Abstract: Objective To investigate the prevalence of C580Y mutation of kelch13 gene in the imported P. falciparum cases in Wuhan City, China, and to provide a reference basis for the prevention and treatment of imported falciparum malaria. Methods From 2009 to 2015, blood samples were collected from returnees who infected with P. falciparum in endemic areas of Africa and Southeast Asia in Wuhan City. The P. falciparum DNA was extracted from the blood samples, and kelch13 gene was amplified by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and the distribution of C580Y mutation was analyzed. Results C580Y mutation was detected in 16 of the 208 cases tested by LAMP. No mutations were detected in 69 cases of imported falciparum malaria from Africa during 2009-2012, while 13 cases of the C580Y mutation were detected in 114 cases from 2013 to 2015, with a mutation rate of 11.4%. The mutation rate in South Africa, West Africa, and Central Africa was 12.5%, 9.6%, and 19.0%, respectively, with no mutations detected in cases from North Africa and East Africa. Among the 25 cases of falciparum malaria from Southeast Asia between 2009 and 2013, three cases were positive for the C580Y mutation, all from Myanmar, with a mutation rate of 14.3% (3/21) in Myanmar and 12.0% (3/25) in Southeast Asia. There was no significant difference in the mutation rate between Africa and Southeast Asia after 2013 (P>0.05). Conclusions Our findings highlight the varying degrees of C580Y mutations of kelch13 gene in imported P. falciparum cases in Wuhan and suggest the need for enhanced monitoring and evaluation of related resistance genes.

Objective To investigate the Oncomelania hupensis snail control effect of schistosomiasis control engineering in marshland within Wuhan City. Methods The engineering measures including surface barrier removal,molluscicide,flatting surface,topsoil stripping,topsoil covering and ditch renovation were applied to transform Hankou marshland. Then the corre-sponding technical parameters of engineering measures were put forward. The situation of snails was analyzed before and after the transform project. Results The total length and area of the project were 6015 m and 87.21 hm2,respectively,including 17.44 hm2 of topsoil landfill,52.08 hm2 of topsoil covering and 23 new ditches. After the transformation,the average length of the new groove,the groove top width,groove depth,height difference,and the average values of slopes and ditch bottom slope were all increased,while the average values of the width and height of the ditch were decreased. At the same time,the marsh-land beach surface had a new slope that the embankment was higher than the river and no living O. hupensis snails were found then. Conclusions The snail breeding environment in Hankou marshland has been effectively changed by the project. Howev-er,the constant monitoring and engineering management are still needed to consolidate the effect.

Objective To understand the prevalence of Capillaria hepatica in rodents from Wuhan section of the Yangtze River marshland. Methods Rodents were trapped in Jiang an section of Wuhan marshland of the Yangtze River. The livers of the rodents were examined for pathological changes by unaided eyes and the liver tissues were examined for the eggs of C. hepati-ca by a microscope. Results According to the natural conditions the investigation was carried out in 6 survey areas. Each sur-vey area was placed with 60 mousetraps and all 360 mousetraps were recovered. A total of 31 rodents rodent density 8.61%were captured and examined including 24 Apodemus agrarius 3 Rattus norvegicus 4 Sorex caecutiens and C. hepatica eggs were found in 1 R. norvegicus 1/3 and not found in A. agrarius and S. caecutiens. Conclusion This study has documented a prevalence of C. hepatica in rodents from Wuhan section of the Yangtze River marshland where is a natural epidemic focus of ca-pillariasis hepatica.

Objective To analyze the trends in Oncomelania hupensis distribution in Wuhan City, Hubei Province from 2003 to 2022, so as to provide insights into precision schistosomiasis control. Methods Data pertaining to O. hupensis snail survey in Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 were collected. The trends in the proportion of areas with snail habitats, actual area with snail habitats, mean density of living snails and prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection in snails were evaluated in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 with the slope of trend curve (β), annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) using a Joinpoint regression model. Results During the period from 2003 through 2022, there were two turning points for the proportion of areas with snail habitats in Wuhan City in 2005 and 2015, with a rise during the period from 2003 to 2005 (β₁ = 5.93, t = 1.280, P > 0.05), a decline from 2005 to 2015 (β₂ = −0.88, t = −2.074, P > 0.05) and a rise from 2015 to 2022 (β₃ = 1.46, t = −2.356, P < 0.05). During the period from 2003 through 2022, there were two turning points for the proportion of areas with snail habitats in islet endemic areas of Wuhan City in 2006 and 2015, with no significant differences in the trends from 2003 to 2006 (β₁ = 4.64, t = 1.888, P > 0.05) or from 2006 to 2015 (β₂ = −1.45, t = −2.143, P > 0.05), and with a tendency towards a rise from 2015 to 2022 (β₃ = 2.04, t = −3.100, P < 0.05). During the period from 2003 through 2022, there were two turning points for the proportion of areas with snail habitats in inner embankment endemic areas of Wuhan City in 2012 and 2020, with a tendency towards a decline from 2003 to 2012 (β₁ = −0.39, t = −4.608, P < 0.05) and with no significant differences in the trends from 2012 to 2020 (β₂ = 0.03, t = 0.245, P > 0.05) and from 2020 to 2022 (β₃ = 1.38, t = 1.479, P > 0.05). During the period from 2003 to 2022, the actual area with snail habitats all appeared a tendency towards a decline in Wuhan City, and in islet and inner embankment endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (AAPC = −2.39%, −5.75% and −2.35%, all P values < 0.05). The mean density of living snails reduced from 0.087 snails/0.1 m² in 2003 to 0.027 snails/0.1 m² in 2022 in Wuhan City, with a significant difference in the tendency towards the decline (APC = AAPC = −11.47%, P < 0.05). The annual mean decline rate of the mean density of living snails was 17.36% in outside embankment endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (APC = AAPC = −17.36%, P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the trends in the mean density of living snails in islet endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (APC = AAPC = −0.97%, P > 0.05). In addition, the prevalence of S. japonicum infection in snails appeared a tendency towards a decline in Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (APC = AAPC = −12.45%, P < 0.05). Conclusions The proportion of areas with snail habitats, actual area with snail habitats, mean density of living snails and prevalence of S. japonicum infection in snails all appeared a tendency towards a decline in Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022. Intensified snail control, modification of snail habitats, shrinking of areas with snails and implementation of grazing prohibition in snail-infested settings are required, in order to facilitate the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in Wuhan City.