The prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection among preschool children was reported to be low based on a 5-year screening program in Taipei City, Taiwan. The Taipei City government intended to terminate the E. vermicularis screening program among preschool children. Thus, we were entrusted with confirming whether pinworm infections among preschool children in Taipei City had truly declined. From each of 12 administrative districts 2-3 kindergartens were randomly selected for investigation. In total, 4,349 children were examined, of which 2,537 were boys and 1,812 were girls. The cellophane tape adhered to a glass slide was used, and all examinations were done by certified medical technologists. Results indicated that the overall prevalence rate of pinworm infections was 0.62% (27/4,349). Although the infection rate was higher among boys (0.67%, 17/2,537) than in girls (0.55%, 10/1,812), no significant difference was found (chi2 = 0.399, P = 0.62). According to the administrative district, the infection rate ranged from no positive cases of E. vermicularis infection in the Xinyi, Zhongzhen, and Wanhua Districts (0%; 0/299, 0/165, and 0/358, respectively), to 0.26% (1/131) in Songshan District, with the highest rate of 1.88% (7/373) in Wenshan District. Because the overall infection rate (0.62%, 27/4,349) in the present study was unchanged compared to that (0.40%, 197/49,541) previously reported in 2005, we propose that regular pinworm screening and treatment programs should be continued in some parts of Taipei City.
Animals ; Child Day Care Centers ; Child, Preschool ; Enterobiasis/*epidemiology ; Enterobius/*isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy/methods ; Prevalence ; Taiwan/epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the gene prevalence and spectrum of alpha- and beta-thalassemia in Fujian province.

METHODSA total of 11 234 of neonatal cord blood samples were collected for a prevalence study of alpha- and beta-thalassemia. All subjects included in this study were registered in 9 cities of Fujian province. A complete blood count and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were performed in all samples, with microcytosis (MCV≤ 79 f1 and MCH≤ 27 pg) or HPLC positive cases further studied by DNA analysis. alpha- and beta-thalassemia were determined by using gap-PCR and reverse dot blot (RDB) assays. Unknown positive samples were analyzed directly with DNA sequencing.

RESULTSOf all 11 234 cord blood samples, 356 were identified as from alpha-thalassemia gene carriers, 7 deletion genotypes were identified including 236 (--SEA/ α α) cases, 67 (α 3.7/ α α) cases, 24 (alpha 4.2/alpha alpha) cases, 3 (alpha 3.7/ SEA) cases, 1 (alpha 4.2/ SEA) cases, 1 (alpha 3.7/ alpha 3.7) cases, 1 (alpha 3.7/ alpha 4.2) cases; 3 non-deletion genotypes were detected, including 7 (alpha alpha QS/ alpha alpha) cases, 3 (α α CS/α α) cases, 2 (α α WS/ α α) cases, the most common mutation was SEA/α α, which accounted for 66.29%, 148 individuals were found to have beta-hemoglobin gene mutations. 12 different mutations were identified, namely 65 IVS-2 654 (C>T) cases, 40 CD41-42(-TCTT, 12 CD17(A>T) cases, 10 -28(A>G) cases,7 CD27-28(+C) cases, 5 start codon ATG>AGG cases, 2 CD26(G>A) cases, 1 CD71-72(+A) cases, 1 IVS-1-1(G>T) cases, 1 CD43(G>T) cases, 2 -29(A>G) cases, 2 Codon 36 (-C) cases, the most common mutation was IVS-2 654(C>T) and CD41-42(-TCTT), which accounted for 70.95%. A novel beta-globin gene mutation CD36 (-C) allele was also detected. The carrier rate of thalassemia in Fujian population is 4.41%. In addition, 9 beta-thalassemia carriers were found with alpha-thalassemia mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe research has revealed the type of gene mutations in alpha- and beta-talassemia in Fujian province. The beta-thalassemia mutations in Fujian province are complex, which were also obviously heterogeneous. This will significant value for screening the incidence, provide the valuable information for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Young Adult ; alpha-Thalassemia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; beta-Globins ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; epidemiology ; genetics