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   2004, 22 (3): 23-191.  
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Genetic diversity and differentiation time of human isolates of Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis from Qinghai
WU De-fang, FU Yong, REN Bin, ZHANG Yao-gang, XU Xiao-lei, PANG Ming-quan, FAN Hai-ning
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES    2022, 40 (5): 610-615.   DOI: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2022.05.007
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Objective To analyzed the genetic diversity, genetic differences between populations and differentiation time of Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis of Qinghai isolates, in order to provide scientific basis for species tracing and prevention and control of Echinococcus in Qinghai Province, China. Methods For genetic analysis, 50 liver lesion samples were collected from hospitalized echinococcosis patients in the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University to extract genomic DNA and amplify mitochondrial dehydrogenase 1 gene (nad1). Sequence multiple alignment was performed using Clustal X v2.0 software. Geographic informatics mapping of patients’ residence was constructed using ArcGIS software. Sequence haplotype analysis was made with DnaSP v6 software. Modeltest 3.7 software and PAUP*4.0B10 software were used to calculate the minimum optimal nucleic acid evolution model. The Bayesian’s phylogenetic evolution tree was constructed with MrBayes-3.2.7 software. The differentiation time of each node in the phylogenetic tree was estimated with the Bayesian method using BEAST v2.6.3 software. Results We successfully identified 48 Echinococcus lesion samples specimen and obtained the full length of complete nad1 gene of 894 bp. Among them, 13 samples were identified as the G1 genotype of E. granulosus, and 35 samples as E. multilocularis. All the sequences showed > 99% similarity to those in GenBank. Four haplotypes were identified as H1-H4 in the two species respectively; H3 was the dominant haplotype in E. granulosus samples(10/13), which is present in Xining, Guoluo, Yushu, Haidong, Haibei and Huangnan. H2 haplotype was found dominant in E. multilocular samples (51.4%,18/35), which is present in Xining, Guoluo, Yushu, and Haidong. The phylogenetic tree showed that E. granulosus and G1 genotype clustered into one branch, and E. multilocularis and Asian strain clustered into one branch. The results of differentiation time showed that the nearest common ancestor of E. granulosus, E. multilocularis, E. vogeli and E. oligarthrus was about 5.5 Mya (95% confidence interval 4.5-6.5 Mya), and the differentiation time of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis was about 2.5 Mya (95% confidence interval 2.3-4.1 Mya). Conclusion Both human E. granulosus and E. multilocularis in Qinghai Province show high genetic diversity. E. granulosus was found of G1 genotype, with H3 as the dominant haplotype, while in E. multilocularis samles H2 is the dominant. The two speies are widely distributed throughout Qinghai Province. The two species of Echinococcus exhit closer genetic relationship and differentiation timing.

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   1998, 16 (5): 388-393.  
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Expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of food-borne parasitic diseases (2023)
Expert Group of National Center for Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Disease Medicine
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES    2023, 41 (6): 653-668.   DOI: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2023.06.001
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Food-borne parasitic diseases caused by ingesting food and water containing infective parasites are still common parasitic diseases that are easily misdiagnosed and mistreated in clinical practice. With the participation of multi-disciplinary experts, and in the light of the latest research results at home and abroad, based on factors other than the quality of evidence (economics, patient preferences and values, trade-offs, accessibility, fairness, acceptability, etc.), the level of recommendation and the quality of evidence in evidence-based medicine were assessed using the World Health Organization-recommended evidence quality classification and strength of recommendation system, and a consensus of 24 items was reached to guide and improve the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of food-borne parasitic diseases for clinical medical staff.

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Advances in Biological Taxonomy and Classification of Human Parasites
ZHANGJin-shun
   2006, 24 (6): 15-470.  
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Along with the further development of biological science and technology, the taxonomy of organisms as well as classification of parasites have been modified and improved. However the taxonomic system of parasites used in China nowadays was established 25 years ago. This paper outlined the advances of biological taxonomy and introduces the Cox′s new classification of parasites so as to promote parasitological research.
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Comparison of the role of dendritic cells and macrophages in inducing protective immunity against Schistosoma japonicum
SHENDing-wen;LIYong-long;LIUWen-qi;LONGXiao-chun;LIUJuan;AndreasRuppel
   2006, 24 (1): 5-22.  
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Objective To compare a potential role of dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages in inducing protective immunity against infection with Schistosoma japonicum. Methods DCs and macrophages were pulsed in vitro with soluble egg antigen (SEA) of S. japonicum. BALB/c mice were injected three times with DCs or macrophages, either antigen-pulsed or not,and challenged with 40 ± 2 cercariae of S. japonicum per mouse. Worms were collected 42 days later by portal perfusion of the mice and egg number of liver was calculated. To evaluate whether protective immunity had been induced by preparations of DCs or macrophages, the worm burden and fertility ( eggs per female per mouse liver) were compared between the groups of mice. The antibody level against SEA was detected by ELISA. Results With respect to mice injected with untreated cells, numbers of worms and eggs per female worms were significantly reduced in the groups of mice having received pulsed DCs (26. 3% and 37.9%, respectively), or pulsed macrophages (22. 0% and 30.7%). Untreated DCs and macrophages induced no significant effects. The antibody level against SEA rose in sera of all groups of mice up to 42 days after the challenge, but most pronounced in those immunized with pulsed DCs, although this was not significantly different from other groups. Conclusion The results suggest that the protective immunity against S. japonicum might be induced by DCs to a higher extent than by macrophages after in vitro pulsing with egg antigen.
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   2005, 23 (5): 12-308.  
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Research progress on the immune evasion mechanism in Trichinella spiralis infection
ZHANG Xu, SUN Ximeng
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES    2023, 41 (4): 492-496.   DOI: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2023.04.016
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Trichinella spiralis infection can cause zoonotic trichinellosis that seriously endangers human health. During the entire T. spiralis life cycle stages, the parasite can manipulate the host's immune responses. The immune evasion mechanism, as a common natural selection mechanism, is an adaptation of pathogens to the immune system under natural selection. It enables the pathogens to relieve or alleviate the host's immune responses, avoid attacking from the immune system, and ensure that they can survive and reproduce. This paper reviewed the research advance of T. spiralis immune evasion mechanism in disturbing complement response, innate immune response, humoral immune response, and T cell immune response. Further research of the immune evasion mechanism of T. spiralis is of great significance for the prevention and control of trichinosis, the treatment of human autoimmune diseases, and allergic diseases.

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Gimenez Staining: A Rapid Method for Initial Identification of Legionella pneumophila in Amoeba Trophozoite
SHENJie;JIANGQing-wu;LIQing-xue;CHENHong-you;LIZi-hua
   2005, 23 (4): 13-242.  
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Objective To establish a rapid staining method for facilitating initial identification of Legionella pneumophila in amoebal trophozoite. Methods Acanthamoeba polyphaga and Legionella pneumophila were co-cultured under laboratory condition. At consecutive time points during the culture, smears of the cultured products were made on glass slides for staining purposes. Different types of stainings including Gram′s staining, Gimenez staining, Giemsa staining and immunofluorescence were used to determine the best method for the identification of amoebal pathogens. Results Gimenez staining technique is simpler and yields better results as compared with the other three stainings. Gimenez stain gives the best color and contrast for amoeba and amoebal Legionella Amoeba trophozoites and/or cysts showed a distinct purplish blue with amoebal Legionella in red. Amoebal Legionella can be distinguished clearly at an earlier time of co-culture, providing a proper sensitivity. It takes only 10 minutes to finish the operation. The other techniques require the use of expensive reagents, are relatively time-consuming, and involve complex staining procedures. Conclusion Gimenez staining is of value for the initial identification of amoebal pathogens, and it is suitable for laboratory diagnosis.
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Transcriptome analysis of mice brain chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii and validation of the kynurenine pathway associated with depression
ZHANG Chi, CHEN Jiating, XIN Zixuan, YANG Lili, YANG Zihan, PENG Hongjuan
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES    2023, 41 (3): 270-278.   DOI: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2023.03.002
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Objective To screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by comparing the transcriptome of the brain tissues between the mice chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii and normal mice, to analyze the relative transcription level of DEGs in the depression-related kynurenine (KYN) pathway and to provide a theoretical basis for exploring the mechanism of depression-like symptoms caused by Toxoplasma gondii chronic infecttion in mice. Methods SV129 male mice (n = 18) were randomly and equally divided into the infection group and the control group. Mice in the infection group were intraperitoneally injected with 120 tachyzoites of T. gondii ME49 strain (200 μl), and mice in the control group were injected with the same volume of PBS. After 3 months post-infection, mice brain tissues of the two groups were collected for extraction of total RNA to undertake transcriptome sequencing for screening DEG. With the DEGs obtained, cluster analysis, gene ontology (GO) functional annotation analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional annotation and enrichment analysis were performed. Eight DEGs [interferon-γ (IFN-γ), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), IDO2, kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KYNU), kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO), 3-hydroxyanthranilate 3,4-dioxygenase (3-HAO), vimentin (Vim) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)] related to KYN pathway associated with depression were selected to examine each gene’s relative transcription level by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), using glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene as an internal reference. Results Transcriptome sequencing found 2 295 DEGs in the brain of the mice from the infection and control groups, of which 2 016 were up-regulated and 279 were down-regulated. GO analysis showed that localisation was the most significantly enriched biological process, with a total of 257 DEGs. The most significantly enriched in cellular components was the protein-containing complex, with a total of 425 DEGs. The most significantly enriched molecular function was molecular transducer activity, with 177 DEGs. The largest number of DEGs enriched in biological process, cell component and molecular function were cell process, cell part and binding, with 1 039, 1 240 and 1 088 DEGs, respectively. KEGG analysis showed that the top three up-regulated metabolic pathways were the immune system, signaling transduction, and viral infectious disease, and the top three down-regulated pathways were signal transduction, signaling molecules and interaction and immune system. Functional enrichment analysis showed that 77 pathways were significantly enriched. The signaling pathways related to depression include tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, necroptosis, apoptosis, chemokine signaling pathway, KYN pathway. The qRT-PCR results showed that the relative transcription levels of IFN-γ, IDO1, IDO2, KYNU, KMO, 3-HAO and Vim genes in the infection group were 3 023.08%, 355.52%, 190.17%, 496.55%, 339.92%, 212.74% and 507.34%, if the relative transcript level of control mice was taken as 100%. Compared with the control group, the transcription was significantly up-regulated (t = 3.782, 3.749, 3.226, 2.908, 2.533, 5.656, 2.948; all P < 0.05 or 0.01). The relative transcription level of BDNF was 63.32%, which was significantly down-regulated (t = 2.398, P < 0.05). The fold change of IFN-γ, IDO1, IDO2, KYNU, KMO, 3-HAO, BDNF, Vim obtained by qRT-PCR was 4.96, 1.74, 0.89, 2.10, 1.60, 1.06, -0.94, 2.18, respectively. The fold change obtained by transcriptome sequencing was 7.30, 0.55, 0.80, 3.83, 2.75, 3.53, -0.86 and 1.93, respectively. The transcriptional trend obtained by qRT-PCR was consistent with that obtained by transcriptome sequencing. Conclusion DEGs from brain tissues of mice chronically infected with T. gondii were screened. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the immune response of central nervous system of the mice with chronic infection of T. gondii was continuously activated. Seven DEGs in KYN pathway related to depression showed up-regulated transcription level.

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Drug-regulation of PPAR-γ/RXR-α signal pathways on ameliorating lung injury induced by Paragonimus proliferus infection in rats
HUA Lijuan, LI Shenghao, CHANG Guoji, LIU Siqi, DING Jie, BAI Baoli, ZHANG Lu, WANG Qingqing
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES    2023, 41 (6): 691-698.   DOI: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2023.06.005
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Objective To explore the effect of drug-regulation on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ/retinoid X receptor-α (PPAR-γ/RXR-α) signalling pathway to improve lung injury caused by Paragonimus proliferus infection in rats. Methods The P. proliferus were isolated from crabs collected in Yunnan Province, and SD rats were infected with 8 metacercariae per rat via subcutaneous injection at abdominal wall. The infected rats were divided into the high-fat-diet group, rosiglitazone group and bexarotene group, with 10 rats in each group, and were given with high-fat-feeding (high-fat diet), rosiglitazone [3 mg/(kg·d)], bexarotene [10 mg/(kg·d)] by gavage for 7 days. The infected and healthy rats were used as the infection control group and healthy control group. On 28 d post-mediated, the rats were sacrificed to collect lung tissue and heart apical blood. The lung tissue sections were prepared and stained with hematoxylin-eosin to assess the tissue damage and score the alveolitis semi-quantitatively. Serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels were detected by ELISA. The lung tissue total protein was extracted for examining relative expression levels of PPAR-γ/RXR-α signalling pathway-related key target proteins indluding PPAR-γ, RXR-α, fatty acid transporter 3 (FATP3), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signalling pathway proteins [p65, activator protein (AP1)], janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signalling pathway proteins (JAK2, STAT3) by Western blotting. The inter-group data were compared using single-factor ANOVA analysis. Results All rats were successfully infected except 2 rats in the bexarotin group. Parasitic cysts were found in the lungs or the chest cavity. HE staining showed that in the infection control group, a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated the alveolar septum, the alveolar wall thickened, and the alveolar cavity collapsed or closed. In the high-fat diet group, obvious inflammation injury was shown. Compared with the infection control group, the alveolar cavity inflation was slightly improved. The inflammatory cells of alveolar septum in the rosiglitazone group and bexarotene group were significantly reduced. Compared to the infection control group, the degree of alveolar wall thickening was significantly reduced, and the alveolar cavity inflation was significantly improved. The semi-quantitative alveolitis scores were 0.300 ± 0.053, 2.200 ± 0.189, 1.900 ± 0.320, 1.300 ± 0.301 and 1.500 ± 0.112 (F = 12.033, P < 0.05) in the healthy control group, the infection control group, the high-fat diet group, the rosiglitazone group and the bexarotene group, respectively. ELISA tests show that serum IL-1β levels in the healthy control group, infected control group, high-fat diet group, rosiglitazone group and bexarotene group were (103.23 ± 3.37), (111.59 ± 20.49), (110.13 ± 12.95), (89.91 ± 14.84) and (96.34 ± 19.03) pg/ml, respectively. TNF-α levels were (144.81 ± 1.35), (180.21 ± 23.38), (171.76 ± 27.83), (155.37 ± 13.67) and (143.24 ± 23.66) pg/ml, respectively. There was a significant difference among the five groups (F = 17.236, 13.558; P < 0.05). Western blotting showed that in the lung tissue of rats in the healthy control group, the infection control group, high-fatdiet group, rosiglitazone group, and bexarotene group, PPAR-γ relative expression level were 0.51 ± 0.09, 0.67 ± 0.06, 0.75 ± 0.08, 0.34 ± 0.02 and 0.56 ± 0.04, respectively; RXR-α were 0.89 ± 0.05, 0.15 ± 0.03, 0.81 ± 0.09, 0.22 ± 0.02 and 0.61 ± 0.10, respectively; FATP3 were 0.59 ± 0.06, 0.64 ± 0.06, 0.68 ± 0.09, 0.59 ± 0.09 and 0.55 ± 0.03, respectively; ApoA1 were 0.58 ± 0.04, 0.83 ± 0.11, 0.92 ± 0.19, 0.71 ± 0.04 and 0.63 ± 0.08, respectively, and the differences among the five groups were statistically significant (F = 25.70, 67.12, 8.94, 11.58; All P < 0.05). P65 the relative expression level were 0.25 ± 0.19, 1.01 ± 0.21, 0.27 ± 0.15, 0.32 ± 0.01 and 0.22 ± 0.11, respectively; AP1 were 0.11 ±0.09, 1.12 ± 0.36, 0.08 ± 0.02, 0.03 ± 0.01 and 0.02 ± 0.01, respectively; JAK2 were 0.76 ± 0.18, 1.11 ± 0.24, 0.34 ± 0.06, 0.42 ± 0.01 and 0.35 ± 0.04, respectively; STAT3 were 0.80 ± 0.33, 1.11 ± 0.27, 0.68 ± 0.22, 0.77 ± 0.06 and 0.68 ± 0.19, respectively, the difference between the 5 groups were statistically significant (F = 43.77, 85.19, 37.22, 17.63; All P < 0.05). Among them, the relative expression levels of PPAR-γ, FATP3, ApoA1, p65, AP1, JAK2 and STAT3 in the infection control group were higher than those in the healthy control group, while those in rosiglitazone group and bexarotene group were lower than those in the infection control group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion A lung injury model of rat infected with P. proliferus was established. The rat model demonstrated that PPAR-γ/RXR-α signalling pathway plays an important role in the mechanism of lung injury caused by P. proliferus infection, and regulation of this signalling pathway by drugs may exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the NF-κB and JAK/STAT signalling pathways, thereby, reducing the extent of lung injury severity.

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   1994, 12 (S1): 250-251.  
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Effect of excretory-secretory antigen TPx of Cysticercus cellulosae on activation of dendritic cells in piglets
YE Jingming, HE Wei, LIU Huiyuan, YU Xiao, LUO Bo, LIU Meichen, ZHOU Biying
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES    2023, 41 (3): 286-293.   DOI: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2023.03.004
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Objective This study investigates the effect of thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx) in the excretory-secretory antigen (ESA) of Cysticercus cellulosae on activation of dendritic cell (DC) in piglets. Methods Healthy piglet medulla-derived DC were cultured in vitroo, in which lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added at a final concentration of 100 ng/ml on 7 d for stimulation for 2 days, and then continuously cultured for 2 more days to collect immature DC (imDC) and mature DC (mDC) separately. The morphological changes of DCs were observed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy on 1 to 9 d of culture. The expression of surface markers CD1 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC-Ⅱ) was detected by flow cytometry. The 7 d imDC was used in the assay with the assigned groups of negative control, TPx, ESA and LPS positive control, to which RPMI 1640 medium, TPx (50 μg/ml), ESA (50 μg/ml) and LPS (100 ng/ml) was added, respectively, to stimulate for 48 h for examining the expression of DC surface markers MHC-Ⅱ, CD80 and CD86 using flow cytometry and for detecting secretion levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-6), IL-10, IL-12 in DC culture supernatant by ELISA. One-way ANOVA was used for comparison between multiple groups, and LSD-t test was used for two-way comparison between groups. Results Under ligth microscope, imDC were ovoid in shape with single form at the first day of culture; with the extension of culture time, DC increased in size, appeared pseudopods and spines and other features, and changed from ovoid to irregular shape. Scanning electron microscopy showed that compared with imDC, mDC had irregular morphology, roughly long shuttle shape, and numerous protrusions of different lengths radiating from the cytosol, which were distributed in a dendritic pattern, a typical dendritic structure. Flow cytometry showed that the expression of CD1 and MHC-Ⅱ in imDC was (0.113 ± 0.005)% and (0.430 ± 0.016)%, respectively, which was lower than that of mDC (21.400 ± 0.327)% and (21.333 ± 0.450)% (t = 130.341, 92.906, both P < 0.05). The expression levels of MHC-Ⅱ, CD80, and CD86 in the TPx group were (15.300 ± 0.245)%, (22.900 ± 0.374)% and (13.033 ± 0.249)%, respectively, which were lower than those in the LPS positive control group (19.000 ± 0.374)%, (31.600 ± 0.082)%, and (21.300 ± 0.245)% (t = 11.53, 46.32, 43.84, all P < 0.05) and the ESA group (18.365 ± 0.618)%, (40.400 ± 0.356)% and (30.300 ± 0.283)%] (t = 9.55, 93.17, 91.57, all P < 0.05). The MHC-Ⅱ expression level in the TPx group was higher than that of the negative control group (12.133 ± 0.492)% (t = 9.87, P < 0.05). ELISA results showed that IL-6 level in DC of the TPx group was 15.682 ± 0.660, which was ower than that of 21.041 ± 0.901 in the control group (t = 6.51, P < 0.05); TNF-α (35.711 ± 4.196), IL-6, IL-10 (22.216 ± 1.357) and IL-12 (16.799 ± 0.523) were all lower than those of the LPS positive control group 169.037 ± 7.823, 42.118 ± 1.932, 34.730 ± 1.772, 52.504 ± 2.431 (t = 36.79, 32.09, 13.09, 35.05, all P < 0.05); IL-12 level were lower than that of the ESA group at 23.854 ± 1.020 (t = 6.93, P < 0.05). Conclusion TPx mediates immune tolerance by inducing high expression of DC surface molecules MHC-Ⅱ, low expression of CD80 and CD86, and reducing the secretion levels of IL-6.

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Effect of Clonorchis sinensis infection on hepatic fibrosis and immune regulation in mice
ZHAO Lei, LI Jia, MO Gang, LI Chun, HUANG Guoyang, PENG Xiaohong
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES    2023, 41 (6): 760-765.   DOI: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2023.06.015
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In order to further understand the liver fibrosis and immune regulatory changes in mice infected with Clonorchis sinensis, BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 2 groups with 30 mice in each group. The infected group were administered 200 μl normal saline with 150 C. sinensis metacercariae through oral gavage and the control group received 200 μl normal saline. Six mice were randomly selected for dissection at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks. The paraffin sections of the liver tissue were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson to observe the progression of fibrosis. The relative transcription level and actin alpha 2 (ACTA2) expression in the liver were detected by qRT-PCR and western blotting separately. The spleen tissue were weighed for calculating the spleen index (spleen weight per 10 g weight, mg/10 g). The flow cytometry was performed to detect the dynamical changes of CD4+ T cells, helper T1 (Th1) cells, Th2 cells, Th17 cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells in spleen. The secretion levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17A were quantified by cytometric bead array. The data was analyzed by GraphPad Prism 9.0. Two-way ANOVA was used for groups comparison and t test was used for pairwise comparison. The results showed that the mice weight decreased and spleen index increased after infected with C. sinensis and the inflammatory lesions were visible in liver tissue. HE staining showed that C. sinensis larvae and inflammatory cells could be found around the hepatobiliary duct at week 1 after infection. Masson staining revealed that the relative area of collagen fiber deposition was higher than the control group after infection (F = 20.190, P < 0.05). The qRT-PCR results showed that the hepatic ACTA2 relative transcription level of the infected group were higher than the control group at week 2, 4 and 16 after infection (t = 2.042, 2.475, 1.634; all P < 0.01) but lower than the control group at week 8 (t = 2.758, P < 0.05). Western blotting results showed that the hepatic ACTA2 protein relative expression level of the infected group were higher than the control group (F = 3.225, P < 0.01). The flow cytometry results showed that the percentage of splenic CD4+ T cells decreased to (13.4 ± 1.8)% at week 2 after infection and increased to (22.4 ± 1.5)% at week 16. The percentage of Th1 cells increased to (16.9 ± 5.3)% at week 2 and decreased to (3.9 ± 2.6)% at week 16. The percentage of Th2 cells decreased to (2.3 ± 0.6)% at week 4 and increased gradually after week 4. The percentage of Th17 cells increased to (5.3 ± 3.4)% at week 8 and decreased to (2.4 ± 1.4)% at week 16. The percentage of Treg cells decreased to (7.3 ± 1.5)% at week 4 and increased to (13.9 ± 1.2)% at week 16. The serum TNF content of infected group mice increased to (35.16 ± 11.28) pg/ml at week 1 after infection and decreased to (8.98 ± 1.66) pg/ml at week 8. The serum IL-6 content was higher than the control group after infection (t = 2.095, P < 0.05). The serum IL-2 content decreased to (0.09 ± 0.18) pg/ml at week 8 and increased to (3.81 ± 2.79) pg/ml at week 16 after infection. The content of serum IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-17A increased gradually after infection (F = 8.726, 8.068, 6.795, 14.840; all P < 0.05). As a conclusion, the dynamic changes of CD4+ T cells and serum cytokines were closely related to the hepatic fibrosis induced by C. sinensis.

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Research development of CRISPR/Cas9 system on parasitic studies
Yi-xiu FU, Qing-ming KONG, Shao-hong LU
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES    2017, 35 (3): 299-304.  
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CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/(CRISPR-associated protein 9) is an efficient genome editing system for targeted gene disruption, site-specific insertion of foreign DNA, gene repair, etc., which provides an innovation platform of technology for functional analysis of parasite genes and selection of drug targets and vaccine candidates. Here, we review the mechanism of CRISPR/Cas9 and some recent findings on the use of CRISPR/Cas9 in parasite research, particularly in studies of Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium, Trypanosoma and Leishmania. The challenges and optimization strategies of the CRISPR/Cas9 system at the present stage are also discussed.

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Research advances on the taxonomy of Anisakis, Anisakidae
CHEN Yao, ZHANG Benguang
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES    2023, 41 (4): 480-485.   DOI: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2023.04.014
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Anisakis is a zoonotic parasite that is widely distributed in marine areas around the world. The adult nematodes are mainly parasitic in dolphins, seals, whales and other marine mammals, and the larvae are mainly parasitic in fish, cephalopods and other small marineorganisms. If the larvae of Anisakis are eaten by humans, they can cause anisakiasis and harm health. The traditional morphological analysis method is unable to accurately identify anisakis, which hinders the in-depth study of Anisakis population. With the development and application of molecular biotechnology, many important achievements have been made in the study of Anisakis. In this paper, research progress on the life history, host preference, morphology of adults and larvae, molecular biology classification, global distribution of Anisakis nematodes was reviewed.

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Epidemiological analysis of soil-transmitted nematode infections in China in 2020
ZHANG Mizhen, HUANG Jilei, ZHU Huihui, ZHOU Changhai, ZHU Tingjun, QIAN Menbao, CHEN Yingdan, LI Shizhu
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES    2023, 41 (3): 331-335.   DOI: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2023.03.011
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Objective To understand the situation of soil-transmitted nematode infection in China in 2020 and provide support for evaluating the development of surveillance on soil-transmitted nematodiasis in various provinces/municipalities/autonomous regions, and improving and perfecting the control strategies. Methods Surveillance was carried out in 408 national surveillance sites (counties) in 31 provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions) in China in 2020. With the county as unit, each site was divided into 5 areas geographically: east, west, south, north, and central part, followed by selecting one township (town), and therein one administrative village was selected from wherein, 200 permanent residents over the age of 3 were sampled. A total of 1 000 people were surveyed at each surveillance site. Fecal samples were collected from the sampled villagers, and examined by using the modified Kato-Katz thick smear method (two slide-reading for each sample) for infection of hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Enterobius vermicularis, to calculate the infection rate and intensity, respectively. In addition, soil samples were collected from fields or vegetable gardens of each village in the survey site, and examined for hookworm larvae using 5% saline at 45 ℃, and for Ascaris eggs by saturated sodium nitrate flotation method. Results In 2020, the overall infection rate of soil-transmitted nematode in residents was 0.84% (3 485/415 672) in 408 surveillance sites of 31 provinces (municipalities/autonomous regions), with the highest found in Hainan (6.34%, 199/3 141), followed by Yunnan (5.80%, 963/16 616) and Sichuan (3.66%, 592/16 168); infection rate in females was 0.91% (1 944/213 591), which was higher than that of 0.76% in males (1 541/202 081) (χ2 = 27.20, P < 0.01). The soil-transmitted nematode infection rate was the highest in the age group ≥ 60-years-old, which is 1.26% (1 376/109 251). The difference between each age group was statistically significant (χ2 = 382.28, P < 0.01). The infection rates of hookworm, A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura were 0.51% (2 016/415 672), 0.19% (805/415 672) and 0.16% (673/415 672), respectively. Among them, hookworm and T. trichiura had only mildly infected cases. The proportions of mild and moderate A. lumbricoides infections were 99.25% (799/805) and 0.75% (6/805), respectively. In 2020, 2 604 soil samples were examined and found that the positive rate of Ascaris eggs and hookworms was 3.07% (80/2 604) and 2.42% (63/2 604), respectively. Conclusion In 2020, the infection rate of soil-transmitted nematode in China remains at a low level in general, but the regional differences are still significant, and the areas with high infection rates still exist. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the control measures for the key groups of people over age of 60, women and children, and carry out health education.

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Biological Features of a New Echinococcus Species (Echinococcusshiquicus) in the East of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
XIAONing*;QIUJia-min;NakaoM;LITiao-ying;CHENXing-wang;SchantzPM;CraigPS;ItoA
   2008, 26 (4): 15-312.  
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In the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region, a variety of domestic and wild mammals are involved in the transmission cycles of Echinococcus species. E. granulosus and E. multilocularis are known being sympatrically distributed in the plateau region. Recently, an unknown Echinococcus species was isolated from infected plateau pika (Ochotona curz-oniae) and Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata). The species shows quite distinct characteristics on morphology,genetics, host specificity and geographical distribution from others. It was therefore identified as a new Echinococcus species, Echinococcus shiquicus. This paper discussed the biological genetics and epidemiological features of the species, and proposed hypotheses and considerations for further exploration.
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A brief cognitive and historical overview of Echinococcus and echinococcosis
WANG Xu, WANG Ying, LIU Baixue, ZHANG Kaige, DENG Xueying, SHEN Yujuan, WANG Zhenghuan, CAO Jianping, HAN Shuai
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES    2024, 42 (3): 372-383.   DOI: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2024.03.014
Abstract202)   HTML24)    PDF(pc) (1520KB)(524)       Save

Echinococcosis is a kind of parasitic zoonosis that seriously endangers human health and economic development, which is mainly caused by the parasitization and development of the Echinococcus larvae in the intermediate host. According to current research advances, the globally identified Echinococcus includes 9 valid natural species, which can cause 4 types of echinococcosis. This consensus has evolved alongside the development of research methods and scientific technology over the past two thousand years. Therefore, this article introduced the whole process of human exploration, recognition and cognition of Echinococcus and echinococcosis by summarizing and combing references. The landmark historical event is that in 1801, Rudolphi established an independent genus of Echinococcus for this flatworm. After that, several species of Echinococcus have been found in the world successively. In 1953, Rausch re-classified Echinococcus based on biological characteristics and gradually developed the concept and classification method of subspecies for Echinococcus; in 1967, Rausch further proposed the concept of Echinococcus strains, which was confirmed in the 1990s by Bowles through molecular biological methods. In 2013, Nakao introduced the phylogenetic species concept, revising Echinococcus into nine valid natural species that are still in use today. In addition, this paper summarized the discovery history of Echinococcus and echinococcosis in China. Since 1908, five species of Echinococcus have been reported in China, including E. shiquicus, which was unique to the Qingzang Gaoyuan region. This article provides a systematic review of the historical understanding of Echinococcus and echinococcosis, summarizing extensive historical data to further comprehend the taxonomic research advancements of Echinococcus.

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Achievements and Challenges in Schistosomiasis Control in China
ZHENGJiang
   2009, 27 (5): 5-401.  
Abstract1459)      PDF(pc) (276KB)(1966)       Save
Achievements for schistosomiasis control have been gained by implementation of integrated control strategies according to local conditions since the founding of the People′s Republic of China. By the end of 2008, 5 of the 12 provinces reached the criteria of transmission interruption. Among 454 endemic counties, transmission was interrupted in 265 counties while 97 counties reached the criteria of transmission control. The number of schistosomiasis cases decreased from 10 million in history to 413 000. Currently, there still left 92 counties where the disease is endemic and mainly distributed in lake and mountainous regions. Limited by the environmental and socio-economic factors, integrated control strategies could not be carried out in these places. Although the strategies based on reducing the roles of humans and cattle as resources of infection decreased the infection rate and intensity quickly, re-infection occurred frequently due to the spread of snails and numerous animal reservoirs. Chemotherapy alone could not interrupt the transmission. By changing the traditional biomedical control model, applying integrated control strategy mainly with social measures, integrating disease control with local social and economic development programs, changing the traditional life styles and agricultural production patterns, and eliminating the risk factors for schistosmiasis transmission, schistosomiasis control can be developed sustainably and reach the criteria of transmission interruption finally.
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