Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in people in southeast Hubei province, China

@# Toxoplasma gondii is a world-widely spread zoonotic parasite. However, scarce knowledge is known about the prevalence of T. gondii infection in people in Hubei province, China. This study herein was to perform epidemiological investigation of T. gondii infection in people in this region. A total 12527 blood samples were obtained during 2015-2018, and were assayed for T. gondii antibodies of IgG and IgM, respectively by employing an indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). The results discovered that the prevalence of T. gondii in people was 2.44% and 6.1%, respectively based on antibodies of IgG and IgM, respectively. The prevalence was ranged from 0.3% to 5.4% during 2015-2018 based on IgM antibodies. For genders, the prevalence was 0.7% and 2.6% in males and females, respectively based on IgM antibodies. In different years, the prevalence was ranged from 4.9% to 14.0% based on IgG antibodies. The prevalence of T. gondii was 4.9% and 6.6% in males and femalesy based on IgG antibodies. The current results may be helpful for the implementation of preventive measures against Toxoplasma infection among people living in this region.

Epidemiological investigation and risk factors of Peste des petitis ruminants (PPR) in yaks (Bos grunniens) and cattle in five regions of China

@#To investigate the prevalence of Peste des petitis ruminants in yaks and cattle in poorly studied areas of China. A total of 1202 and 560 blood samples were collected from yaks and cattle, respectively and processed using a commercial ELISA kit. Multivariable logistic regression model was piloted to find the variables, potentially associated with exposure of PPR infection in yaks and cattle. Results indicated that the overall prevalence of PPR in yaks was 11.2%. A total 66 (11.8%) out of 560 were examined out to be positive to PPR in cattle in Jiangxi province. According to conditional stepwise logistic regression, region, age and gender were found to be the more influencing risk factors in yaks, while region and age were found to be the potential risk factors in cattle. The current results reported the prevalence and associated risk factors of PPR in bovine for the first time in China.

Molecular characterization of ascaris from Tibetan pigs by three mitochondrial markers of nad1, cox1 and cox2

Ascaris is a helminthic parasite, which infects a wide range of host species causing ascariasis, a predominant disease worldwide. This parasite causes significant economic losses to the pig industry. The current study was designed to determine the Ascaris nematode by the genetic characterization of three mitochondrial (mt) genes namely NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1), cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and cytochrome oxidase subunit 2 (cox2). A high infection rate of Ascaris nematode has been found in Tibetan pigs at the slaughter houses in Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The nad1, cox1 and cox2 genes sequences collected from adult Ascaris individuals were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The cloned-amplicons and the positive products were sequenced and phylogenetic analysis was performed. The results indicated that the Ascaris infecting the Tibetan pigs were Ascaris suum (A. suum). This is the first report on the isolation, identification and genetic characterization of three mitochondrial genomes (nad1, cox1, and cox2) of A. suum originated from Tibetan pigs at high altitudes in Tibet.

Seroprevalence of bluetongue virus infection in goats in the central China

Seroprevalence of Bluetongue virus (BTV) in goats from Hubei was investigated by a commercial competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Blood samples (n= 1157) were collected during the year 2014 and 2015. The results showed that 13.31% (CI 95% 11.4%–15.4%) serum samples were positive for BTV antibodies in goats in Hubei. The prevalence of BTV antibodies in each region ranged from 1.32% to 27.70%, and differences among the regions were statistically significant (p 0.05). In different seasons, the seroprevalence were 8.94% (95% CI: 5.6, 13.3) in spring; 18.31% (95% CI: 14.5, 22.7) in summer; 23.08% (95% CI: 17.0, 30.2) in autumn and 6.98% (95% CI: 4.6, 10.0) in winter, respectively with a significant difference of the prevalence in the different seasons (p < 0.01).

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in goats in Hubei province, China

Scarce information is available about the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and Neospora caninum (N. caninum) infections in goats in Hubei province, China. In the present study, the prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum infections in goats were investigated in Hubei province, China between 2014 and 2015. A total 2007 serum samples were collected from 6 counties of Hubei province, China and were tested for antibodies to N. caninum and T. gondii by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an indirect agglutination test (IAT), respectively. Antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum were detected in 13.4% and 3.9%, respectively in goats. 2% (41) serum samples were positive to both parasites. There was no apparent association of T. gondii and N. caninum infection with gender of the animals. There were significant differences of T. gondii (p < 0.01), N. caninum (p < 0.05) and both parasites (p < 0.01) infection with season. This is the first time that antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum have been detected in goats in Hubei province, China.