetic tree constructed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From all the cases, 19 of them belonged to two types, with 18 as VK210 type and 1 as VK247 type. VK210 type could be divided into seven kinds of subtypes but VK247 had only one type. Ratio of tropical strain with temperate stain in VK210 type was explored between the two stages:control or elimination. Phylogenetic tree was constructed by amino acid sequencing which clearly manifested that VK210 type and VK247 type belonged to different clusters.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared the proportion of two types in the control stage, there was no significant difference seen in the stage of elimination.</p>

Epidemic status of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Hainan island, China

OBJECTIVE@#To understand the current epidemiological status of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Hainan island and provide the scientific evidences for prevention and control of the disease.@*METHODS@#The investigation on nature infection condition of intermediate hosts and final hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis were carried out in five counties, Hainan Province, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to detect antibodies of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in human hosts.@*RESULTS@#A total of 1612 molluscs were examined, 21.3% of which harbored L3 of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Among them, the infection rates of Pomacea canaliculata, Achatina fulica, Cepaea and Phlegm bilineatus were 12.36%(64/518), 22.66%(121/534), 20.93%(9/43), and 28.24%(146/517), respectively. Of the 118 rats trapped, 13 Rattus norvegicus were found to be infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis. A total of 459 serum samples were collected and tested. 92 serum samples were Angiostrongylus cantonensis antibody-positive.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The survey revealed a wide distribution of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Hainan island. Pomacea canaliculata and Achatina fulica are main intermediate hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Rattus novegicus is a nature definitive host, indicating that a considerable number of people are at risk of angiostrongyliasis. Health education, rigorous food inspection and surveillance are all needed to prevent angiostrongyliasis outbreaks in future.