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Objective: To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of Blastocystis hominis infection among children with diarrhea under five years of age in Guangzhou City., Methods: Children with diarrhea under 5 years of age admitted to Guangzhou Children's hospital, Guangzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital and Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center during the period between January 1 and December 31, 2020, were enrolled. Participants' demographics, living environments and health status were collected using questionnaire surveys. Stool samples were collected from participants and nucleic acid was extracted. B. hominis infection was identified using PCR assay and sequence alignment, and the factors affecting B. hominis infection among children with diarrhea under 5 years of age were identified using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis., Results: A total of 684 children with diarrhea under 5 years of age were enrolled, including 468 male children and 216 female children, with a mean age of (1.79 ± 1.12) years. The overall prevalence of B. hominis infection was 4.97% [34/684, 95% confidential interval (CI): (3.59%, 6.86%)] among participants, and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of B. hominis infection between children with chronic [7.52% (20/266), 95% CI: (4.92%, 11.33%)] and acute diarrhea [3.35% (14/418), 95% CI: (2.01%, 5.54%)] (χ 2 = 5.983, P = 0.014). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified keeping pet [odds ratio ( OR ) = 6.298, 95% CI: (2.711, 14.633)], drinking non-tap water [ OR = 4.522, 95% CI: (1.769, 11.561)], lactose intolerance [ OR = 4.221, 95% CI : (1.043, 17.087)], antibiotic use [ OR = 0.125, 95% CI : (0.017, 0.944)] and chronic diarrhea [ OR = 2.172, 95% CI : (1.018, 4.637)] as factors affecting B. hominis infection among children with diarrhea under 5 years of age in Guangzhou City., Conclusions: B. hominis infections is detected in children with diarrhea under five years of age in Guangzhou City. Improving home environments and pet-keeping hygiene is recommended to reduce the likelihood of B. hominis infection among children.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and identify the risk factors of Giardia lamblia infections among patients with colorectal cancer in Henan Province., Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed for questionnaire surveys among colorectal cancer patients in Henan Cancer Hospital during the period from March to July, 2021. Patients' stool samples were collected, and the triosephosphate isomerase ( tpi ) gene of G. lamblia was amplified in stool samples using nested PCR assay to characterize the parasite genotype. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the risk factors of G. lamblia infections among colorectal cancer patients., Results: A total of 307 colorectal cancer patients were investigated, including 176 males (57.3%) and 131 females (42.7%). PCR assay detected 8.1% [95% confidential interval ( CI ): (0.056, 0.117)] prevalence of G. lamblia infections among the study subjects, and there was no significant difference in the prevalence between men [9.1%, 95% CI : (0.057, 0.143)] and women [6.9%, 95% CI : (0.037, 0.125)] ( χ 2 = 0.495, P = 0.482). In addition, there was no age-specific prevalence of G. lamblia infections among the participants ( χ 2 = 1.534, P = 0.675). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified use of septic tanks [odds ratio ( OR ) = 3.336, 95% CI : (1.201, 9.267)], daily use of well water [ OR = 3.042, 95% CI : (1.093, 8.465)] and raising livestock [ OR = 3.740, 95% CI : (1.154, 12.121)] as risk factors of G. lamblia infections among colorectal cancer patients, and the prevalence of abdominal pain was significantly greater in colorectal cancer patients with G. lamblia infections than in those without infections ( P = 0.017). Among the 25 patients with G. lamblia infections, assemblage A was characterized in 24 (96.0%) cases and assemblage B in one case (4.0%)., Conclusions: The prevalence of G. lamblia is high among colorectal cancer patients in Henan Province, and assemblage A is the dominant genotype of G. lamblia . Use of septic tanks, daily use of well water and raising livestock are risk factors of G. lamblia infections among patients with colorectal cancer.

Blastocystis hominis is a common intestinal protozoan parasite. Most individuals with B. hominis infections have no apparent clinical symptoms; however, a few patients, notably those with co-infections or impaired immune system function may present abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and even death. This paper reviews the co-infections of B. hominis and other pathogens and comorbidity of B. hominis infections and other diseases, so as to provide insights into the management of B. hominis infections.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infections among AIDS patients in Nanchang City., Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among AIDS patients in Nanchang City during the period between May and September, 2016. B. hominis infection was detected in patients'stool samples using a PCR assay, and the CD4 + T cell count was measured in subjects'blood samples. In addition, the risk factors of B. hominis infection in AIDS patients were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses., Results: A survey was conducted in Nanchang City from May to September 2016. A total of 505 AIDS patients were investigated, and the prevalence of B. hominis infection was 4.16%. Univariate analysis revealed that B. hominis infection correlated with the occupation ( χ 2 = 8.595, P = 0.049), education level ( χ 2 = 14.494, P = 0.001), type of daily drinking water ( χ 2 = 10.750, P = 0.020), root of HIV infections ( χ 2 = 8.755, P = 0.026) and receiving anti-HIV therapy ( χ 2 = 23.083, P = 0.001) among AIDS patients, and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified daily direct drinking of tap water as a risk factor of B. hominis infections [odds ratio ( OR ) = 7.988, 95% confidential interval ( CI ): (1.160, 55.004)] and anti-HIV therapy as a protective factor of B. hominis infection [ OR = 0.183, 95% CI : (0.049, 0.685)]., Conclusions: The prevalence of B. hominis is 4.16% among AIDS patients in Nanchang City. Daily direct drinking of tap water is a risk factor, and anti-HIV therapy is a protective factor of B. hominis infection among AIDS patients living in Nanchang City.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis infections among primary school students in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City., Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among students sampled from a primary school in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City on April, 2018, and their stool samples were collected for microscopic examinations, in vitro culture and PCR assays to analyze the prevalence of Blastocystis infections and subtype of the parasite. In addition, the risk factors of Blastocystis infections among primary school students were identified using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis., Results: A total of 466 primary students were surveyed, and the subjects had a mean age of (9.81±1.66) years and included 236 males (50.64%) and 230 females (49.36%). The prevalence of Blastocystis infections was 15.24% (71/466) among the study students, and there was no significance difference in the prevalence between male and fe- male students (16.52% vs. 13.91%; χ 2 = 0.616, P = 0.433). In addition, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of Blastocystis infections among grade 1 (6.35%, 4/63), grade 2 (5.17%, 3/58), grade 3 (21.74%, 15/69), grade 4 (25.30%, 21/83), grade 5 (10.19%, 11/108) and grade 6 students (20.00%, 17/85) ( χ 2 = 15.410, P = 0.009). There were four Blastocystis subtypes characterized (ST1, ST3, ST6 and ST7), in which ST6 was the most common subtype (45.07%, 32/71), followed by ST3 (25.35%, 18/71). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that minority ethnicity [odds ratio ( OR ) = 4.259, 95% confidential inter- val ( CI ) : (1.161, 15.621)] and low maternal education level (primary school and below) [ OR = 9.038, 95% CI : (1.125, 72.642)] were identified as risk factors of Blastocystis infection among primary school students in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City., Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of Blastocystis infections detected among primary school students in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City, and ST6 and ST3 are predominant subtypes. Minority ethnicity and low maternal education level (primary school and below) are risk factors for Blastocystis infections in primary school students.

Blastocystis is a unicellular, anaerobic, intestinal protozoan that infects humans and a variety of animals, which is widely prevalent across the world. Blastocystis infections have been detected in healthy populations, children, students, outpatients and inpatients, as well as diarrhea patients in China. High prevalence of Blastocystis infections has been reported in immunocompromised patients, and relatively high prevalence was seen in individuals living in Guangxi and Yunnan regions. Based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA ( SSU rRNA ) gene sequence, a total of 17 subtypes (ST1 to ST17) of Blastocystis have been characterized until now, among which ST1 to ST9 and ST12 infect humans and animals, and ST10 to ST17 only infect animals. In China, ST1 to ST3 are predominant human Blastocystis subtypes, and ST1/ST3, ST1/ST2 and ST2/ST3 mixed infections have been also identified. This review mainly describes the epidemiology and genotypes of Blastocystis in humans and animals in China.

Objective: To understand the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infection in inpatients in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a community hospital in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City, and the inpatients were surveyed by questionnaires. After obtaining the informed consent from the inpatients or legal guardians, the stool and blood samples were collected and examined by microscopy and PCR from April 17 to May 1, 2018. The univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors of the B. hominis infection., Results: A total of 198 hospitalized patients were investigated, and the infection rate of B. hominis was 10.61% (21/198), and the infection rate of the females (12.10%) was higher than that of the males (8.11%), but the difference was not statistically significant. The highest rate of infection was 19.23% in the age group of 10 to 20 years, followed by 17.74% in the age group of 60 years and above, and the lowest rate was 2.38% in the age group of 20 to 40 years. The difference in infection rates of B. hominis among the different age groups was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). The infection rate of B. hominis in the people who used dry pail latrines was 33.30%, which was higher than that of the people who used water flush toilets (9.10%) ( P < 0.05). The genotypes of B. hominis were ST1, ST3, ST6 and ST7, and ST6 and ST3 being the most predominant genotypes which accounted for 47.62% (10/21) and 38.10% (8/21) respectively, and among the infected males, the genotypes were only ST3 and ST6. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that among the factors affecting B. hominis infection, only keeping pets was a risk factor [ OR = 3.798, 95% CI (1.245, 11.581), P < 0.05]., Conclusions: A high prevalence of B. hominis infection is found in the inpatients in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City, the predominant genotypes are ST6 and ST3, and keeping pets may be one of the main risk factors.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infections among patients with HIV/AIDS in Fuyang City, Anhui Province., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Fuyang City, Anhui Province in 2016. The demographic and socioeconomic status, and the lifestyle and production style were collected using a questionnaire survey. B. hominis DNA was detected in subjects'stool samples using a PCR assay, and the CD4+ T lymphocyte count and HIV viral load were measured in the subjects' blood samples. The risk factors of B. hominis infections among patients with HIV/AIDS were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses., Results: A total of 398 HIV/AIDS patients were enrolled in this study, with a mean age of 49.3 years, a mean body weight of 55.9 kg and a mean height of 164.4 cm. The prevalence of B. hominis infection was 6.78% in the study subjects, and no gender- ( χ 2 = 1.589, P = 0.207), education level- ( χ 2 =0.508, P = 0.776), marital status- ( χ 2 = 0.419, P = 0.811) or occupation-specific prevalence ( χ 2 = 2.744, P = 0.615) was detected. Among the patients with HIV/AIDS, there were no significant differences in the age ( t = 0.370, P = 0.712), height ( t = 1.587, P =0.113), body weight ( t = 0.516, P = 0.606), CD4 + T lymphocyte count ( t = 1.187, P = 0.230) or HIV viral load ( t = 0.193, P =0.496) between B. hominis -infected and uninfected individuals. Dinking non-tap water [ OR = 6.554, 95% CI : (1.876 to 22.903)] and keeping dogs [ OR = 5.895, 95% CI : (2.017 to 17.225)] were identified as risk factors for B. hominis infection in patients with HIV/AIDS., Conclusions: The prevalence of B. hominis infection is high in HIV/AIDS patients, and drinking non-tap water and keeping dogs are risk factors for B. hominis infection among HIV/AIDS patients.

Ticks can spread a variety of diseases and cause serious damage to animal husbandry. However, the existing insecticide and vaccine control methods have some disadvantages. In this paper, we review the research status of tick pesticides, including the chemical pesticides and non-chemical pesticides (Chinese herbal medicine, nanometer material, virus, fungus and bacterium pesticides), and analyze the disadvantages of the existing researches on pesticides against ticks, in order to provide a theoretical reference for establishing high-efficient and safety tick control methods.

Objective: To observe the growth situation of Blastocystis hominis in vitro and select the optimal method for cultivation of B. hominis in different media., Methods: Ten positive stools with B. hominis were inoculated in three different media for cultivating, namely 1640, Jone's medium and vitro medium. And the stools with good growth status and high quantities of B. hominis were chosen to inoculate in the three media with equal amount after subcultivation, and the number of B. hominis was counted every 24 h for ten days, and the morphological changes and growth status were also observed., Results: The densities of B. hominis in the 1640 and Jone's medium were higher than that in the vitro medium 48 h after the inoculation. The same stool sample was inoculated to the three different media and observed for ten days, and the results indicated that the growth of B. hominis presented regular changes in the three media, the growth peaks were on the third, sixth and ninth day post inoculation; and the density of B. hominis was the highest in the Jone's medium. The morphology of B. hominis was the clearest and most dynamic in the vitro medium, while various reproductive forms were observed in the Jone's medium., Conclusion: Jone's medium is suitable for the growth of B. hominis and can be the first choice for the cultivation of B. hominis in vitro, and vitro medium is the best medium for observing the growth situation of B. hominis.

Objective: To establish an animal model for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and to study the etiological and molecular biological technology for PCP detection., Methods: SD and Wistar rats were divided into experimental and control groups randomly. The animals in the experimental group were immunosuppressed by subcutaneous injection with dexamethasone 2 mg per time per rat, twice a week, while those in the control group underwent the same way of injection with physiological saline simultaneously. After the induction for 8 weeks, all the rats were killed and their bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were collected for smear making and microscopic detection. Meanwhile, the BALF samples were detected by PCR, and the products were sequenced and compared with rat source PCP in GenBank., Results: A total of 34 samples of lung tissue and BALF were observed. The etiological detection showed that the infection rates of the rats in the experimental and control groups were 29.2% (7/24) and 0, respectively. In the experimental group, the infection rates of SD and Wistar rats were 25.0% (3/12) and 33.3% (4/12), respectively, and the difference between them was not statistically significant (P = 0.31). The positive detection rates of the lung smears and BALF from SD rats in the experimental group were 25.0% (3/12) and 16.7% (2/12), respectively, while those in Wistar rats in the experimental group were 33.3% (4/12) and 16.7% (2/12), respectively, and there were no statistically significant difference between them (P = 0.34, 0.24). A total of 28 samples of BALF were detected by PCR, and the positive detection rates of rats in the experimental group and control group were 91.7% (26/28) and 0, respectively. The sequence analysis of the PCR products showed that it shared 100% homology with the genes of rat source PCP in Gen Bank (JX499145, GU133622 and EF646865)., Conclusions: The animal model of PCP can be established by subcutaneous injection with dexamethasone. As animal models, there are no significant difference between SD rats and Wistar rats. PCR method is suitable for PCP detection at the early stage of infection, while etiological detection with high missing rate is not a right option.

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria in Luoyang City, so as to provide the evidence for malaria prevention and control in this city., Methods: The Epidemic situation data from network reports, as well as the case survey and the epidemiological investigation data of imported malaria were collected and analyzed in Luoyang City from 2010 to 2013., Results: A total of 98 imported malaria cases were reported in Luoyang City from 2010 to 2013, including 35 cases of vivax malaria, 57 cases of falciparum malaria, 4 cases of ovale malaria and 2 cases of quartan malaria. All the cases were confirmed by laboratory detection. Seventy-one cases (72.44%) returned from African countries, and 27 (27.55%) cases returned from Southeast Asian countries. The majority cases were young man, and 78.57% of the cases were diagnosed by different levels of centers for disease control and prevention. There was no significant seasonal variation in onset time. The median time from onset to seeing doctor was 6 days., Conclusions: The epidemic situation of imported malaria is quite serious in Luoyang City. It is necessary to further strengthen the professional training and multi-sectoral cooperation, and take effective pre- vention and control measures to reduce the hazard of imported malaria.

Objective: To establish A1E3 and B1C4 monoclonal antibody-based ELISA for detecting circulating antigen of Schistosoma japonicum and explore its application value in the field., Methods: The characteristics of A1E3 and B1C4 monoclonal antibodies were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The SEA-based ELISA was used to evaluate the titers of A1E3 and B1C4. The orthogonal test was used to determine the best concentration of coating antibody B1C4 and optimal working concentration of A1E3-HRP. Under the optimal conditions, the serum samples of 20 acute schistosomiasis cases, 46 chronic schistosomiasis cases, and 20 control sera were tested to evaluate its detection sensitivity and specificity. Seventy-two antibody positive serum samples from Jiangling County of Hubei Province were detected and compared to a commercially available ELISA kit, to evaluate the detection effects of this method., Results: The results of SDS-PAGE demonstrated that the purified A1E3 and B1C4 contained a clear heavy chain with molecular weight of 88,000 and 52,000 respectively and had the same light chain with molecular weight of 20,000; while Western blotting demonstrated that A1E3 and B1C4 could be recognized by SEA and serum samples of acute schistosomiasis cases. The SEA-based ELISA demonstrated the titers of B1C4 and A1E3 were 1:10(5) and 1:30,000, respectively. The serum samples from all the acute cases and 86.9% of the chronic cases showed a positive reaction. All of the control sera from healthy persons gave a negative response. The positive rates of the double monoclonal antibody ELISA and commercial ELISA for detecting the circulating antigen were 45.8% and 43.1% respectively, and there was no significant difference between the results of the two methods., Conclusion: A1E3 and B1C4 monoclonal antibody-based ELISA is established successfully. It exhibits a high sensitivity and specificity in detecting circulating antigen of Schistosoma japonicum.

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of co-infection of HIV and Blastocystis hominis and its risk factors., Methods: A total of 309 people with HIV positive in the development zone of Fuyang City were recruited, and the face to face questionnaires were conducted to collect the information of behavioral characteristics and sociodemographic data of the participants. Meanwhile, the samples of stool and blood were collected to test B. hominis, cytokines and CD4+/CD8+ T-lymphocyte. The influencing factors of co-infection of HIV and Blastocystis hominis were analyzed by the single factor analysis and Logistic regression analysis., Results: Among the 309 people involved, 302 accepted feces examinations, 286 accepted the questionnaire investigation, and 263 accepted both of them. The infection rate of B. hominis was 17.11%, that of the female was 21.90%, which was significantly higher than that of the male (11.90%) (P < 0.05). The results from the multivariate Logistic regression model showed that good nutrition was significantly associated with the co-infection of HIV and B. hominis (OR = 0.263, 95% CI: 0.073, 0.945)., Conclusions: The infection rate of B. hominis is high in people with HIV positive, and the nutrition situation of individuals may be one of the important risk factors associated with co-infection.

Objective: To understand the co-infection status of HIV and intestinal parasites in a HIV/AIDS highly endemic area in China., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in two villages in Fuyang City, Anhui Province, and the infection status of HIV and intestinal parasites were investigated by blood and fecal examinations., Results: A total 769 individuals were enrolled in the investigation, and 720 of whom were participated in stool examinations for intestinal parasite infections. The infection rates of parasites were as follows: 0.56% for Ascaris lumbricoides, 4.03% for Hookworm, 0.28% for Trichuris trichiura, 0.42% for Clonorchis sinensis, 21.39% for Blastocystis hominis, 3.89% for Giardia lamblia, 1.67% for Entamoeba spp., 4.44% for Cryptosporidium spp.. The overall infection rate of intestinal worms and protozoan were 4.72% and 24.31%, respectively. The prevalence rate of anemia was 34.68%. The prevalence rate of HIV was 8.10%. The co-infection rate of HIV and intestinal helminthes was 2.17%, and that of HIV and intestinal protozoan was 28.26%, of which the co-infection rate of Blastocystis hominis and HIV were 19.57%. There was a significant difference between the infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp. in the HIV-positive group (13.04%) and HIV-negative group (4.70%) (P <0.05)., Conclusions: The infection rate of intestinal protozoan is higher than that of intestinal helminthes in local residents. The HIV-positive population is more susceptible to the infection of Cryptosporidium spp.

Objective: To investigate the co-infection status of HIV and Cryptosporidium, and explore the influencing factors associated with the co-infection., Methods: A total of 309 people with HIV positive in Fuyang City of Anhui Province were recruited and their fecal and blood samples were collected for examinations of Cryptosporidium spp. infection and the levels of hemoglobin, cytokines and CD4+/CD8+ T-lymphocytes. Meanwhile, the questionnaire survey was conducted., Results: Among 302 people involved in fecal examinations, the infection rate of Cryptosporidium spp. was 8.28%, and the difference between infection rates of the male (13.49%) and the female (2.92%) was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression model showed that 4 factors were significantly associated with the coinfection of HIV and Cryptosporidium spp, including male (OR = 6.700, 95% CI: 2.030, 22.114), younger than 42 years old (OR = 4.148, 95% CI: 1.348, 12.761), level of IL-2 below 77 pg/ml (OR = 0.226, 95%CI: 0.076, 0.674) and personal hygiene habits (OR = 0.324, 95% CI: 0.105, 0.994)., Conclusion: The co-infection rate of Cryptosporidium spp. and HIV is high, the key targets of control are the people who are male, younger than 42 years old, with high level of IL2 and poor personal hygiene habits.

Objective: To study the efficacy of tribendimdine in the treatment of hookworm infection., Methods: Forty-seven cases of hookworm infection detected in a cross-sectional study were selected and randomly divided into two groups, one was experimental group (23 cases) treated with tribendimdine and the other was control group (24 cases) treated with albendazole. The negative conversion rates and the incidence rates of adverse effects in the two groups were observed and compared., Results: The negative conversion rates and the incidence rates of adverse effects of the two groups were 95.65% and 95.83%, 8.70% and 8.33%, respectively, there were no statistical differences (both P values > 0.05)., Conclusion: The efficacy of tribendimdine in the treatment of hookworm infection is similar to albendazole.