Sustainable and precise Anopheles control to maintain malaria elimination in China / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Malaria caused a heavy disease, economic and social burdens in China. Following 70-year concerted efforts, China has been awarded a malaria-free certification by the WHO on June 2021. This paper summarizes the control strategies of Anopheles vectors from malaria control to post-elimination stages in China, emphasizes the risk of imported malaria cases caused re-transmission and the challenges of Anopheles control after malaria elimination in China. Sustainable and precise vector control is still required in China during the post-elimination stage to consolidate malaria elimination achievements in the country. In addition, China’s innovative vector control strategies, technologies and experiences will contribute to global malaria control and elimination programs.

Seroprevalence of and Identification of Risk Factors in China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Serum samples were tested for IgG antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence assays. We then analyzed associated risk factors. Serum samples were considered positive when reactive at a dilution of more than 1:320. Differences between groups and risk factors associated with exposure were statistically analyzed using Chi-square tests and the generalized linear model. 122 of 1,260 samples (9.68%) were positive for infection. The infection rate ranged from 0% to 30.43% and differed significantly among age groups ( < 0.01); infection rate in the 50-59 years group was significantly higher than that in other age groups. The seroprevalence of varied significantly among sites within the four provinces, and the infection rate of field workers was significantly higher than that of urban workers.

Effect of Guiqiyiyuan ointment on bystander effect in rat models of 12C6+ beam radiation damage / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To investigate the bystander effect injury to lung-heart-liver-spleen caused by 12C6+ beam radiation,and explore the prevention and treatment effect of Guiqiyiyuan ointment on the injury and its mechanism.Methods Ninety healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:NC group (normal control,normal saline 2ml/kg,n=30),SR group (simple radiation,8Gy,2ml/kg,n=30),GO group (Guiqiyiyuan ointment 11.83g/kg,radiation,8Gy,n=30).All the rats received intragastric administration for 7 days.The right side of the lung was modeled by 12C6+ beam radiation.After modeling,the rats were killed at 48h.The heart,liver and spleen were taken.The malonaldehyde (MDA),glutathione (GSH),glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),superoxide dismutase (SOD) contents were measured by colorimetry,DNA methylation rate was assayed by ELISA,and the expressions of Dnmt1,Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with NC group,the contents of SOD,GSH and GSH-Px decreased (P＜0.01),MDA increased (P＜0.01),the level of DNA methylation decreased (P＜0.01),and the expressions of Dnmt1,Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b increased in SR group (P＜0.01).Compared with SR group,the contents of SOD,GSH and GSH-Px increased (P＜0.01),MDA decreased (P＜0.01),the level of DNA methylation increased (P＜0.01),and the expressions of Dnmt1,Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b decreased in GO group (P＜0.01).Dnmtl,Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b proteins were expressed in the cytoplasm of myocardial cells,hepatocytes and peripheral B cells of the white pulp in spleen,in all the groups.The color of NC group was light brown-brown,showing a weak positive expression.The color of SR group was brown-brown,showing a strong positive expression.The color of GO group was light brown-tan,showing a moderate positive expression.Conclusion The Guiqiyiyuan ointment can reduce the bystander effect caused by the 12C6+ beam radiation,and its mechanism is related to improving the oxidative stress reaction and the level of DNA methylation.

Research of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide's protection against bone marrow and spleen injury of rats by X-ray radiation / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the protective effects of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides on bone marrow and spleen injury in SD rats induced by X-ray radiation.Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,low dose group of Angelica polysaccharide (63.5 mg · kg-1),Angelica polysaccharide middle dose group (127 mg · kg-1),and Angelica polysaccharide high dose group (254 mg · kg-1).The medicine group was treated daily with different concentrations of Angelica polysaccharide 2 mL gavage once,blank group and model group with an equal amount of distilled water instead.After a continuous administration of 7 d,X-ray irradiation was performed on rats except the blank group,with continuous exposure of 2 d,and the total radiation was at a dose of 6 Gy,then 3 d post the last radiation,the rats were sacrificed after anesthesia by bloodletting.The general quality of life,bone marrow nucleated cells,blood routine,spleen index,serum interferon gamma (IFN-γ)and interleukin-4 (IL-4) contents in each group of rats were detected.Pathological changes of spleen were observed under microscope.Results Compared with the blank group,the quality of life,bone marrow nucleated cells of rats in the model group,the number of white blood cells,spleen index,INF-γ and IL-4 expression significantly decreased,but the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin increased significantly,and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).HE staining showed the decrease in splenic corpuscle atrophy,germinal center,white pulp and red pulp structural disorder,and the number of lymphocytes.Compared with the model group,Angelica polysaccharide group's survival quality,bone marrow nucleated cell number,the number of white blood cell,spleen index,INF-γand IL-4 expression markedly increased,but the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin decreased significantly,and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).HE staining showed that pathological injury of spleen was alleviated,spleen body was visible,germinal center,red pulp and white pulp boundaries were still visible,and the number of lymphocytes increased.Conclusions Angelica sinensis polysaccharide can protect the bone marrow and spleen of SD rats induced by radiation,and the mechanism may be achieved by reducing the damage to hematopoietic cells and immune cells in the bone marrow and spleen,and replenishing blood and body fluid body.

Effects of Astragalus Polysaccharide on Osteoblastic Differentiation of Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induced by X-ray Radiation / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to osteoblasts differentiation induced by X-rays; To discuss its mechanism of action. Methods CCK-8 method was used to select different concentrations of APS for the proliferation ability of BMSCs with 2 Gy X-ray radiation, and the best concentration was determined. Cells were divided into blank group, APS group, radiation group, radiation+APS group. APS group and radiation+APS group were given the best concentration of APS for 3 days, radiation group and radiation+APS group were given 2 Gy X-ray radiation. After radiation, 2 mL osteogenesis induced liquid was added in each group, every 3 day. After 15 day''s induction, inverting microscope was used to observe morphology, and alizarin red staining to detect the area of the calcium nodules in each group. Western blot was used to detect the specific marker protein osteopontin and osteocalcin expression of each group. Results Compared with the blank group, the proliferation ability of radiation group was obviously lower (P<0.05); compared with radiation group, the proliferation ability of radiation+APS significantly increased (P<0.05); the strongest promoting proliferation of APS was 50μg/mL, therefore, it was selected as the best concentration. In terms of morphology, inverted microscope showed that secretion of crystals of radiation group was obviously reduced compared with the blank group and APS group, and secretion of crystals of radiation+APS group was significantly elevated compared with radiation group. In osteogenesis ability, compared with the blank group, the cell calcium nodule area of APS group had a certain reduce, but the radiation group had a significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with the radiation group, the cell calcium nodule area of radiation+APS group obviously increased (P<0.05). In terms of osteogenesis specific marker protein expression, compared with the blank group, the expression of osteopontin of APS group was slightly declined, and the expression of osteocalcin was slightly elevated, but the expression of osteopontin and osteocalcin of radiation group was significantly lowered (P<0.05). Compared with the radiation group, the expression of osteopontin and osteocalcin of radiation+APS group was significantly higher (P<0.05). Conclusion APS has protective effects on osteoblastic differentiation ablility of BMSCs induced by X-ray radiation.

Analysis of a Community-based Intervention to Reduce Heat-related Illness during Heat Waves in Licheng, China: a Quasi-experimental Study / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To reduce health-related threats of heat waves, interventions have been implemented in many parts of the world. However, there is a lack of higher-level evidence concerning the intervention efficacy. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of an intervention to reduce the number of heat-related illnesses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A quasi-experimental design was employed by two cross-sectional surveys in the year 2014 and 2015, including 2,240 participants and 2,356 participants, respectively. Each survey was designed to include one control group and one intervention group, which conducted in Licheng, China. A representative sample was selected using a multistage sampling method. Data, collected from questionnaires about heat waves in 2014 and 2015, were analyzed using a difference-in-difference analysis and cost effectiveness analysis. Outcomes included changes in the prevalence of heat-related illnesses and cost-effectiveness variables.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Relative to the control participants, the prevalence of heat-related illness in the intervention participants decreased to a greater extent in rural areas than in urban areas (OR=0.495 vs. OR=1.281). Moreover, the cost-effectiveness ratio in the intervention group was less than that in the control group (US$15.06 vs. US$15.69 per participant). Furthermore, to avoid one additional patient, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio showed that an additional US$14.47 would be needed for the intervention compared to when no intervention was applied.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The intervention program may be considered a worthwhile investment for rural areas that are more likely to experience heat waves. Meanwhile, corresponding improving measures should be presented towards urban areas. Future research should examine whether the intervention strategies could be spread out in other domestic or international regions where heat waves are usually experienced.</p>

Bartonella Species Detected in the Plateau Pikas (Ochotona curzoiae) from Qinghai Plateau in China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Bartonella species can infect a variety of mammalian hosts and cause a broad spectrum of diseases in humans, but there have been no reports of Bartonella infection in Ochotonidae. This is the first study to detect Bartonella in plateau pikas in the Qinghai plateau, providing baseline data for the risk assessment of human Bartonella infection in this area. We obtained 15 Bartonella strains from 79 pikas in Binggou and Maixiu areas of Qinghai with a positive rate of 18.99%. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the Bartonella citrate synthase (gltA) gene sequences, most strains were closely related to B. taylorii (3/15) and B. grahamii (12/15). The latter is a pathogenic strain in humans. Our results suggest that a corresponding prevention and control strategy should be taken into consideration in the Qinghai province.

Ecological-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci in China VIII. Typing of natural plague foci / 中华流行病学杂志

Since plague is an important natural focus zoonosis, the typing of natural plague foci becomes one of the elements in understanding the nature and developing related prevention program of the disease. Natural foci of plague are composed by four fundamental parts which include Eco-geographical landscape (natural plague foci), hosts, vectors and pathogens (Yersinia pestis) that comprehensively interact through the large temporal scale of evolution. Human activities have had great impact on the foci of natural plague. Based on the published serial research papers, we tried to integrate the knowledge of each factor in natural plague foci and focusing on theoretical aspects, so as to strengthen the prevention and surveillance programs of plague to be extrapolated to other zoonosis.

Ecological-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci in China Ⅴ.Biological characteristics of major natural reservoirs of Yesinia pestis / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the biological characteristics of natural reservoirs of Yesinia ( Y.) pestis in China.Methods Species and genera of natural reservoirs of E pestis in China and their faunal distribution were characterized with modem taxonomic techniques.The ecological roles of natural reservoirs of Y.pestis in the natural plague foci were determined according to the animal ecological experiments.Results There were 86 species of natural reservoirs of Y.pestis including 14 major reservoirs and 72 kinds of the secondary or occasional reservoirs.Conclusion The biological characteristics of major reservoirs of Y.pestis and their roles in natural plague foci were defined.

Ecological-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci in China Ⅵ.biological characteristics of natural vectors of Yesinia pestis / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To characterize the biological characteristics of natural vectors of Yesinia (Y.) pestis in China.Methods Species and genera of natural vectors of Y.pestis in China and their faunal distribution were characterized with modem insect taxonomic techniques.The ecological roles of natural vectors of Y.pestis in natural plague foci were determined according to insect ecological experiments.Results There were 63 species of natural vectors of Y.pestis including 28 major reservoirs and 35 secondary ones.Conclusion The biology characteristics of major vectors on Y.pestis and their roles in natural plague foci were defined.

Ecological-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci in China Ⅶ.Typing of natural plague foci / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To group and characterize natural plague foci in China.Methods A novel two-class typing method as well as a three-indication nomenclature method were established to group and characterize the natural plague foci,on the basis of eco-geographical landscapes of plague foci,genetics of Yersinia pestis,zoology of rodent reservoirs and the entomology of flea vectors.Results A total of 12 distinct natural plague foci (including 19 subtypes) as well as their biological features were characterized.Conclusion Natural plague foci in China were grouped and characterized in this study.

Time between the onset and diagnosis of dengue fever and related influencing factors in China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the time between the onset and diagnosis of Dengue fever and its influencing factors in China.Methods Data were obtained from the Infectious Disease Surveillance System (IDSS).Descriptive analysis was performed for the time interval while nonparametric tests and logistic regression analysis were used to study the related influencing factors.Results Time interval appeared positively skewed with distribution at median of 6 days,quartile range as 4 days,while 57.8％ of them were longer than five days.Data showed that patients with longer intervals among the imported cases,being elderly,cases in non-endemic season and provinces as Fujian,Yunnan and Zhejiang appeared to have had greater influences on the disease.Median of those imported cases was six days,one day longer than locally generated cases,while median of the nonepidemic month was one day more than that of the epidemic month.In Fujian and Yunnan provinces,the medians were 7 days,one day more than that from Guangdong province.The median among young people was 5 days,one day less than that of the patients older than 20 years of age.Conclusion Most Dengue patients did not get diagnosed early enough so it was of urgent need to enhance the sensitivity of the monitoring system,especially in epidemic regions and during non-epidemic season.

Optimization of Bartonella henselae multilocus sequence typing scheme using single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis of SOLiD sequence data / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) is widely used to explore the population structure of numerous bacterial pathogens. However, for genotypically-restricted pathogens, the sensitivity of MLST is limited by a paucity of variation within selected loci. For Bartonella henselae (B. henselae), although the MLST scheme currently used has been proven useful in defining the overall population structure of the species, its reliability for the accurate delineation of closely-related sequence types, between which allelic variation is usually limited to, at most, one or two nucleotide polymorphisms. Exploitation of high-throughput sequencing data allows a more informed selection of MLST loci and thus, potentially, a means of enhancing the sensitivity of the schemes they comprise.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We carried out SOLiD resequencing on 12 representative B. henselae isolates and explored these data using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. We determined the number and distribution of SNPs in the genes targeted by the established MLST scheme and modified the position of loci within these genes to capture as much genetic variation as possible.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Using genome-wide SNP data, we found the distribution of SNPs within each open reading frame (ORF) of MLST loci, which were not represented by the established B. henselae MLST scheme. We then modified the position of loci in the MLST scheme to better reflect the polymorphism in the ORF as a whole. The use of amended loci in this scheme allowed previously indistinguishable ST1 strains to be differentiated. However, the diversity of B. henselae was still rare in China.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our study demonstrates the use of SNP analysis to facilitate the selection of MLST loci to augment the currently-described scheme for B. henselae. And the diversity among B. henselae strains in China is markedly less than that observed in B. henselae populations elsewhere in the world.</p>

Study on comprehensive monitoring of mouse and effect of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome vaccine in high prevalence areas of natural focus infectious disease of Zhejiang province in 1994--2010 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the comprehensive monitoring mechanism of mouse and the effect of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) vaccine in the high prevalence areas of natural focus infectious disease of Zhejiang province in 1994 - 2010.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The night trapping method was used to monitor the population proportion, density and the rate of hantavirus (HV) carriers in mice in Xikou township Longyou county in August and September from 1994 to 2010. The healthy residents in Xikou township aged 16 to 60 years were recruited. The subjects were randomly selected as vaccination group and control group according to age, sex, occupational distribution (10 178 in intervention group and 16 159 in control group). Intervention group was given purified and inactivated vaccine from suckling mouse brain, while the control group received no intervention. The prevention effect was evaluated by protective rate of vaccine.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mouse population was stable in the sixteen years and the apodemus agrarius was the main type (76.5% (564/737)). The average density of mouse was 4.73% (1170/24 727). The average rate of virus carrier of mouse was 3.87% (41/1033). In 1994 - 1995, the density of mouse was 22.82% (186/815) and the rate of virus carrier was 7.0% (10/143). In 2009 - 2010, the density of mouse decreased to 2.75% (119/4330) and the rate of virus carrier was 5.5% (13/237). The average antibody positive rate of mouse from 2005 to 2010 was 4.8% (35/728) and the rate was 4.4% (6/138), 0.0% (0/113), 11.8% (16/136), 1.0% (1/104), 3.7% (4/109) and 6.3% (8/128) in each year (P < 0.01). The protective rate of HFRS vaccine was 96.2% (1 case in intervention group and 41 cases in control group).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The density of mouse decreased significantly in Zhejiang province. The rate of virus carrier of mouse is stable. The vaccine is effective.</p>

Study on the integrated monitoring program regarding mouse and main mouse-borne disease in Zhejiang province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the integrated monitoring program regarding mouse and plague, hemorrhagic fever of renal syndrome(HFRS)and leptospirosis. Methods Integrated monitoring plan was used. A designated office coordinated 5 departments' actions within the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). Cage-trapping method was conducted to monitor the density of mice from June to October, respectively. Results Lishui municipal CDC had finished the integrated monitoring program on mouse and mouse-borne disease while the Longyou CDC had finished the field investigation, using the integrated monitoring program.Specimens were sent to provincial CDC. The integrated monitoring program needed more number of personnel and better coordination. Lishui reported 3 leptospirosis cases and 58 HFRS cases in 2009,with the incidence rates as 0.13 and 2.44 per 100 000, respectively. Longyou reported 2 leptospirosis case and 1 HFRS cases in 2009, with the incidence rates as 0.49 and 0.25 per 100 000, respectively.Lishui and Longyou had no plague case. Lishui caught 91 mice in 2009 and the density was 4.17%.Longyou caught 37 mice in 2009, with the density as 1.18 percent. Most mice caught from Lishui were Apodemus agrarius and the next was Mus musculus. In Longyou the Rattus tanezumi ranked the first, followed by Apodemus agrarius. The positive rate of HFRS antigen in Lishui and Longyou were 10.42% and 4.59% respectively. The positive rate of HFRS antibody in Longyou was 3.70%. The culture positive rate of leptospirosis in mouse renal of Lishui and Longyou were 0 and 0.98%respectively. The culture positive rate of leptospirosis in pig renal, duck renal, frog renal and cattle urine of Longyou was 0. The culture positive rate of leptospirosis in duck blood of Longyou was 80%.Conclusion The integrated monitoring program on mouse and mouse-borne disease seemed to be feasible and could promote the integrated surveillance and control program on mouse and mouse-borne diseases in China.

Eco-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci in China Ⅰ.Eco-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the eco-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci,in China.Methods According to the surveillance records on plague epidemics and the eco-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci based on the county level,the criterion for classifying the ecological geographic zone of Chinese natural plague foci was established.Results 12 types and 19 subtypes of eco-geographic landscapes on Chinese natural plague foci were identified.Conclusion Scientific basis for Chinese natural plague foci classification was provided.

AIDS/HIV prevention and control among long-distance drivers in China: a Meta analysis / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To assess the efficacy of HIV/AIDS prevention and control among long-distance drivers in China. Methods Based on the principles and methods of Cochrane systematic reviews, we searched literature from CBM (from 1978 to 2009), VIP (1989 to 2009) CNKI (1980 to 2009) , and MEDLINE (1950 to 2009) and also assessed the risk of bias of the included before-after studies according to Newcastle-Ottawa scale and their characteristics. Cochrane Collaboration's software RevMan 5.0 was used for Meta-analysis. Results 13 studies were included, with most of them were of low quality as having high risk of bias. (1) Knowledge index 1 :We included 7 'pre-posr'studies. Meta-analysis showed that AIDS/HIV prevention and control was effective in promoting the knowledge index 1 among long-distance drivers (RD=0.15, 95% CI:0.04-0.26). (2) Knowledge index 2: We included 10 pre-post studies, in which the results from Meta-analysis showed that AIDS/HIV prevention and control was effective in promoting the knowledge index 2 among long-distance drivers (RD = 0.24,95 %CI: 0.17-0.30). (3) Behavior index:We included 6 pre-post studies in which the results from Meta-analysis showed that AIDS/HIV prevention and control was effective in promoting the behavior index among long-distance drivers (RD=0.15,95% CI 0.10-0.19). Conclusion Current evidence demonstrated that HIV/AIDS prevention and control programs were effective.

Using direct enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of IgG antibody on Bartonella henselae among healthy people in Changping, Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect Bartonella henselae IgG antibody among healthy people in Changping, Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA) to detect IgG antibody of Bartonella henselae among human beings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were 70.6% and 91.6% respectively, with the positive predictive value of serological test as 82.2%, and the negative predictive value as 84.9%, based on results of IFA. The positive rate was 34.5% among 357 healthy people on indirect ELISA but was 35.6% among 239 people with IFA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results indicated that the indirect ELISA was a very quick, sensitive and available method for detecting Bartonella henselae in human beings, as well as a high positive percent age of Bartonella henselae among the healthy people of Changping Beijing.</p>

Study on Bartonella vinsonii berkhoffii isolated from blood of native dogs in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To isolate and identify Bartonella strains from native dogs in Shandong province in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples were collected from 71 native dogs in Yanggu county of Shandong province in March 2005. All isolates were grown on brain heart infusion agar plates containing 5% defibrinated rabbit blood. The agar plates were incubated at 37 degrees C in a humidified with 5% CO2 environment for 4 weeks or longer. All Bartonella-like isolates were examined by routine Gram and Giménez staining and then followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-RFLP analysis for identification and differentiation of the isolates. Sequencing 16S rRNA, citrate synthase (gltA) gene and 16S-23S rRNA ITS were carried out and sequential similarities were calculated using the DNASTAR5 software package. The phylogenetic tree was inferred from each bootstrap sample, using the neighbor-joining methods as executed in the MEGA 3.1 software. The translation from DNA to protein were determined by DNASIS 2.5.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The two Bartonella-like organisms (strains Q52SHD and Q64SHD) were isolated from the blood of 71 dogs. Light microscopic examination of the Gram and Giménez-stained micro-organisms showed small, short and slightly curved pleomorphic gram-negative bacilli. Amplified products of the three pairs of Bartonella genus-specific primers carried the same size as the predicted of those Bartonella species. Data from PCR-RFLP analysis showed that the two strains that having the same profiles were all different from the B. henselae type strain-16S rRNA, gltA and 16S-23S rRNA ITS sequences from the two isolates were 100.0%, 99.7% and 97.2% homologous to B. vinsonii berkhoffii.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Based on these findings, the two isolates Q52SHD and Q64SHD were demonstrated as B. vinsonii berkhoffii. To our knowledge, this was the first report on the presence of Bartonella infection in native dogs from China, which constituted a large reservoir of Bartonella species in this country.</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>