Objective This study aimed to investigate whether Trichinella spiralis Ts87 protein can facilitate immune evasion by degrading the mouse neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Methods First, we used bioinformatics tools to analyze the physicochemical properties of Ts87 and, through sequence homology alignment, confirmed its classification within the nuclease family. Molecular cloning and protein purification techniques were then employed to obtain high-purity Ts87 protein, and its nuclease activity was confirmed. Additionally, we compared the primary sequence of Ts87 with known active sites from human lysosomal DNase IIα and the structurally characterized Burkholderia thailandensis DNase II. This enabled us to predict potential active sites. Ts87 enzymatic mutants were generated using site-directed mutagenesis, and their functions were confirmed through enzymatic activity experiments. The extracellular nucleic acid content of mouse bone marrow neutrophils and the immunofluorescence staining of mouse NETs were assessed in vitro to verify whether the Ts87 protease mutants exhibited a decreased ability to degrade NETs. Finally, after immunizing mice with Ts87, calculated larvae burden and the degradation of NETs in vivo were observed by immunostaining the MPO and CitH3 expression in the intestinal NETs of the mice. Results High-purity Ts87 protein was successfully obtained and confirmed to possess nuclease activity, capable of degrading NETs in vitro. The Ts87 mutants exhibited reduced capacity in degrading NETs. In vivo experiments in mice demonstrated that the production of anti-Ts87 antibodies in immunized mice reduced the degradation of NETs, facilitating NET-mediated attack on the parasites and resulting in decreased larvae burden in the mice. Conclusions Trichinella spiralis can utilize Ts87 nuclease to evade capture by NETs, providing potential vaccine and drug targets for the prevention and treatment of trichinellosis.

Objective To study the current status of parasitic infections in hospitalized patients in Yichang City, we compared and analyzed changes in routine blood tests for parasitic infections. Methods A total of 50 256 fecal samples from hospitalized patients at Yichang Central People′s Hospital were tested using the F280 fully automatic fecal analyzer that analyzed and recorded parasite eggs based on its own internal software, and the inspectors further reviewed and confirmed which types of parasites were causing infections. Using 50 healthy individuals as a control group, we compared and analyzed the changes in routine blood results from patients infected with parasites. Results The parasitic infection rate of hospitalized patients in Yichang City was 2.25%, with hookworms accounting for 60.2%, roundworms accounting for 15.0%, and liver flukes accounting for 8.8%. Other identified parasites included whipworms, fecal roundworms, pinworms, and others. The infection rates of males and females were 2.20% and 2.31%, respectively, with no statistically significant. The highest infection rate was observed in the over-61 age group. Routine blood tests revealed that compared to the control group, there was no significant change in white blood cell count in the parasitic infection group, but the percentage of eosinophils increased, hemoglobin, and hematocrit decreased. Conclusions Parasitic infections among hospitalized patients in Yichang City are more common in middle-aged and elderly populations. Among these, the hookworm infection rate was the highest, and this was followed by roundworms and liver flukes. Parasitic infection leads to an increase in eosinophil count and anemia in patients.

Objective To investigate the status of population dynamics and distribution changes of Aedes aegypti in Guangdong Province. Methods Continuous monitoring was conducted from May 2018 to July 2024 in Wushi Town and Qishui Town, Leizhou City, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province. Additionally, a survey of the distribution of Ae. aegypti along the Leizhou Peninsula coast was carried out. Results The density of Ae. aegypti in Zhanjiang showed a gradual decline from 2018 to 2024. The last detection of adult Ae. aegypti in Wushi Town was in September 2021, and the last larva was found in October 2023. No Ae. aegypti was detected in Qishui Town during surveys from 2021 to 2024. A survey of 18 coastal villages in the Leizhou Peninsula revealed no detections of Ae. aegypti. Conclusions This study provides a basis for understanding the distribution and population density fluctuations of Ae. aegypti, assessing its invasion risk, and scientifically conducting relevant prevention and control efforts.

Objective This study aimed to provide an effective scientific basis for prevention and control of cockroaches on aircrafts by identifying cockroach-carried pathogens, and assess the insecticidal efficacy of gel bait mediated cockroach control on aircrafts, to provide technical guidance for aircraft disinsection. Methods Cassette-trapping was used to trap cockroaches, and the carried pathogens were detected using bacterial cultivation techniques. The gel bait mediated killing rate was calculated after 1, 7, and 30 d by field application of gel bait. Results A total of 411 cockroaches were captured, and all were identified as Blattella germanica. 26 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the trapped cockroaches. The killing rates of cockroaches were 58.8%-96.3% with 1-30 day application of gel bait. Statistically significant differences were observed in cockroach killing rates on different days(χ²=58.95,P＜0.01). Conclusions B. germanica carry a large variety of pathogenic bacteria and opportunistic pathogens and are thus important infectious disease carriers. Gel bait agents have proven to be very effective against cockroaches on aircrafts.

Objective This research was performed to identify rodent-borne pathogens in Hekou Port, Yunnan Province. Methods Rodents were captured using cages and dissected to collect their lungs, liver, spleen, and other viscera. Eight pathogens, including Yersinia pestis, Leptospira, Bartonella, and Anaplasmataceae, were identified using polymerase chain reaction amplification. Amplified pathogen sequences from positive samples were sequenced, and BLAST homology searches were conducted using GenBank to confirm pathogen identities. A phylogenetic tree of the identified pathogens was constructed using the neighbor joining method. Results The total of 31 rodents, identified as Rattus tanezumi, R. norvegicus, and Mus musculus, were captured. Among these, R. tanezumi was the dominant species, accounting for 64.52% of the total. Two pathogens, Leptospira interrogans and Neoehrlichia mikurensis, were detected, with positivity rates of 9.68% and 29.03%, respectively. No other pathogens were detected. The overall positivity rate for rodent-borne pathogens was 35.48%. Conclusions The single 16S rRNA gene fragment is insufficient for the molecular identification of all Neoehrlichia species. Accurate species identification should be based on a combined analysis of multiple genes. The prevalence of rodent-borne pathogens in Hekou Port indicates the necessity for enhanced surveillance of rodent-borne diseases and implementation of additional prevention and control measures in border ports.

Objective To investigate the density, species composition, and seasonal prevalence of domestic rodents in different habitats within Lanzhou garrisons, providing basic information for rodent prevention and control. Methods A total of 12 monitoring sites were sampled across urban, suburban, and rural residential areas from 2014 to 2022. Rodent density was monitored using the night-trapping method in the middle of odd-numbered months. Results From 2014 to 2022, 346 domestic rodents were captured using 122 035 effective traps, with an average domestic rodent density of 0.28%. The highest domestic rodent density was 0.63% in 2016, and the lowest was 0.07% in 2020, showing significant differences across years, with an overall trend of initially decreasing and then increasing (χ²=136.555, P<0.001). The dominant species was Rattus norvegicus, accounting for 83.24% of the total rodents captured. Rattus norvegicus accounted for a relatively high proportion across different years, with a statistically significant difference in species composition (χ²=20.931, P<0.05). Rodent densities and species composition also varied significantly among the monitored habitats (P<0.001), with the highest densities observed in rural residential areas and the lowest in urban areas. Seasonal variation in rodent densities showed a bimodal pattern, with smaller peaks in January or March and a larger peak in July. Conclusions Domestic rodent density in Lanzhou garrisons has shown an upward trend in the past few years. Rodent control measures should focus on barracks in rural residential areas, with targeted interventions to reduce the risk of rodent-borne diseases.

Frontopsylla (Frontopsylla) ochotona sp. nov. is closely related to Frontopsylla (Fr.) adixsterna Liu, Shao et Liu, 1976, but can be distinguished by the following characteristics:1. In males, the immutable processes exhibit a wide, finger-like shape with asymmetrical anterior and posterior edges at their ends. The posterior edge of st. VIII lacks a deep depression, and the distal arm of st. IX is split into two lobes.2. In females, the posterior edge of the st. VII abdominal plate lacks a deep sinus, but the posterior end has a truncated or arc-shaped broad leaf. The posterior edge of t. VIII has a wide sinus, distinguishing it from F. adixsterna and other species in this genus.
   The type specimen was collected in Linzhi City, Xizang Autonomous Region of China, in November 2018, from an agricultural area at an altitude of approximately 3 000 m. The host species include Ochotona sp., Niviventer confucianus, and Pitymys leucurus.

On October 9^th, 2023, the Disease Control and Prevention Center of Donghu High Tech Zone in Wuhan City received a report of a case of imported malaria. The patient was admitted due to intermittent fever that had persisted for 3 days, accompanied by a 1 h consciousness disorder, and the family of the patient reported a recent history of travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. Upon admission, the rapid diagnostic method (RDT) was used to test for malarial parasite antigens and peripheral blood smear microscopy was performed to detect the presence of malignant malaria parasites. On the basis of epidemiology, clinical symptoms, and laboratory testing, a diagnosis of severe malignant malaria was made, and immediate standardized anti-malarial treatment was accordingly administered. After 4 days of treatment, peripheral blood smear microscopy revealed no plasmodium parasites observed. After 37 days, the patient was recovered and discharged from the hospital.

This article reports a first case of combined infection with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and scrub typhus in Dalian City. The patient was admitted to the hospital due to recurrent fever for 7 days and loss of consciousness for 1 day. Pathogen metagenomic sequencing (mNGS), SFTSV quantitative PCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) IgM tests were performed, showing positive results for Orientia tsutsugamushi and SFTSV nucleic acids. Based on clinical manifestations and epidemiological history, the patient was diagnosed with combined infections.

Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic pathogenic protozoan that causes zoonotic toxoplasmosis and is capable of infecting almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans. T. gondii infection is a globally prevalent zoonosis, posing a particularly high risk to immunocompromised populations. It presents a serious threat to public health and animal husbandry due to its complex life cycle and wide host range. Currently, the prevention and treatment of toxoplasmosis rely primarily on drugs, with a combination of sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine being the first choice in clinical practice. However, limitations in efficacy, side effects, and drug resistance restrict its widespread use. While some progress has been made in the development of anti-Toxoplasma drugs, no ideal treatment has yet been approved for market release or clinical trials. This paper reviews recent progress on the mechanisms of action and targets of novel anti-Toxoplasma drugs based on relevant studies. It aims to provide new ideas for future drug research and development while highlighting the opportunities and challenges in the field.

Objective The aim of the study is to reveal the polymorphisms of Eustrongylides spp. in Monopterus albus. Methods A total of five Eustrongylides spp. collected from five M. albus in the Yongzhou area were sampled to amplify ribosomal ITS sequence by PCR in vitro, then sequenced after extracting the DNA templates of Eustrongylides. The phylogenetic tree based on the ITS sequence was also constructed to explore the evolutionary history of Eustrongylides. Results The length of the ITS sequence of the five Eustrongylides spp. is approximately 933 bp, and the genetic differences between the isolates are 0.00%-0.90% and the genetic inheritance differences with other nematodes are 15.5%-18.20%, maintaining a certain genetic distance from other families. Conclusions The ITS sequence of Eustrongylides spp. in M. albus will be used as a genetic marker for the molecular identification of Eustrongylides spp. and will provide a basis for the prevention and control of Eustrongylides spp. in the future.