[Survey of current situation of schistosomiasis health education in Wuxi City].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the current situation of schistosomiasis health education in in Wuxi City where schistosomiasis transmission has been interrupted, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the health education strategies. METHODS: Face to face interviews and a professional designed questionnaire were used to collect the information of the current schistosomiasis health education and investigate the awareness of schistosomiasis knowledge in primary and middle schools and in communities. RESULTS: The total awareness rate of schistosomiasis knowledge was 87.7% among 873 students and the figure was 83.0% among 693 community residents. The students who studied in the schools with more than 1 class hour of schistosomiasis health education, completed schistosomiasis health education material or teaching plan, and implementing health education through multiple ways had higher knowledge awareness rates compared with the schools without (χ2 = 291.408, 709.622, 13.751, all P <0.001). The residents living in the communities with schistosomiasis health education through broadcast/TV or square propaganda had a higher knowledge awareness rate compared with the communities without (χ2= 90.772, 47.436, all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The awareness rates of schistosomiasis knowledge among both students and community residents in Wuxi City are low. Therefore, the schistosomiasis control health education should be strengthened.

[Distribution of historical Oncomelania hupensis snail environments and wetland environments in Wuxi City].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the distribution and characteristics of historical Oncomelania hupensis snail environments and wetland environments in Wuxi City since 1952, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the monitoring strategy after the schistosomiasis transmission was interrupted. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect the information of historical O. hupensis snail environments and wetland environments. Google Earth was used to present and analyze the distribution and characteristics of them. RESULTS: There were 2 124 historical O. hupensis snail environments in Wuxi City and the accumulative area was 2 995.7 hm2. In 2013, there were 61 surveillance sites of wetland with the area of 32.8 hm2; totally 1 695 snails were caught and no O. hupensis snails were found. CONCLUSION: The historical O. hupensis snail environments were distributed widely and covered a large area in Wuxi City. The surveillance should be focused on the key environments and wetland.

[Discussion of laboratory diagnosis for echinococcosis].

Laboratory diagnosis is one of the main means for diagnosis of echinococcosis. With the continuing evolvement of immunology and immunology technology, the laboratory diagnosis of echinococcosis obtained an encouraging progress, and the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests for echinococcosis further improved. This review summarizes the current information concerning stool test, diagnostic antigen, and immunological diagnostic methods of echinococcosis.