There have been numerous reports on the relationship between eosinophilia and toxocariasis. The present study investigated seropositive rates of toxocariasis among healthy people with or without eosinophilia in urban and rural areas, and assessed risk factors for positive antibody test. A total of 610 healthy people, who visited health check-up (Medicheck(R), Korea Association of Health Promotion), 310 from Seoul and 300 from Gyeongsangnam-do, were subjected for this study. Their serum samples were tested by ELISA with the crude antigen of Toxocara canis larvae. Cross-reactions with other tissue invading helminth antigens were also investigated. Total antibody positive rate of toxocariasis was 8.7% of the 610 subjects. When the subjects were grouped into 3 by their eosinophil counts, the antibody positive rates significantly differed by the groups; 5.9% (18/306) in the group<350/microL, 10.0% (11/110) in the group 350-500/microL, and 12.4% (24/194) in the group>500/microL (P=0.028). A total of 22 serum samples cross-reacted with other tissue-invading helminth antigens. A questionnaire analysis recognized drinking alcohol and smoking as significant risk factors of toxocariasis. In conclusion, toxocariasis antibody positive rate is correlated with eosinophil counts. It is recommended that healthy subjects with eosinophilia by routine health examination and risk factors undergo Toxocara serology by multiantigen ELISA to investigate etiology.
Age Distribution ; Comorbidity ; Eosinophilia/*diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population/*statistics & numerical data ; Serologic Tests/statistics & numerical data ; Sex Distribution ; Toxocariasis/*diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Urban Population/*statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of serum mannose binding lectin (MBL) levels in Han ethnic group children.

METHODSThe concentrations of MBL in serum were measured by ELISA in 268 umbilical cord blood specimens from Chongqing, Wuhan and Urumqi as well as in serum of 470 normal children aged from 0 to 6 years and 87 adults in Chongqing.

RESULTSThe distribution of serum MBL levels in children (28 days to 6 years) was abnormal but there was no significant difference in MBL serum levels in subjects of different ages and genders. The median concentration of MBL in serum was significantly lower in newborns (median: 1597 microg/L, range: 884 - 1825 microg/L), cord blood group (median: 1462 microg/L, range: 0 - 4604 microg/L) than in other groups (children group median: 2536 microg/L, range 0 - 7860 microg/L; adult group median: 2920 microg/L, range 98 - 6495 microg/L). While among the other sub-groups aged from 28 days-6 years (28 day group median 2299 microg/L, range 214 - 4195 microg/L; 6 months-group median 2622 microg/L, range 5 - 4637 microg/L; 2 years-6 years group 2585 microg/L, range 198 - 7860 microg/L), there was no statistically significant difference. The median serum MBL level in normal children aged from 28 days to 6 years was 2563 microg/L and the P(2.5)-P(97.5) was 171 - 5079 microg/L.

CONCLUSIONSThe distribution of serum MBL levels in children (28 days to 6 years) was abnormal type but there was no statistically significant difference among different age and sex groups. The reference value of P(2.5)-P(97.5) in children (28 days-6 years) was 171 - 5079 microg/L.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; blood ; Reference Values ; Serologic Tests ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

In 2013, the first dengue fever (DF) outbreak in central China was reported in the central of Henan province, northern temperate regions, although they have been sequentially recorded in Southern China. 106 suspected DF cases were reported and 73 patients were confirmed dengue virus type 3 (DEN-3) infections. 62/392 (15.8%) local health persons showed DEN antibodies positive. To this day Henan is the northernmost province in China which has been reported about outbreak of DF and what is important is that it warns us the endemic range of DF has been expanded geographically in China.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Dengue ; epidemiology ; virology ; Dengue Virus ; isolation & purification ; Disease Outbreaks ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Serologic Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prevalence rates and associated risk factors on HIV, syphilis, herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) among female sex workers (FSWs) in Jiaozhou, Shandong province.

METHODSThrough convenient sampling, an anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted on female sex workers to collect related information. Blood specimens were drawn for serological tests on HIV, syphilis and HSV-2 antibodies, respectively. Patients with positive results from both treponema pallidum and HSV-2 tested by ELISA method, were defined as being superinfected.

RESULTSA total of 460 FSWs were recruited in this study. The prevalence rates of HIV, syphilis, HSV-2, and syphilis/HSV-2 superinfection were 0.22% , 5.9% , 43.0% , and 11.7% , respectively. Among the methamphetamine users, the prevalence rates of syphilis, HSV-2, and syphilis/HSV-2 superinfection were 12.4%, 55.2%, and 22.9%, respectively. Results from multivariate analysis showed that factors that significantly associated with syphilis infection would include: methamphetamine use (OR = 3.61, 95% CI:1.62-8.06), having first commercial sex intercourse at under 20 years of age (OR = 2.80, 95% CI:1.15-6.85), more than 2 establishments that the FSWs worked in the last month (OR = 4.37, 95%CI:0.83-22.83). Factors associated with HSV-2 infection were methamphetamine use (OR = 2.30, 95%CI:1.43-3.70), having first commercial sex intercourse at under 20 years of age (OR = 1.77, 95% CI:1.16-2.69), working at low-end establishments (OR = 2.61, 95%CI:1.66-4.10), working at the local sex-work venues for more than one year (OR = 2.01, 95% CI:1.28-3.14), with low education backgrounds (OR = 2.27, 95% CI:1.18-4.36), using methamphetamine (OR = 3.95, 95% CI:2.09-7.44), low education background (OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.10-5.36), 21-30 year-olds (OR = 2.95, 95%CI:1.08-8.03), older than 31 years of age (OR = 7.05, 95% CI:2.48-20.01) etc., were independent risk factors associated with the superinfection of syphilis and HSV-2.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence rates of syphilis, HSV-2 and syphilis/HSV-2 superinfection were relatively high among FSWs in Jiaozhou, especially among the FSWs who were methamphetamine users.

Age Distribution ; Amphetamine-Related Disorders ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Educational Status ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; HIV Seropositivity ; Herpes Genitalis ; epidemiology ; Herpesvirus 2, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Methamphetamine ; administration & dosage ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Serologic Tests ; Sex Work ; Sex Workers ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Superinfection ; epidemiology ; Syphilis ; epidemiology ; Treponema pallidum ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo understand the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in urban and rural areas of Beijing using the serological method.

METHODSTotally 589 serum samples were collected from children in Beijing urban and rural areas who were 0--14 years old and tested with Viron-Seron ELISA classic EBV virus capsid antigen IgG antibody (EBV VCA IgG) kit. Optical density of serum samples was obtained at the wavelength of 405 nanometers. Sero-positive or negative samples were determined according to standard curve and cut-off attached in ELISA classic EBV VCA IgG kits. The activity of EBV VCA IgG was calculated by using special formula. The percentage and activity of EBV VCA IgG from Beijing children were compared with SPSS 13.0 between the urban and rural areas.

RESULTSThe percentage of EBV VCA IgG seropositive samples was 83.6%, and 80.8% in those from urban and 86.2% in those from rural areas. The peak value of EBV infection was 71% seen among children under the age of 3 years, and in urban area the rate was 67.7%, which was lower than that in the rural area (75.3%), and was 82.5% by the age of 6, which was lower than the data (up to 90%) reported 30 years ago. There was a significant difference in EBV infection rate and VCA IgG activities in children at different ages between urban and rural areas (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe rate of EBV infection in children living in urban area was lower by the age of 6 years. The primary infection of EBV occurred late in part of children lived in urban area.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; Capsid Proteins ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; epidemiology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; analysis ; immunology ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Serologic Tests