Background: Echinococcoses, caused by metacestodes of Echinococcus granulosus (cystic echinococcosis; CE) and E. multilocularis (alveolar echinococcosis; AE), represent major emerging parasitic diseases. These enzootic helminthiases invoke significant public health concerns and social burdens in endemic areas. The diseases are prevalent in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China, while community-based epidemiological studies have been scarcely reported. We surveyed echinococcosis patients in the southeastern Qinghai Province, China, to better understand the concurrent epidemiological situation in this area. Methods: During July and August of 2013 and 2014, we screened echinococcosis patients at Yushu and Golog Prefectures, Qinghai Province, China, in a diagnostic campaign. A total of 2856 people (male:female ratio, 1:1.12; mean age, 34.6 years; age range, 6-88 years) were ultrasonographically examined for the presence of hepatic echinococcal cysts. We also collected serum samples from patients and analyzed antibody reactivity against recombinant forms of diverse E. granulosus antigen Bs (rEgAgB1-5) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: We detected 134 patients whose imaging scans were compatible with CE (115 cases) and AE (20 patients). One patient might have been infected with both CE and AE. The overall incidence was 4.7% (CE, 4.0%; AE, 0.7%). A large proportion (67.5%) of CE patients was diagnosed at active and transitional CE1-CE3 stages in their late 30s. The AE cases were generally detected at advanced stage in patients at early 20s (60%). Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve and Youden's index indicated that rEgAgB2 was the most promising biomarker, followed by rEgAgB3 and rEgAgB1. Overall, sensitivity and specificity of rEgAgB1-3 were 84.5-92.7% and 91.9-94.6%, respectively. rEgAgB4 and 5 showed low sensitivity with high cross-reactivity. Conclusions: Our results strongly suggest that disability-adjusted life years related to echinococcoses in Qinghai-Tibetan areas might be more serious than previously considered. Control and prevention strategy against CE and AE are highly required in these areas. In addition to ultrasonography, serological tests might provide supportive data. However, serological data should be carefully interpreted for differential diagnosis, especially in areas where both CE and AE are co-endemic.

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Fleas are considered as hosts for a wide range of pathogens that cause emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases worldwide. Data on fleas and flea-borne pathogens (FBPs) in the international literature are limited in Vietnam. This study aimed to investigate the species of fleas and the presence of pathogens of interest in fleas in northern Vietnam using PCR and sequence analysis. Out of 200 dogs enrolled in this study, 20% were infested by the flea species Ctenocephalides felis felis. In total, 62 fleas (35 females and 27 males) collected from domestic dogs were molecularly screened for the detection of pathogens. Out of the screened fleas, 39 were positive for Rickettsia felis (62.9%), 9 for Candidatus Mycoplasma hemobos (14.52%), and 6 for Mycoplasma wenyonii (9.68%). This study shows the first molecular detection of the above-mentioned pathogens in fleas collected from the studied areas and the potential risk of infection with examined FBPs in northern Vietnam.

Nematode communities in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) agricultural soil in Thanh An, Binh Phuoc province, were investigated. Soil samples were collected in February 2012 at 9 selected sites belonging to 3 pepper groves. The structure of nematode communities and critical ecological indices were determined to estimate environmental status. 26 genera were found. Of those, plant parasitic nematodes such as Meloidogyne, Helicotylenchus, Hoplolaimus, Psilenchus, and Tylenchidae always appear with high frequency and density, whereas the carnivorous nematodes were rarely detected. The nematode density correlates to the concentration of the total organic matter which correlates closely to the (Ba + Fu) proportion showed by the regression equation y = 0.0223x + 1.6819 with R2 = 1. The ecological triangle model, but not the maturity index (MI), apparently showed the status and processes (decomposition and mineralization) which may be happening in the soils of areas studied. The first grove is rich in nutrient but stressed by chemicals. The second grove is stable, with no chemical stress, but has low nutrient contents. The third grove is affected by chemicals but to a lesser extent than the first one. Các quần xã tuyến trùng trong hệ sinh thái đất trồng tiêu ở khu vực xã Thanh An, tỉnh Bình Phước được nghiên cứu. Các mẫu đất được thu nhận trong tháng hai năm 2012 tại 9 điểm thuộc 3 vườn tiêu. Cấu trúc quần xã tuyến trùng và các chỉ số sinh thái đã được xác định để qua đó đánh giá trạng thái môi trường. Tổng cộng có 26 giống tuyến trùng được tìm thấy. Trong đó, các loài tuyến trùng ký sinh thực vật như Meloidogyne, Helicotylenchus, Hoplolaimus, Psilenchus, và tuyến trùng ăn nấm Tylenchidae luôn xuất hiện với tần suất và mật độ cao, trong khi tuyến trùng ăn thịt lại hiếm khi được phát hiện. Mật độ tuyến trùng tương quan với lượng chất hữu cơ tổng số mà nó tương quan chặt chẽ với với tỉ lệ nhóm (Ba + Fu) được thể hiện ở phương trình hồi quy là y = 0.0223x + 1.6819 với R2 = 1. Mô hình tam giác sinh thái, nhưng không phải chỉ số tăng trưởng MI, thể hiện rõ trạng thái và các quá trình (sự phân hủy và sự khoáng hóa) có lẽ đang diễn ra trong đất của khu vực được nghiên cứu. Vườn thứ nhất thì giàu dinh dưỡng nhưng bị áp lực bởi hóa chất. Vườn thứ hai khá ổn định, không chịu áp lực hóa chất, nhưng hàm lượng dinh dưỡng rất kém. Vườn thứ ba bị tác động bởi hóa chất nhưng ở mức độ thấp hơn vườn thứ nhất.