National surveillance of hookworm disease in China: A population study.

Background Hookworm disease is endemic in China and is widespread globally. The disease burden to humans is great. Methods The study described the national surveillance of hookworm implemented in 31 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities (P/A/Ms) of China in 2019. Each P/A/M determined the numb...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Main Authors: Hui-Hui Zhu, Ji-Lei Huang, Ying-Dan Chen, Chang-Hai Zhou, Ting-Jun Zhu, Men-Bao Qian, Mi-Zhen Zhang, Shi-Zhu Li, Xiao-Nong Zhou
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010405
https://doaj.org/article/5851bd8e25804803831c068cf6da4789
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Summary:Background Hookworm disease is endemic in China and is widespread globally. The disease burden to humans is great. Methods The study described the national surveillance of hookworm implemented in 31 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities (P/A/Ms) of China in 2019. Each P/A/M determined the number and location of surveillance spots (counties). A unified sampling method was employed, and at least 1000 subjects were investigated in each surveillance spot. The modified Kato-Katz thick smear method was employed for stool examination. Fifty samples positive with hookworm eggs were cultured in each surveillance spot to discriminate species between A. duodenale and N. americanus. Twenty-five soil samples were collected from each surveillance spot and examined for hookworm larva. The 2019 surveillance results were analyzed and compared with that of 2016-2018. Results A total of 424766 subjects were investigated in 31 P/A/Ms of China in 2019, and the overall hookworm infection rate was 0.85% (3580/424766). The weighted infection and standard infection rates were 0.66% (4288357/648063870) and 0.67% (4343844/648063870), respectively. Sichuan province had the highest standard infection rate (4.75%) in 2019, followed by Chongqing (2.54%) and Hainan (2.44%). The standard infection rates of other P/A/Ms were all below 1%, with no hookworm detected in 15 P/A/Ms. The standard hookworm infection rate in the males and the females were 0.61% (2021216/330728900) and 0.71% (2267141/317334970), respectively, with a significant difference between different genders ([Formula: see text] = 17.23, P<0.0001). The highest standard hookworm infection rate (1.97%) was among age ≥ 60 years, followed by 45~59 years (0.77%), 15~44 years (0.37%), and 7~14 years (0.20%). The lowest standard infection rate was among the 0~6 years age group (0.12%). A significant difference was observed among different age groups ([Formula: see text] = 2 305.17, P<0.0001). The constitute ratio for N. americanus, A. duodenale, and coinfection was 78.70% ...