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To investigate the cognitive levels of people from Chaohu area, Anhui Province about the prevention and control knowledge of schistosomiasis before the water transfer project operation, so as to provide the reference for formulating the health education intervention.A schistosomiasis questionnaire survey was conducted among the students, fishermen, boat people and villagers from Chaohu selected by the random cluster sampling from May to October, 2014.A total of 1 140 questionnaires were issued with the actual recovery of 1 096 copies and 1 032 valid questionnaires. The awareness rate of prevention and control knowledge of schistosomiasis was from 11.72% to 71.71%. The highest awareness rate was in the "know schistosomiasis", however the lowest awareness rate was in the "know the intermediate host of schistosomiasis". Catching fish or shrimp in river or lake was the main way of contacting water in production activities (39.05%), and swimming or playing in river or lake was the main way of contacting water in life activities (63.18%). The prevention and control knowledge of schistosomiasis by teaching was at a rate of 41.47% on average, and the main way was anti-schistosomiasis professionals going to countryside to do health education (49.53%). That the feces directly discharged into water accounted for 91.14% in fishman and boatman.It is necessary for people from Chaohu to carry out various forms of health education of schistosomiasis prevention and control before the water transfer project operation.

To explore the expression levels of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain protein 3 (Tim-3) on peripheral blood CD4+ T cells and its correlation with liver function damage parameters in advanced schistosomiasis patients.Totally 28 advanced schistosomiasis patients were selected as study subjects, and 20 chronic schistosomiasis patients and 30 healthy persons were selected as controls. The expression levels of Tim-3 on CD4+ T cell were detected by flow cytometry, and the serum IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were detected by ELISA. Hitachi 7600 biochemical analyzer was used to analyze the liver function parameters (ALT, γ-GT and TBIL).There was a significant difference in Tim-3 expression among the three groups (F = 4.578,P0.05). Tim-3 expression level in advanced schistosomiasis patients was (8.33 ± 2.28)%, which was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group (6.57 ± 1.99)% (t = 3.015, P0.01). The Spearman nonparametric correlation analysis showed that the Tim-3 expression level on CD4+ T cells in advanced schistosomiasis patients was positively correlated with the serum ALT(r, = 0.746, P0.01), γ-GT(r, = 0.656, P0.01) and IL-4(r, = 0.672, P0.01) levels, but negatively correlated with the serum IFN-γ levels (r(s) = -0.404, P0.05).The expression of Tim-3 on peripheral CD4' T cells is increased in advanced schistosomiasis patients, which may regulate the function of CD4' T cells and then be involved in the liver damage process of advanced schistosomiasis.

To investigate the status of Cryptosporidium infection in the population in the local area of Anhui Province, and discuss the risk factors of the infection, so as to provide the evidence for the prevention and treatment of cryptosporidiosis.Qianshan County and Lingbi County of Anhui Province were selected as investigation spots, and the oocysts of Cryptosporidium in the feces of the investigation objects and the specific IgG antibody against Cryptosporidium in the serum were checked by using the pathogenic modified acid fast staining method and ELISA, respectively, so as to determine the status of Cryptosporidium infection in these investigation objects. At the same time, the questionnaire surveys were conducted in the investigation objects so as to know about the risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection.A total of 668 people were investigated in the two counties, 635 people received etiological examinations, and 15 people were positive with the positive rate of 2.36%; 642 people received serological examinations, and 140 people were positive with the positive rate of 21.81%; 628 people received pathogenic and serological examinations at the same time, and the examination results of the both methods showed that 12 people were positive (there were 4 people in Qianshan County and 8 people in Lingbi County) , and the positive rate was 1.94%. The rates of Cryptosporidium infection in the population of Qianshan County and Lingbi County were 1.24% (4/322) and 2.71% (8/295) respectively, and the difference had no statistical significance (P0.05). The single factor analysis found that the rate of Cryptosporidium infection was higher in the children and diarrhea patients; the multivariate logistics regression analysis indicated that the rate of Cryptosporidium infection was higher in the people who bred poultry and the diarrhea patients.The positive rate of serum antibody of Cryptosporidium in the population of the local area of Anhui Province is higher, which indicates that the previous infection is serious, and the rate of Cryptosporidium infection in human is relative to the age, diarrhea and whether there are poultries to be bred in the family, which is worthy of attention in the future prevention and treatment.

To explore the risk factors of cerebral schistosomiasis japonica.A total of 37 confirmed cases, diagnosed during 1999-2004 in Anhui Province, were involved in the study as case group. Three controls for each case were selected from the general population either without schistosomiasis, with chronic schistosomiasis or with acute schistosomiasis. The relevant risk factors on the disease were analyzed.Four factors with labour intensity, physical, economical and nutritional conditions before illness between case group and normal control group, 7 factors including epilepsy history, hypersensitivity, intensity and times of infection between case group and acute schistosomiasis control group, 10 factors including intensity of infection, times of infection and treatment between case group and chronic schistosomiasis control group, all showed statistical significance (p0.05) . Five factors showed statistical significance (p0.05) between case group and the 3 control groups.The intensity of schistosome infection and treatment history are the main risk factors for cerebral schistosomiasis, and the physical and psychosocial conditions of the patients show some effect on the disease.

Schistosomiasis japonica was endemic in 12 provinces (including municipalities and autonomous regions) in the People's Republic of China (PR China). Despite the tremendous decrease of schistosomiasis incidence after almost 60 years of control, the distribution of snail-breeding sites has not been reduced significantly. In order to verify current transmission risks and identify the potential establishment of new foci of schistosomiasis driven by environmental changes, we conducted surveillance in selected risk areas of three provinces: Jiangsu, Anhui and Shandong from 2008 to 2010 in addition to routine snail surveillance. We investigated populations and possible reservoirs in sentinel sites and report that the total number of new acute cases did not diminish further in spite of ongoing control activities. In Anhui Province the local count compared to the national count was 43% (19/44) in 2008, 33% (25/75) in 2009 and 40% (17/42) in 2010. In all, 31.58 km(2) areas of snail breeding sites were newly detected nationwide through the year 2008-2010, of which the proportion of Anhui was 42% (5.03/11.98) in 2008, 95% (8.39/8.79) in 2009 and 79% (8.52/10.81) in 2010. Sentinel surveillance showed eight, nine and five confirmed cases of acute schistosomiasis in mobile populations (fishermen, migrant workers) in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. All these cases were detected in Chaohu County, which must therefore be deemed an area at risk. We conclude that continuous surveillance with an emphasis on snails must be enhanced in potential risk areas in PR China.

To understand the dynamic changes of the potential prevalent factors of schistosomiasis in Chaohu Lake area so as to provide forecast information on the outbreak of schistosomiasis in the area.From 2008 to 2010, fixed and mobile surveillance sites in potential endemic areas of Juchao District in Chaohu City, which was located in the southeast side of Chaohu Lake, were selected, and the schistosomiasis infection situation of local people, mobile population and livestock were investigated by immunological assays and/or stool examinations. The distribution of Oncomelania snails was surveyed in risk areas and suspicious areas, the spreading patterns of Oncomelania snails were observed in rivers that directly connected with the Yangtze River, and the Oncomelania snails were raised in the cages on the beaches of Chaohu Lake and a control area, and their survival and reproduction capacity was observed.In 2008, a total of 301 local people were screened by IHA, and there were no positives. From 2008 to 2010, a total of 321, 362 and 306 mobile population were examined by IHA, respectively, and the positive rate of antibody were 3.74%, 4.97% and 2.94%, respectively. The antibody positives were tested by stool examinations, and the positive rates were 66.67%, 50% and 55.56%, respectively. A total of 91 local livestock and 92 livestock from endemic areas were examined respectively by the miracidium hatching method, and there were no positives. A total of 97.8 hm2 risk areas and 193.62 hm2 suspicious areas in the potential endemic area were surveyed respectively, but no Oncomelania snails were found. The investigation results on snail spreading patterns indicated that snails could spread into Chaohu Lake by adsorbing on floating debris. The field study revealed that Oncomelania snails could survive and reproduce in the Lake.The imported infectious sources of schistosomiasis have been found in Chaohu Lake area, and the higher possibility of imported Oncomelania snails spreading into the Lake and surviving and reproducing in the lake is predicted. Therefore, effective measures should be taken to decrease the risks of schistosomiasis transmission in the potential endemic area.