Effect of floods on the transmission of schistosomiasis in the Yangtze River valley, People's Republic of China

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of floods on the transmission of schistosomiasis in the Yangtze River valley, People's Republic of China. Retrospective analyses of malacologic, clinical and epidemiologic data, covering a 22-year period, were carried out to elucidate the dispersal patterns of intermediate host snails (Oncomelania hupensis), and acute and chronic infections with Schistosoma japonicum in humans in relation to floods. Potential O. hupensis habitats in years with floods were 2.6-2.7 times larger than in years when water levels were normal. Both the density and infection rate of O. hupensis dropped in the first two years after a flood, but significantly increased in the third year. The number of acute cases with schistosomiasis japonica was markedly higher in years characterized by floods; on average, 2.8 times more cases were observed when compared to years that the Yangtze River had normal water levels. In view of our findings, emergency responses are warranted as soon as possible after the occurrence of a flood in order to avoid or mitigate the reemergence and spread of human schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China.     

Treatment and reinfection of water buffaloes and cattle infected with Schistosoma japonicum in Yangtze River Valley, Anhui province, China

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of praziquantel treatment of Schistosoma japonicum infections in cattle and water buffaloes and to assess the natural rate of reinfection after treatment. The studies were conducted on 2 islands in the Yangtze River, Anhui province, China, from March 2003 to January 2004. The efficacy of praziquantel was 97% when applied orally wrapped in tree leaves at the recommended doses. The efficacy was measured using a miracidium hatching technique on fecal samples collected 20 days after treatment. The treatment did not give rise to any major side effects. Reinfection after treatment was high and occurred throughout the year in both cattle and water buffaloes. Age-related resistance was only observed in water buffaloes. It is concluded that although praziquantel is highly effective against S. japonicum in cattle and water buffaloes, a single annual treatment strategy does not effectively control transmission. New strategies for integrated control of animal schistosomiasis are needed to control schistosomiasis transmission more effectively in farm areas of China.     

Epidemiology of Schistosoma japonicum in China: morbidity and strategies for control in the Dongting Lake region

Dongting Lake, covering a very large surface water area of 2691km(2), is located in Hunan Province in the southern part of the People's Republic of China. It is the second-largest freshwater lake in China and plays an important role in regulating the amount of water in the Yangtze River, China's longest river. The annual water level of the lake changes by as much as 15m, rising in summer and falling in winter. Asian schistosomiasis has been endemic in the Dongting Lake region for centuries and it has had a devastating effect on the public health of the local people. After a difficult struggle for more than four decades, a concerted programme, supported by the World Bank Loan and instigated in 1992, has resulted in remarkable progress in the control of the disease in many endemic areas of the region. However, the great challenge remains to consolidate and maintain the achievements made to date. The Schistosoma japonicum intermediate host (Oncomelania hupensis hupensis) snail habitats are huge, estimated at 1768km(2) in 1996; these are increasing at a rate of 34.7km(2) annually due to high silt deposition from the Yangtze River itself and from the connecting rivers in Hunan province, and construction of embankments in the Dongting Lake region. It is anticipated that the construction of the Three Gorges Super Dam, the largest engineering project ever undertaken, will substantially extend the range of the snail habitats and increase the number of new schistosomiasis cases. In many areas, human re-infections with S. japonicum after drug (praziquantel) treatment remain unacceptably high (up to 20% of those treated are re-infected annually) due to occupational (mainly fishing) water contact. This paper reviews the history and the current status of schistosomiasis control in the lake region, it explores the epidemiological factors which influence the prevalence of the infection and the disease it causes, and it provides insight into future approaches to control which might finally eradicate the infection.     

夹竹桃灭钉螺效果初报

1　引　　言在防治血吸虫病的过程中 ,人们一直致力于消灭其唯一中间宿主钉螺 .近年来长江中下游生态环境破坏严重 ,一些地方有螺面积扩大 ,疫情回升 .常用化学药物灭螺法虽有较明显的灭螺效果 ,但也造成了严重的环境污染 .90年代以来生物灭螺开始成为比较活跃的研究领域 ,在筛选灭螺植物 ,提取植物灭螺活性成分和利用植物他感作用灭螺等方面已取得了许多成绩[1～ 4 ,7,8] .目前 ,植物灭螺难以推广的主要问题在于利用新鲜植物材料灭螺常需要较高的浓度 ,而原料来源往往有限 ;提取植物灭螺活性成分制作灭螺剂的成本较高 ,难以广泛应用 .因此 …     

A Bayesian-based approach for spatio-temporal modeling of county level prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection in Jiangsu province, China

Spatio-temporal variations of Schistosoma japonicum infection risk in Jiangsu province, China, were examined and the relationships between key climatic factors and infection prevalence at the county level were determined. The parasitological data were collected annually by means of cross-sectional surveys carried out in 47 counties from 1990 to 1998. Climatic factors, namely land surface temperature (LST) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), were obtained from remote sensing satellite sensors. Bayesian spatio-temporal models were employed to analyze the data. The best fitting model showed that spatial autocorrelation in Jiangsu province decreased dramatically from 1990 to 1992 and increased gradually thereafter. A likely explanation of this finding arises from the large-scale administration of praziquantel for morbidity control of schistosomiasis. Our analysis suggested a negative association between NDVI and risk of S. japonicum infection. On the other hand, an increase in LST contributed to a significant increase in S. japonicum infection prevalence. We conclude that combining geographic information system, remote sensing and Bayesian-based statistical approaches facilitate integrated risk modeling of S. japonicum, which in turn is of relevance for allocation of scarce resources for control of schistosomiasis japonica in Jiangsu province and elsewhere in China, where the disease remains of public health and economic significance.     

Schistosomiasis research in the dongting lake region and its impact on local and national treatment and control in China

Schistosomiasis is a chronic and debilitating parasitic disease that has often been neglected because it is a disease of poverty, affecting poor rural communities in the developing world. This is not the case in the People's Republic of China (PRC), where the disease, caused by Schistosoma japonicum, has long captured the attention of the Chinese authorities who have, over the past 50-60 years, undertaken remarkably successful control programs that have substantially reduced the schistosomiasis disease burden. The Dongting Lake region in Hunan province is one of the major schistosome-endemic areas in the PRC due to its vast marshland habitats for the Oncomelania snail intermediate hosts of S. japonicum. Along with social, demographic, and other environmental factors, the recent completion and closure of the Three Gorges dam will most likely increase the range of these snail habitats, with the potential for re-emergence of schistosomiasis and increased transmission in Hunan and other schistosome-endemic provinces being a particular concern. In this paper, we review the history and the current status of schistosomiasis control in the Dongting Lake region. We explore the epidemiological factors contributing to S. japonicum transmission there, and summarise some of the key research findings from studies undertaken on schistosomiasis in Hunan province over the past 10 years. The impact of this research on current and future approaches for sustainable integrated control of schistosomiasis in this and other endemic areas in the PRC is emphasised.     

气候变暖对中国褐飞虱越冬北界的影响

基于GIS技术,利用1951—2010年中国南方地区289个气象站点观测资料和褐飞虱历史越冬考察资料,通过采用典型年褐飞虱越冬实况调查资料进行检验,对前人研究的褐飞虱越冬北界指标进行优选,最终选择1月10℃等温线作为中国褐飞虱越冬北界位置确定的指标,分析了最近60年来气候变暖背景下中国褐飞虱越冬北界年代际变化以及前后30年的变化。结果表明:在气候变暖背景下,由于暖冬年份频次的增加,使得每隔10年、30年褐飞虱越冬北界平均界限均不同程度北移,与冷冬年相比,暖冬年褐飞虱越冬北界位置可向北推移2～3个纬度;年代际变化以20世纪80年代最为明显,80年代之后的30年较之前的30年北移显著;空间北移较明显的地区为云南中部和福建南部,其中云南境内最大位移处60年约向北移动了近90km。     

东海普通波水蚤种群特征与环境关系研究

根据1997～2000年东海23°30′～33°N、118°30′～128°E海域4个季节海洋调查资料,对东海浮游桡足类普通波水蚤(Undinula vulgaris)自然种群特征与环境的关系进行研究,并与1979～1980年资料进行比较.结果表明,普通波水蚤优势度、平均丰度、出现频率和占浮游桡足类总丰度的百分比均有显著的季节变化,其中秋季分别为0.09、556 ind·100 m^-3、93.69％和9.90％,夏季为0.03、86 ind·100 m^-3、68.49％和4.08％,冬季为0.02、42 ind·100 m^-3、53.85％和3.80％,春季为0.01、16 ind·100 m^-3、34.35％和2.31％.普通波水蚤在东海的优势性主要表现在秋季.与20年前同海域研究结果相比,近年春、夏和秋3季普通波水蚤在东海浮游桡足类中的重要性有所降低,而冬季有所增加.冬季的增加可能与全球气候变暖相关.底层水环境变化是影响普通波水蚤种群数量分布的主要因子,说明该种数量变化与暖流势力有密切关系.普通波水蚤对沿岸水团和低温环境敏感,其高丰度分布区是暖流位置的良好指示.作为秋季东海重要的桡足类浮游动物,普通波水蚤在东海海洋渔业中有重要意义.     

Decision-model estimation of the age-specific disability weight for schistosomiasis japonica: a systematic review of the literature

Schistosomiasis is among the most prevalent parasitic infections worldwide. However, current Global Burden of Disease (GBD) disability-adjusted life year estimates indicate that its population-level impact is negligible. Recent studies suggest that GBD methodologies may significantly underestimate the burden of parasitic diseases, including schistosomiasis. Furthermore, strain-specific disability weights have not been established for schistosomiasis, and the magnitude of human disease burden due to Schistosoma japonicum remains controversial. We used a decision model to quantify an alternative disability weight estimate of the burden of human disease due to S. japonicum. We reviewed S. japonicum morbidity data, and constructed decision trees for all infected persons and two age-specific strata, <15 years (y) and > or =15 y. We conducted stochastic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses for each model. Infection with S. japonicum was associated with an average disability weight of 0.132, with age-specific disability weights of 0.098 (<15 y) and 0.186 (> or =15 y). Re-estimated disability weights were seven to 46 times greater than current GBD measures; no simulations produced disability weight estimates lower than 0.009. Nutritional morbidities had the greatest contribution to the S. japonicum disability weight in the <15 y model, whereas major organ pathologies were the most critical variables in the older age group. GBD disability weights for schistosomiasis urgently need to be revised, and species-specific disability weights should be established. Even a marginal increase in current estimates would result in a substantial rise in the estimated global burden of schistosomiasis, and have considerable implications for public health prioritization and resource allocation for schistosomiasis research, monitoring, and control.     

Miracidia of Schistosoma japonicum: approach and attachment to the snail host

Schistosoma japonicum miracidia swim directed along a chemical gradient toward the snails Oncomelania hupensis and Biomphalaria glabrata, and they turn back when the concentration of attractive chemicals decreases. The host signal for this chemotactic response has a molecular weight of more than 30,000. When swimming miracidia encounter the surface of O. hupensis or agar containing O. hupensis snail-conditioned water (SCW) they perform the host-specific responses "contact with return," "repeated investigation," and "attachment," but they do not exhibit such behavior when encountering B. glabrata surface or agar containing B. glabrata SCW. Thus S. japonicum miracidia respond to different host signals when they approach snails than when they attach to snails.     

日本血吸虫毛蚴对钉螺的钻穿及在螺体内的分布和移行

采自安徽省池的钉螺每粒感染５０只湖南株日本血吸虫毛后的组织学观察说明：毛蚴钻穿钉螺有从螺鳃部、头足总后有皮以及实质组织（外套膜、触角和阴茎）等三方面途径,其中以前二者尤为重要;毛蚴进入螺鳃丝后直接进入血液循环系统,从头足表皮进入的毛蚴,除了少数在钻穿部位附近滞留外,多数继续向头足部深层的肌肉和窦状组织间隙移行,以前头足窦、直肠和消化道外的组织间隙以及肾脏为主要的移行部位;从外套膜、触角、阴茎等部位     

Assessment of the molluscicidal activities of Tribromosalan, Cartap and Chlorothalonil against Oncomelania hupensis.

Molluscicidal activities of Tribromosalan, Cartap and Chlorothalonil were evaluated in the laboratory and the field against Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in China. The three chemicals were very effective against O. hupensis in the laboratory. The molluscicidal activities found in the field trials suggest that Tribromosalan and Cartap may be used as practical molluscicides. Dosage of 10 g/m2 of Tribromosalan in spring only and 20 g/m2 of Cartap in both spring and autumn would be recommendable as practical mollusciciding doses for the control of O. hupensis.     

三峡库区重庆段钉螺孳生条件

三峡工程的修建使得长江水生环境发生了变化,同时水库的阶段性蓄、放水使得阶段性淹没的江洲滩增加,更加有利于挺、浮水植物的繁殖,从而可能形成适合日本血吸虫(Schistosoma japonicum)的惟一中间宿主———钉螺(Oncomelania hupensis)的生长环境。本文在钉螺生活习性的基础上,结合数字高程模型(DEM)和相关的气象资料以及水库的蓄放水规律,从气候、淹没时间、植被、水库的蓄放水时间等角度对三峡库区钉螺孽生条件进行了分析。从气候上看,阶段性淹没区能够满足钉螺生长的需要;然而,水库冬季蓄水、夏季放水的周期与钉螺生长需求并不完全相同,尤其是冬季的高水位对钉螺生长十分不利。因此,水库的修建并不一定会造成钉螺的孽生和血吸虫的流行。     

Enhancing the stability of oligonucleotide duplexes. The effect of adding 1-(2'-deoxy-beta-d-ribofuranosyl)-5-nitroindole

We studied the properties of DNA duplexes containing 5-nitroindole (N) in one of the chains. We synthesized 8-membered oligos with N at the 5' or at the 3' end: 5'-d(NXGACCGTC)-3' or 5'-d(GACCGTCXN)-3', where X is one of the four natural bases, making all four kinds of oligos with and without N. We also prepared 11-membered oligos complementary to the above octanucleotides: 5'-d(TGACGGTCYZT)-3' and 5'-d(TZYGACGGTCT)-3', where Y and Z are A, G, C, or T. The stability of duplexes obtained with these oligos was assessed by melting, and the thermodynamic parameters delta H, delta S, and Tm were calculated. Comparison of the melting curves for modified and nonmodified duplexes demonstrated that the presence of N at the 5' end of one chain raises the Tm by 6.6 degrees C on average; if N is at the 3' end of the same chain, the Tm increases by about 3 degrees C.     

东海浮游糠虾种类特征和多样性

依据1997～2000年对东海23°30′～33°00′N、118°30′～128°00′E海域4个季节海洋调查资料,运用定量、定性方法, 探讨了东海浮游糠虾类种类特征、多样性以及种类分布与环境的关系.结果显示,东海调查水域共鉴定浮游糠虾类18种,秋季最多,有14种,夏季9种,春季7种,冬季仅4种;漂浮囊糠虾（Gastrosaccus pelagicus）等11个种是东海的常见种,东方原糠虾（Hypererythrops spinifera）是次常见种,其余则是稀有种;糠虾类物种的季节更替十分明显,特别是从秋季到冬季;盐度是影响东海糠虾类分布的主要环境因子,冬、夏季,糠虾类分布主要受沿岸河流和长江径流的影响,物种数与盐度呈负相关,秋季物种数与表层温度呈负相关,与底层盐度呈正相关.东海糠虾种类组成季节特征和地区特征的形成主要与长江径流势力消长有关.东海各海区糠虾类多样性指数（H′）值大多数较低,与其主要优势种的聚集性有关.     

A vaccine against Asian schistosomiasis

There is continued transmission of schistosomiasis japonica in China and Philippines despite highly effective control programs that focus on the application of the highly effective drug praziquantel (PZQ). The massive Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River in Southern China, soon to be completed, is expected to significantly increase schistosomiasis transmission and introduce the disease into areas currently unaffected. After long-term experience it is generally accepted that PZQ chemotherapy, although the cornerstone of current control programs, does have significant limitations. Furthermore, efficient drug delivery requires a substantial infrastructure to regularly cover all parts of an endemic area. Although there is not yet clear-cut evidence for the existence of PZQ-resistant schistosome strains, decreased susceptibility to the drug has been observed in several countries. As a result, a protective vaccine represents an essential component for the long-term control of schistosomiasis. This article briefly reviews aspects of anti-schistosome protective immunity that are important in the context of vaccine development. The current status in the development of vaccines against Schistosoma japonicum will then be discussed as will new approaches that may improve on the efficacy of available vaccines, and aid in the identification of new targets for immune attack. With new and extensive data becoming available from the S. japonicum genome project, the prospects for developing an effective vaccine are encouraging. The challenges that remain are many but it is crucial that the momentum towards developing effective anti-schistosome vaccines is maintained.     

长江口及其邻近水域大型水母资源量动态变化对渔业资源结构的影响

根据2007年5月、2008年5月和6月对长江口及其邻近水域渔业底拖网调查资料,分析了该水域大型水母资源量变化对渔业种类组成、分布和资源量的影响.结果表明:2007年5月-2008年6月,大型水母的平均网获量和最高网获量增加,2008年6月平均网获量为222.2 kg·h-1,最高网获量达到1800 kg·h-1.大型水母主要分布在50 m等深线附近,及100m等深线以浅的东海沿岸流、长江径流和台湾暖流的锋面上,6月大型水母的集中分布范围与5月相比向北偏移,在2007年5月和2008年5月两次调查中均存在一个水母集中分布点(122.5° E,28.5° N).大型水母和渔业资源呈交错分布,大型水母集中分布的区域,渔业资源网获量降低,种类组成也发生了显著变化.在水母网获量高的站位主要以小型种类(竹筴鱼、龙头鱼、发光鲷等)或中上层种类(刺鲳、长蛸)及带鱼为主,刺鲳在2008年6月的调查中占整个渔获量的23.7％,小黄鱼也占有较高的比重,但一些底层种类如黄鮟鏮等在水母集中分布区没有发现,虾蟹类也相对较少.大型水母对长江口渔业生态系统的群落结构和资源量都产生了一定的影响,而且水母可以通过营养级联反应改变系统的能流方式.因此,在保护渔业资源和制定相关的渔业管理措施时,建议将水母作为一个独立的生态类群来考虑.     

Impact of Changing Water Levels and Weather on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncomelania hupensis hupensis</Emphasis> Populations,the Snail Host of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schistosoma japonicum</Emphasis>, Downstream of the Three Gorges Dam

Increasing evidence indicates that dams impact riverine ecosystems and human diseases. Poyang Lake, one of the largest schistosomiasis endemic environments in China, will change due to the construction of the Yangtze River Three Gorges Dam. We assess changes in Oncomelania hupensis hupensis, the snail host for Schistosoma japonicum, in response to changing water levels and weather from 1998 to 2002. In the 5 years following the major flooding of Poyang Lake in 1998, seasonal water levels have gradually decreased, concomitant with decreases in mean and variance of fall snail densities. Nonlinear relationships suggest that the highest spring density is associated with current, 2-, and 3-month prior temperatures of 18°, 9.1°, and 5.8°C, while the highest fall density is associated with 2- and 3-month prior water levels of 17 and 18 m, respectively. This suggests that lower, more stable water levels downstream of the dam may result in a reduction in mean fall densities and their variance. However, additional data are needed to determine whether snail populations that are typically destroyed by seasonal floods may live longer in more stable environments created by the dam.     

东海浮游糠虾类生态类型划分及其对水团的指示作用

根据1997-2000年东海23°30′-33°N、118°30′-128°E海域4个季节海洋调查资料,对浮游糠虾类丰度和同步的表层温、盐度数据进行曲线拟合,构造数学模型,计算糠虾类分布的最适温度和盐度,分析其地理分布和季节分布特征,确定物种的生态类型.结果表明:宽尾刺糠虾(Acanthomysis latiscauda)、漂浮囊糠虾(Gastrosaccus pelagicus)、中华节糠虾(Siriel-la sinensis)和美丽拟节糠虾(Hemisiriella pulchra)是亚热带近海种,同时具有暖温种的特征;极小假近糠虾(Pseudanchialina pusilla)、东方原糠虾(Promysis orientalis)、小红糠虾(Erythropsminuta)和双眼准异糠虾(Anisomysis bipartoculata)虽是亚热带外海种,但具有热带大洋种特征.东海浮游糠虾类大多数物种的最适温、盐度偏低,冬春季在东海近海有更多的分布,因而具有暖温近海类型的生物学特征,这是该类浮游动物区别于其它浮游动物类群的重要特征.宽尾刺糠虾、中华节糠虾和美丽拟节糠虾的较高丰度区,也正是长江冲淡水与暖流水团交汇、沿岸水团与外海高盐水团交汇的位置.小红糠虾和双眼准异糠虾可作为暖流指示种.四刺端糠虾(Doxomysis quadrispinosa)和东方原糠虾是台湾暖流指示种.其它种均不是良好的水团指示种.