OBJECTIVE: To investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody, and to examine the correlation between the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province in 2020, so as to provide insights into advanced schistosomiais control in the province. METHODS: The epidemiological data of schistosomiasis in Hunan Province in 2020 were collected, including number of permanent residents in survey villages, number of advanced schistosomiasis patients, number of residents receiving serological tests and number of residents seropositive for anti-Schistosoma antibody, and the prevalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody were descriptively analyzed. Village-based spatial distribution characteristics of prevalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody were identified in Hunan Province in 2020, and the correlation between the revalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody was examined using Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis was 0 to 2.72% and the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody was 0 to 20.25% in 1 153 schistosomiasis-endemic villages in Hunan Province in 2020. Spatial clusters were identified in both the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis (global Moran's I = 0.416, P < 0.01) and the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody (global Moran's I = 0.711, P < 0.01) in Hunan Province. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis identified 98 schistosomiasis-endemic villages with high-high clusters of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis, 134 endemic villages with high-high clusters of the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody and 36 endemic villages with high-high clusters of both the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province. In addition, spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody (r_s = 0.235, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS There were spatial clusters of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province in 2020, which were predominantly located in areas neighboring the Dongting Lake. These clusters should be given a high priority in the schistosomiasis control programs.
Animals ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Schistosomiasis/epidemiology* ; Schistosoma ; Spatial Analysis ; Antibodies, Helminth ; China/epidemiology*

Clonorchis sinensis is a liver fluke and it is the most prevalent human parasite in Korea at present. The parasite infection induces immune responses, characteristically an increased production of parasite-specific IgE in the host. Major IgE-reacting C. sinensis antigens in infected humans have been protein bands with MWs of 15, 28, 37, 45, 51, 56, 62, 66, 74, 97 and 160 KD identified by immunoblot analysis. Individual variations of the IgE binding pattern to C. sinensis antigens have also been documented. Using immune BALB/c mouse sera, IgE-reacting protein bands have been visualized with MWs of 28, 74, 86, 160 and several > 200 KD. One of the most strongly reacted C. sinensis antigenic proteins with a molecular weight of 28 KD was purified by gel filtration and preparative electrophoresis. Using a monoclonal antibody produced against the antigenic protein, the protein was localized in the parasite's intestine, and also found to be contained in excretory-secretory antigens.
Animal ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigens, Helminth/immunology* ; Antigens, Helminth/analysis* ; Clonorchis sinensis/immunology* ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Human ; IgE/immunology* ; Immunoblotting ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

Three dogs were experimentally infected with Dirofilaria immitis. All dogs were euthanised at 30, 36 and 37 weeks after inoculation of D. immitis for the recovery of adult worms. Three cases accounted to 42.91 % recovery of inoculated worms. Serum samples from dogs experimentally inoculated with D. immitis were analyzed by ELISA and immunoblotting methods. Antibody titers of dogs detected by ELISA peaked between 7 and 14 weeks then decreased between weeks 15 to 24 followed by another increase during weeks 25 to 30 and persisted throughout the remainde of the experiment period. Analysis of adult D. immitis protein stained with Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 indicated separately more than 10 bands, and the major bands were 22, 40, 46, 56, 70, 72 and 89 kDa. Antigenic identification of extracts antigens of adults D. immitis by immunoblotting analysis revealed several bands from pooled sera of patent infection (30 weeks after inoculation). The detected bands were 24, 70, 80 and 110 kDa, 22, 72 and 84 kDa, and 58 and 72 kDa in dogs 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Results of antibody titers reached high levels on the 4th molting stage after inoculation of infective larva (L3), and reinforced previous findings that high molecular weight regions are detected in young animals.
Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/analysis ; Antigens, Helminth/analysis/chemistry ; Autopsy ; Dirofilaria immitis/chemistry/*immunology ; Dirofilariasis/*immunology/parasitology ; Dog Diseases/*immunology/*parasitology ; Dogs/*immunology/*parasitology ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Immunoblotting ; Male ; Time Factors

Rats develop strong resistance to re-infection and super-infection by Clonorchis sinensis. The present study investigated the antibodies present in the sera and bile juice of rats that were primary infected and re-infected with C. sinensis. The serum level of specific IgG antibodies, which were elevated 2 wk of the primary infection, peaked at 4 wk and subsequently remained unchanged even during re-infection. The total IgE level in serum increased slowly from 388 ng / ml to 3,426 ng / ml beginning 2 wk after the primary infection, and remained high up to 8 wk but dropped to a normal level (259 ng / ml) after treatment. In resistant re-infected rats, the serum IgE level increased rapidly and peaked within 1 wk, whereas no increase was observed in immunosuppressed rats. The serum level of specific IgA antibodies was elevated beginning 1 wk after infection, and decreased 4 wk after treatment. The total bile IgA level unchanged during the primary infection but increased in treated and re-infected rats. The elevated levels of serum IgE and bile IgA indicate that these immunoglobulins may be correlated with the development of resistance to re-infection by C. sinensis in rats.
Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/analysis/*blood/*immunology/metabolism ; Bile/*immunology ; Clonorchiasis/blood/*immunology ; Clonorchis sinensis/*immunology/*physiology ; Immunoglobulin A/analysis/blood ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

Rats develop strong resistance to re-infection and super-infection by Clonorchis sinensis. The present study investigated the antibodies present in the sera and bile juice of rats that were primary infected and re-infected with C. sinensis. The serum level of specific IgG antibodies, which were elevated 2 wk of the primary infection, peaked at 4 wk and subsequently remained unchanged even during re-infection. The total IgE level in serum increased slowly from 388 ng / ml to 3,426 ng / ml beginning 2 wk after the primary infection, and remained high up to 8 wk but dropped to a normal level (259 ng / ml) after treatment. In resistant re-infected rats, the serum IgE level increased rapidly and peaked within 1 wk, whereas no increase was observed in immunosuppressed rats. The serum level of specific IgA antibodies was elevated beginning 1 wk after infection, and decreased 4 wk after treatment. The total bile IgA level unchanged during the primary infection but increased in treated and re-infected rats. The elevated levels of serum IgE and bile IgA indicate that these immunoglobulins may be correlated with the development of resistance to re-infection by C. sinensis in rats.
Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/analysis/*blood/*immunology/metabolism ; Bile/*immunology ; Clonorchiasis/blood/*immunology ; Clonorchis sinensis/*immunology/*physiology ; Immunoglobulin A/analysis/blood ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo assess the feasibility of using saliva for Schistosomiasis japonica diagnosis.

METHODSSchistosoma japonicum infected animal model was established. Pairs of saliva and serum samples from rabbits and chronic schistosomiasis patients were collected. Anti-schistosoma specific antibodies in saliva and serum were detected by indirect ELISA.

RESULTSThe specificities of antibody detection of rabbit saliva and serum were 93% (28/30) and 97% (29/30), respectively, and the sensitivities of antibody detection of rabbit serum and saliva were 100% (24/24) and 88% (21/24), respectively. A significant correlation (r = 0.5307, P = 0.0038 < 0.05) existed between anti-SEA IgG levels in serum and saliva. As with those in serum, anti-SEA IgG levels in saliva could reflect the state of infection and treatment. The sensitivity of antibody detection was 91% (29/32) for patient saliva samples and 100% (32/32) for their sera. 8 samples were positive in 140 normal saliva samples (i.e. 6% false positive rate) and 6 samples were positive in 156 normal serum samples (4% false positive rate). There was a significant correlation (r = 0.4227, P = 0.008 < 0.05) between specific antibodies in saliva and serum.

CONCLUSIONThe detection of specific antibodies in saliva can be used as a non-invasive immunodiagnosis method of Schistosomiasis japonica.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; analysis ; Child ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rabbits ; Saliva ; immunology ; Schistosoma japonicum ; immunology ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; diagnosis

Paramyosin is a myofibrillar protein present in helminth parasites and plays multifunctional roles in host-parasite interactions. In this study, we identified the gene encoding paramyosin of Clonorchis sinensis (CsPmy) and characterized biochemical and immunological properties of its recombinant protein. CsPmy showed a high level of sequence identity with paramyosin from other helminth parasites. Recombinant CsPmy (rCsPmy) expressed in bacteria had an approximate molecular weight of 100 kDa and bound both human collagen and complement 9. The protein was constitutively expressed in various developmental stages of the parasite. Imunofluorescence analysis revealed that CsPmy was mainly localized in the tegument, subtegumental muscles, and the muscle layer surrounding the intestine of the parasite. The rCsPmy showed high levels of positive reactions (74.6%, 56/75) against sera from patients with clonorchiasis. Immunization of experimental rats with rCsPmy evoked high levels of IgG production. These results collectively suggest that CsPmy is a multifunctional protein that not only contributes to the muscle layer structure but also to non-muscular functions in host-parasite interactions. Successful induction of host IgG production also suggests that CsPmy can be applied as a diagnostic antigen and/or vaccine candidate for clonorchiasis.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animal Structures/chemistry ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/blood ; Cloning, Molecular ; Clonorchis sinensis/chemistry/*genetics ; Collagen/metabolism ; Complement C9/metabolism ; Helminth Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Protein Binding ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Tropomyosin/chemistry/*genetics/immunology/metabolism

In December 2011, we reported an autochthonous case of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in a 42-year-old woman in Korea. The diagnosis was based on histopathological findings of the surgically resected liver cyst. In the present study, we evaluated the serological and molecular characteristics of this Korean E. multilocularis case. The patient's serum strongly reacted with affinity-purified native Em18 and recombinant Em18 antigens (specific for E. multilocularis) but negative for recombinant antigen B8/1 (reactive for Echinococcus granulosus). In immunoaffinity chromatography, the serum also strongly reacted with E. multilocularis and only weakly positive for E. granulosus. We determined the whole nucleotide sequence of cox1 (1,608 bp) using the paraffin-embedded cystic tissue which was compared with E. multilocularis isolates from China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Austria, France, and Slovakia. The Korean case showed 99.8-99.9% similarity with isolates from Asia (the highest similarity with an isolate from Sichuan, China), whereas the similarity with European isolates ranged from 99.5 to 99.6%.
Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/*blood ; Antigens, Helminth/genetics/*immunology/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Echinococcosis, Hepatic/*immunology/parasitology ; Echinococcosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis/genetics/immunology ; Echinococcus granulosus/genetics/immunology ; Echinococcus multilocularis/genetics/*immunology/isolation & purification ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Republic of Korea ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

A 52-year-old woman presented with lower back pain, progressive symmetrical paraparesis with sensory impairment, and sphincter disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the whole spine revealed multiple intradural extramedullary serpiginous-mass lesions in the subarachnoid space continuously from the prepontine to the anterior part of the medulla oblongata levels, C7, T2-T8, and T12 vertebral levels distally until the end of the theca sac and filling-in the right S1 neural foramen. Sparganosis was diagnosed by demonstration of the sparganum in histopathological sections of surgically resected tissues and also by the presence of serum IgG antibodies by ELISA. DNA was extracted from unstained tissue sections, and a partial fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene was amplified using a primer set specific for Spirometra spp. cox1. After sequencing of the PCR-amplicon and alignment of the nucleotide sequence data, the causative agent was identified as the larva of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei.
Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/blood ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Helminth Proteins/genetics ; Histocytochemistry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polyradiculopathy/*pathology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sparganosis/*diagnosis/*pathology ; Spine/radiography ; Spirometra/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification

Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) infections affect domestic dogs, cats, and various wild mammals with increasing incidence in temperate and tropical areas. More sensitive antibody detection methodologies are required to diagnose asymptomatic dirofilariasis with low worm burdens. Applying current transcriptomic technologies would be useful to discover potential diagnostic markers for D. immitis infection. A filarial homologue of the mammalian translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) was initially identified by screening the assembled transcriptome of D. immitis (DiTCTP). A BLAST analysis suggested that the DiTCTP gene shared the highest similarity with TCTP from Loa loa at protein level (97%). A histidine-tagged recombinant DiTCTP protein (rDiTCTP) of 40 kDa expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) showed immunoreactivity with serum from a dog experimentally infected with heartworms. Localization studies illustrated the ubiquitous presence of rDiTCTP protein in the lateral hypodermal chords, dorsal hypodermal chord, muscle, intestine, and uterus in female adult worms. Further studies on D. immitis-derived TCTP are warranted to assess whether this filarial protein could be used for a diagnostic purpose.
Animal Structures/chemistry ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/blood ; Antigens, Helminth/chemistry/*genetics/immunology/*isolation & purification ; Cloning, Molecular ; Dirofilaria immitis/chemistry/*genetics/immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Gene Expression ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry/genetics/immunology/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tumor Markers, Biological/chemistry/*genetics/immunology/*isolation & purification