OBJECTIVE: To understand the situation of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild animals in transmission-controlled schistosomiasis-endemic areas in Jiangxi Province, so as to provide scientific evidence for implementing precision control interventions and achieving the goal of transmission interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis.
METHODS: Five endemic villages from Ruichang City and Pengze County that were heavily endemic for schistosomiasis in Jiangxi Province, were selected as the study villages. Wild animals like wild mice were captured, and the livers of wild animals were purchased from the snail habitats in the study villages for detection of S. japonicum infections. In the study villages, S. japonicum human infections were screened using indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) followed by parasitological examinations with miracidial hatching test and Kato-Katz method, and the S. japonicum infection in livestock was tested using a miracidial hatching test with a plastic tube. In addition, snail survey was conducted in the study villages by means of systematic sampling combined with environmental sampling, and the S. japonicum infection in snails was detected using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay.
RESULTS: A total of 240 liver specimens were sampled or purchased from 5 species of wild animals in the study villages, including wild mice, weasels, pigs, deer and rabbits. A total of 172 wild mice were captured, with a 2.91% rate of S. japonicum infection, and there was no S. japonicum infection detected in other wild animals. The prevalence of Capillaria hepatica infection was 12.21%, 1.96% and 12.50% in wild mice, deer and pigs, respectively. In addition, there was no S. japonicum infection found in either humans or livestock in the study villages, and the mean snail density varied from 0.13 to 0.80 snails/0.1 m2 in the study villages. LAMP assay detected S. japonicum infection in 2 tubes in a study village.
CONCLUSIONS: The role of wild animals in schistosomiasis transmission and their potential risks can not be neglected in hilly schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Jiangsu Province after transmission control. Intensified surveillance and targeted control measures should be implemented to consolidate schistosomiasis control achievements.
[摘要]目的 掌握江西省山丘型血吸虫病传播控制地区野生动物血吸虫感染情况, 为实施精准防控措施及实现血吸 虫病传播阻断和消除目标提供科学依据。方法 选择江西省血吸虫病疫情较重的山丘型流行区瑞昌市和彭泽县的5个 流行村作为调查村。在调查村有螺环境捕捉野鼠等野生动物, 收集来自调查村的野生动物肝脏, 检查其血吸虫感染情 况。在调查村采用间接血凝试验 (IHA) 筛查、粪便尼龙绢袋集卵孵化法和改良加藤厚涂片法检测人群血吸虫感染, 采用 粪便塑料杯顶管孵化法检测家畜血吸虫感染; 采用系统抽样结合环境抽查法调查钉螺分布, 采用环介导等温扩增技术 (LAMP) 检测钉螺血吸虫感染。结果 在调查村捕获、收购野鼠、黄鼠狼、野猪、麂子和野兔等野生动物或肝脏样本 240 只 (份), 其中捕获野鼠172只, 血吸虫感染率为2.91%, 其他野生动物未发现血吸虫感染; 野鼠、麂子和野猪肝毛细线虫感 染率分别为12.21%、1.96%和12.50%。调查村人群和家畜中均未发现血吸虫感染; 各村平均钉螺密度在 0.13 ~ 0.80 只/ 0.1 m2, 在1个村发现2只检测管钉螺有血吸虫阳性。结论 江西省山丘型传播控制地区野生动物在血吸虫病传播中的 作用和潜在风险仍不可忽视; 应继续加强监测, 并采取有针对性防治措施, 以巩固血吸虫病防治成果。.