Publication output of the new integrated strategy for schistosomiasis japonica control in China: a PubMed-based bibliometric assessment

Background:Although sustainable control since 1950s has achieved great successes,schistosomiasis japonica remains a major public health problem in China.Since 2004,a new integrated strategy was developed aiming to control the transmission of Schistosoma japonicum through the implementation of a package of interventions.To date,no systematic review or meta-analysis assessing the effectiveness of this new integrated strategy for schistosomiasis control in China has been published.We performed a PubMed-based bibliometric assessment of publications on the new integrated strategy for schistosomiasis japonica control in China,to understand the global transmissibility and sharing of the new integrated strategy.Methods:An in-depth bibliometric analysis of all publications on the new integrated strategy for schistosomiasis japonica control in China was performed through a PubMed search using the terms 'schistosomiasis' and 'China,'from January 1,2004 to August 31,2018.All titles and abstracts were read carefully,and the publications reporting the effectiveness,experiences,lessons,or problems of the new integrated strategy were included in the bibliometric analysis.Results:Overall,2,361 titles were screened,and 70 eligible publications were accessed for analyses,including 23 studies in English,published in 15 international journals,and 47 studies in Chinese with abstracts in English,published in 3 national journals.Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control (Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi) published 60% of the research output,Research articles (48.6%) and short reports (37.1%) were the dominant manuscript types.Furthermore,471 contributing authors from 277 affiliations across 9 countries produced these 70 publications.Conclusion:This is the first PubMed-based quantitative analysis of the research output of the new integrated strategy,and our data indicate a low global transmissibility of Chinese new integrated strategy.We therefore call for more research outputs of the new integrated strategy for schistosomiasis japonica control in China to be communicated through international platforms.

An integrated environmental improvement of marshlands:impact on control and elimination of schistosomiasis in marshland regions along the Yangtze River,China

Background:Schistosomiasis is a global snail-transmitted infectious disease of poverty.Transmission control had been achieved in China in 2015 after the control efforts for over 60 years.Currently,the remaining core regions endemic for Schistosoma japonicum are mainly located in the marshland and lake regions along the Yangtze River basin.Methods:During the period from 2001 through 2015,an integrated environmental improvement of the marshlands was carried out through the implementation of industrial,agricultural and resources development projects in Yizheng County along the Yangtze River.S.japonicum infection in humans,livestock and snails was estimated by serology,stool examination,hatching technique and microscopy during the 15-year study period to evaluate the effect of the integrated environmental improvement on control and elimination of schistosomiasis.Results:A 0.05%overall rate of S.japonicum infection was observed in snails during the 15-year study period,and no infected snails were detected since 2012.The overall prevalence of S.japonicum infection was 0.09%in humans during the study period,and no human infection was found since 2012.In addition,only 13 bovines were identified with S.japonicum infection in 2003 during the 15-year study period,and since 2004,no infection was found in livestock.Conclusion:The results of the present study demonstrate that the implementation of industrial,agricultural and water resources development projects,not only alters snail habitats in marshland regions,and promotes local economic development,which appears a win-to-win strategy to block the transmission of S.japonicum and accelerate socio-economic development along the Yangtze River.

Apropos:critical analysis of molluscicide application in schistosomiasis control programs in Brazil

Schistosomiasis is a snail-transmitted infectious disease affecting over 200 million people worldwide.Snail control has been recognized as an effective approach to interrupt the transmission of schistosomiasis,since the geographic distribution of this neglected tropical disease is determined by the presence of the intermediate host snails.In a recent Scoping Review published in Infectious Diseases of Poverty,Coelho and Caldeira performed a critical review of using molluscicides in the national schistosomiasis control programs in Brazil.They also described some chemical and plant-derived molluscicides used in China.In addition to the molluscicides described by Coelho and Caldeira,a large number of chemicals,plant extracts and microorganisms have been screened and tested for molluscicidal actions against Oncomelania hupensis,the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in China.Here,we presented the currently commercial molluscicides available in China,including 26%suspension concentrate of metaldehyde and niclosamide(MNSC),25%suspension concentrate of niclosamide ethanolamine salt(SCNE),50%niclosamide ethanolamine salt wettable powder(WPN),4%niclosamide ethanolamine salt dustable powder(NESP),5%niclosamide ethanolamine salt granule(NESG)and the plant-derived molluscicide“Luowei”.These molluscicides have been proved to be active against O.hupensis in both laboratory and endemic fields,playing an important role in the national schistosomiasis control program of China.Currently,China is transferring its successful experiences on schistosomiasis control to African countries.The introduction of Chinese commercial molluscicides to Africa,with adaptation to local conditions,may facilitate the progress towards the elimination of schisosomiasis in Africa.

Molluscicidal effectiveness of Luo-Wei,a novel plant-derived molluscicide,against Oncomelania hupensis,Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus

Background:Control of snail intermediate hosts has been proved to be a fast and efficient approach for interrupting the transmission of schistosomiasis.Some plant extracts have shown obvious molluscicidal activity,and a new compound Luo-Wei,also named tea-seed distilled saponin(TDS),was developed based on the saponins extracted from Camellia oleifera seeds.We aimed to test the molluscicidal activity of 4%TDS against the intermediate host snails in China and Egypt,and evaluate its environmental safety to non-target organisms.Methods:In the laboratory,Oncomelania hupensis,Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus were exposed to 4%TDS,and the median lethal concentration(LC5o)was estimated at 24,48 and 72 h.In the field,snail mortalities were assessed 1,2,3 and 7 d post-immersion with 2.5 g/m34%TDS and 1,3,7 and 15 d post-spraying with 5 g/m24%TDS.in addition,the acute toxicity of 4%TDS to Japanese quail(Coturnixjaponica),zebrafish(Brachydanio rerio)and freshwater shrimp(Macrobrachium nipponense)was assessed by estimations of LC5o or median lethal dose(LD5o).Results:In the laboratory,the LC5o values of 4%TDS for O.hupensis were 0.701,0.371 and 0.33 mg/L at 24,48 and 72 h,respectively,and 4%TDS showed a 0.33 mg/L 24 h LC5o against B.alexandrina,and a 1.396 mg/L 24 h LCs0 against B.truncatus.Across all study regions,the pooled mortalities of O.hupensis were 72,86,94 and 98%at 1,2,3 and 7 d,following field immersion of 4%TDS at a dose of 2.5 g/m3,and were 69,77,85 and 88%at 1,3,7 and 15 d,following field spraying at 5 g/m2,respectively.4%TDS had moderate toxicity to Japanese quail(7 d LD5o>60 mg/kg)and to shrimp(96 h LCs0=6.28 mg/L;95%CI:3.53-11.2 mg/L),whereas its toxicity to zebrafish was high(96 h LCso--0.15 mg/L;95%CI:0.14-0.17 mg/L).Conclusions:4%TDS is active against O.hupensis,B.alexandrina and B.truncatus under laboratory and field conditions,and it may be a candidate molluscicide of plant origin.

Approaches being used in the national schistosomiasis elimination programme in China:a review

Schistosomiasis japonica,caused by the human blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum,remains a major public health problem in China,although great success has been achieved.The control efforts during the past half-decade,notably the wide implementation of the new integrated strategy with emphasis on control of the source of S.japonicum infection across the country since 2004,has greatly reduced S.japonicum in humans,livestock,and intermediate host Oncomelania hupensis snails,and transmission control of schistosomiasis was achieved in China in 2015.A two-stage roadmap was therefore proposed for schistosomiasis elimination in 2015,with aims to achieve transmission interruption by 2020 and achieve disease elimination by 2025 in the country.During the last two decades,a variety of approaches,which target the epidemiological factors of schistosomiasis japonica have been developed,in order to block the transmission cycle of the parasite.These approaches have been employed in the national or local schistosomiasis control activities,and facilitated,at least in part,the progress of the schistosomiasis elimination programs.Here,we present an approach to control the source of S.japonicum infection,three new tools for snail control,three approaches for detecting and monitoring S.japonicum infection,and a novel model for health education.These approaches are considered to play a great role in the stage moving towards transmission interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis in China.

A multidisciplinary,integrated approach for the elimination of schistosomiasis:a longitudinal study in a historically hyperendemic region in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,China from 2005 to 2014

Background:Although great success has been achieved,schistosomiasis remains a major public health concern in China,and the remaining core endemic regions are concentrated along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.In this longitudinal study,we evaluated the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary,integrated approach for schistosomiasis elimination in a historically hyper-endemic region in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,China over the 10-year period from 2005 through 2014.Methods:A three-step roadmap for schistosomiasis elimination was designed in the study site,and multidisciplinary,integrated interventions were implemented by the health,agriculture,water resources development,land and resources,and forestry sectors from 2005 to 2014,including chemotherapy for infected individuals,health education,management of the source of Schistosoma japonicum infection,and intermediate host snail control.The annual number of schistosomiasis patients,S.japonicum infection in humans,bovines and Oncomelania hupensis snails,and water infectivity were observed to assess the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary,integrated approach for the elimination of schistosomiasis.Results:There was a tendency towards a gradual decline in both the number of schistosomiasis cases and the prevalence of S.japonicum human infection across the study period from 2005 through 2014.No S.japonicum human infection was detected since 2012,and no acute infection was seen since 2006.During the study period,no infection was found in bovines,and a 0.03%overall infection rate was observed in O.hupensis snails.Since 2009,no infected snails were identified,and the area of both snail habitats and infected snail habitats appeared a reduction over the study period.Following the 3-year multidisciplinary,integrated control,infection control was achieved,and transmission control was achieved after 6-year implementation,with all infected snails and water infectivity eliminated;in addition,the 10-year implementation resulted in interruption of schistosomiasis transmission in the study site in 2014.Conclusions:The results of the present 10-year longitudinal study demonstrate that the multidisciplinary,integrated approach is effective for the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,China.

Infectious Diseases of Poverty,the first five years

Although the focus in the area of health research may be shifting from infectious to non-communicable diseases,the infectious diseases of poverty remain a major burden of disease of global health concern.A global platform to communicate and share the research on these diseases is needed to facilitate the translation of knowledge into effective approaches and tools for their elimination.Based on the“One health,One world”mission,a new,openaccess journal,Infectious Diseases of Poverty(IDP),was launched by BioMed Central in partnership with the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases(NIPD),Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention(China CDC)on October 25,2012.Its aim is to identify and assess research and information gaps that hinder progress towards new interventions for a particular public health problem in the developing world.From the inaugural IDP issue of October 25,2012,a total of 256 manuscripts have been published over the following five years.Apart from a small number of editorials,opinions,commentaries and letters to the editor,the predominant types of publications are research articles(69.5%)and scoping reviews(21.5%).A total of 1081 contributing authors divided between 323 affiliations across 68 countries,territories and regions produced these 256 publications.The journal is indexed in major international biomedical databases,including Web of Science,PubMed,Scopus and Embase.In 2015,it was assigned its first impact factor(4.11),which is now 2.13.During the past five years,IDP has received manuscripts from 90 countries,territories and regions across six continents with an annual acceptance rate of all contributions maintained at less than 40%.Content analysis shows that neglected tropical diseases(NTDs),followed by the“Big Three”(HIV/AIDS,malaria and tuberculosis)and infectious diseases in general comprise 88%of all publications.In addition,a series of 10 thematic issues,covering 118 publications in all,was published as separate parts of the first five volumes.These publications were cited 975 times,which equals an average of 8.3 times per publication.The current challenge is to identify cutting-edge research topics and attract and to publish first-rate publications leading to increasing importance and impact of the journal in its field.