Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed malaria cases reported by hospitals in Beijing from 2014 to 2023 among individuals who traveled abroad within the previous year and to provide a scientific basis for preventing the re-transmission of imported malaria. Methods Case data were derived from the “China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention.” Imported malaria cases reported in Beijing from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2023, were selected. Descriptive epidemiological method were applied for the analyses. The chi-square test was used to compare the infected species and the distribution of occupation and year among imported malaria cases with different onset times. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the time interval from the return date to diagnosis between recurrent cases and cases diagnosed for the first time, as well as the difference between cases with disease onset before and after entry. Results A total of 334 imported malaria cases were included in this study. The cases were mainly young and middle-aged males (91.32%), and 135 cases (40.42%) were employees of large state-owned enterprises. Falciparum malaria accounted for the highest proportion (84.73%), and 94.61% of all confirmed imported malaria cases were from Africa. For the recurrent and first-diagnosed cases, the difference in the time interval from entry to diagnosis was statistically significant (U = 2129.500, P < 0.05). Among patients with disease onset over 7 days after entry, the proportion of falciparum malaria was lower than those of other types of malaria infections (χ² = 11.180, P = 0.004). Conclusions Imported falciparum malaria from Africa remains the main challenge to maintaining and consolidating China's achievements in malaria elimination. It is recommended to further strengthen health education for outbound workers and port inspection for key inbound personnel, standardize epidemiological investigations and information notifications, and comprehensively enhance the capability for detecting and managing imported malaria cases.

Objective Spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) are globally prevalent obligate intracellular bacteria that have the potential to cause severe and fatal human diseases. A study to investigate the species and genetic characteristics of SFGR was conducted in 2023 in the Ningxia region of northwestern China. Methods Tick samples were collected from Ningxia, identified, and used to isolate SFGR. The isolated strain was identified as Rickettsia raoultii through morphological observation, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and phylogenetic analysis. Then, it was subjected to whole-genome sequencing using next-generation technology, which revealed it to be a TIGMIC strain. Results The TIGMIC strain was demonstrated to exhibit a capacity for growth in mammalian cell lines. The complete genome sequence of the TIGMIC strain was assembled into a circular chromosome, which exhibited a length of 1 312 176 bp and comprised 1 488 genes. Functional annotation revealed that the main key genes of the TIGMIC strain were primarily associated with biosynthesis, nutrient metabolism, and cell membrane biogenesis. Apart from the rickA gene, most typical rickettsial virulence genes of the TIGMIC strain were relatively conserved. Conclusions These findings will help identify SFGR, provide etiological evidence for spotted fever in Ningxia, and emphasize the need for enhanced surveillance to prevent the spread of SFGR.

Objective Candidatus Lariskella arthropodarum’ (CLA) is a novel intracellular alpha-proteobacterium closely related to Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii’ (CMM), notable for its unique ability to invade and destroy mitochondria within host germline cells. CLA has been proposed as a potential pathogen, as it has occasionally been detected in blood samples from both humans and other vertebrates. However, the mechanisms of CLA infection and transmission remain poorly understood. Methods Natural CLA infection in unfed Ixodes persulcatus was investigated using meta-transcriptomic analysis of specimens collected from Zhalantun City, Hulunbuir League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR), China. Results The top-matching transcript assembly was 21 917 base pairs in length and encoded genes including ccmA, mrdA, lon, ppsC, prmC, ileS, gshB, gmk, rpoC, and rpoB, all identical to CLA. These findings were further confirmed by amplification of 16S rRNA fragments (99.72% identity to CLA; GenBank accession number AB906829.1) from the DNA of the same tick specimens. A sex-biased prevalence of CLA was observed in I. persulcatus, with significantly higher infection rates in females (83.05%) compared to nymphs (46.11%) and males (36.47%). Conclusions This suggests differential adaptation of CLA across tick sexes and developmental stages.

Objective To investigate Haemaphysalis longicornis carrying Bandavirus dabieense in Yantai, Shandong Province, and provide references for the prevention and control measures of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Methods Tick surveillance was carried out in Penglai District, Zhaoyuan City, Haiyang City, and other districts, respectively, in Yantai City from March to October in 2023 and 2024. Parasitic ticks were removed from domestic animals by hand-scratching, and questing ticks were collected using the flag-sweeping method. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect B. dabieense in the collectedHae. longicornis specimens. SPSS22.0 software was used to perform the χ² test or Fisher's exact test to compare the positive rates among different groups. Results A total of 7 646 Hae. longicornis were captured, including 3 232 questing ticks and 4 414 on-host ticks. Nucleic acid(both DNA and RNA) was extracted from 693 ticks grouped by source, development stage, and region. A total of 20 B. dabieense nucleic acid-positive samples were detected. The overall positive detection rate was 2.89% and the minimum infection rate (MIR) was 0.26%. Among them, 17 were from adult parasitic ticks, comprising five from dogs, six from sheep, and six from cattle, and the other three were from questing ticks. There was no significant difference in the positive rates of Hae. longicornis from different hosts or from different developmental stages (P>0.05). Significant differences were observed in the positive rate of Hae. longicornis from different geographic regions (P<0.05). Conclusions Hae. longicornalis is the dominant tick species in Yantai City, Shandong Province, with evidence from different host sources in various geographic regions. Ecological monitoring and pathogen detection in ticks should be strengthened to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Objective In this study, ecological monitoring data of ticks in Changzhou City (2021-2024) were analyzed to understand the composition, distribution, density, and seasonal trends of the different species and thereby provide a scientific basis for tick-borne disease control strategies. Methods Parasitic ticks were monitored via host surface examination, whereas questing ticks were monitored using the flagging method. Results In total, 1 506 ticks (636 parasitic, 870 questing), belonging to 1 family, 2 genera, and 5 species, were collected. Haemaphysalis longicornis (1 389) was the dominant species, followed by Hae. flava (111), Hae. phasiana (3), Amblyomma testudinarium (2), and Hae. hystricis (1). The parasitic tick index was 1.89 (goats as the dominant hosts), whereas the questing tick density was 0.65 individuals/(cloth flag·100 m) (forest parks as the dominant habitat). Tick activity peaked in July. Conclusions Hae. longicornis is the dominant species in Changzhou City, with activity peaking in July. As these ticks pose a significant public health risk, targeted control measures are recommended.

Objective The aims of this study were to identify tick species infesting police dogs and explore their phylogenetic relationships. Methods Ticks were collected from a police dog base in Hunan Province and their diagnostic morphological characteristics and phylogenetic relationships were investigated using PCR targeting the 16S rDNA, cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), and NADH dehydrogenase subunit V (nad5) genes. Results Adult ticks were oval shaped with a broad and short hexagonal basis capitulum. The females had a scutum occupying the first 1/3 of the body, a U-shaped genital groove, and a comma-shaped stigmal plate, and their coxae II to IV each had short and coarse outer spurs that gradually decreased in size according to the segmental order. Males had an elongated scutum, a comma-shaped stigmal plate, and a subtriangular adanal plate. The product sizes of the amplified 16S rDNA, cox1, and nad5 gene sequences from the ticks in this study were approximately 405, 772, and 262 bp, respectively. The phylogenetic tree based on these sequences showed that this tick species clustered with Rhipicephalus sanguineus of other tropical lineages. Conclusions The tick species collected from police dogs in China is Rh. sanguineus, which belongs to the tropical lineage.

Objective This study aimed to comprehensively survey the tick distribution in the natural scenic belts of various counties and districts in Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province, and to provide guidance on tick control measures. Methods From 2023 to 2024, questing ticks in 29 natural scenic belts spanning seven counties and districts of Huai'an City were collected using hand-scratching method. Further, parasitic ticks in the surrounding areas were collected using the animal search method. Collected ticks were subsequently identified to the species level in the laboratory. Results In total, 288 questing ticks were collected, all belonging to the genus Haemaphysalis of family Ixodidae. Hae. longicornis was the dominant species, accounting for 98.61%, followed by Hae. flava (1.04%) and Hae. phasiana (0.35%). The average tick density index in Lotus Lake Scenic Area (Jinhu County), All-People Fitness Theme Park (Lianshui County), Peach Blossom Valley (QingjiangpuDistrict), Huai'an Forest Park (Huai'an District), Qizu of Gaozhuang Village (Hongze District), Ancient Yellow River Sports Park (Huaiyin District), Putao Trench and (Xuyi County) was 0.022, 0.025, 0.01, 0.10, 0.22, 0.28, and 0.79ticks/flag·100 m, respectively. In total, 114 parasitic ticks were collected at the monitoring sites, with an average tick infestation rate of 69.25% in sheep and 100% in dogs at Tianquanhu Town in Xuyi County; all of these were Hae. longicornis. All parasitic ticks were from Xuyi County, and no parasitic ticks were found at the monitoring sites in Huai'an District, Hongze District, and Lianshui County. Conclusions Overall, with the advancement of eco-tourism resorts and urban greening construction in Huai'an City, the presence of ticks was confirmed by this study in previously unsurveyed areas. As the frequency of human-animal interactions increases in these areas, the potential risk of tick-borne diseases also rises. Furthermore, this study provides important clues for subsequent investigations into local tick-borne pathogens.

Objective To assess the status of rodent infestation in commercial kitchens using data from the ‘Bright Kitchen, Clean Stove’ initiative. The potential use of artificial-intelligence (AI)-based surveillance systems to monitor rodent density was explored, thereby providing a scientific basis for rodent control strategies. Methods As a component of the ‘Bright Kitchen, Clean Stove’ initiative, the Minhang District Market Supervision Administration in Shanghai has installed cameras in 297 kitchens. These systems incorporate an AI-powered rodent image recognition method that automatically captures and stores the first image captured in each kitchen each day when a rodent is detected. In 2023, the system collected and stored 736 screenshots of rodents. Following manual verification, 720 of the images were confirmed to contain rodents. The images were analyzed by noting the time, location, and kitchen area, and the species were manually identified to assess the population density. Results Rodent activity was detected in 34 of the 297 monitored kitchens, with an overall infestation rate of 11.45%. Of the 720 confirmed images of rodents, Rattus norvegicus (brown rat) was the predominant species, present in 409 (56.81 %) images. Rodents were primarily concentrated in hot food preparation spaces. The density fluctuation curve had a multimodal pattern peaking in spring and autumn. The peak of daily activity was between 22:00 and 2:00. There was a significant difference in the rodent detection frequency between weekends and weekdays during peak hours and during non-peak hours (χ² = 7.18, P < 0.01). Conclusions The ‘Bright Kitchen, Clear Stove’ smart monitoring system has been proven to be applicable to rodent density monitoring. To control rodents in commercial kitchens, greater efforts are required to address and identify the specific infesting conditions and the key points in the control process.

Objective To monitor rodent species in the southern Fujian ports of China and investigate the natural pathogens they carry. Methods Rodents were captured using night-trapping and cage method across 17 port areas in southern Fujian in 2023. Morphological identification was performed to classify the captured specimens. Tissues from the liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and bladder were harvested for nucleic acid extraction. Nested and conventional PCR method were used to detect seven pathogens: Yersinia pestis, Hantavirus, pathogenic Leptospira, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bartonella, Orientia tsutsugamushi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the distribution of rodents and the status of natural pathogen infections across the study sites. Results A total of 161 rodents across five species belonging to two orders, two families, and three genera were captured. Suncus murinus was the dominant species (72.67 %), followed by Rattus tanezumi (13.04 %). Six pathogens were detected, with an overall positivity rate of 18.01%. Bartonella had the highest positivity rate (11.18%), followed by pathogenic Leptospira (4.97%), Borrelia burgdorferi (2.48%), Orientia tsutsugamushi(1.86%), Seoul virus (1.24%), and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.62%). Co-infections were noted in five rodents, representing 17.24% of those that tested positive, and one rodent was infected with four pathogens. No Y. pestis or Hantaan virus was detected in the captured rodents. Conclusions The rodents in the southern Fujian ports are naturally infected with multiple pathogens, including Bartonella, pathogenic Leptospira, and Seoul virus. Enhanced monitoring of rodent populations and the implementation of preventive and control measures for rodent-borne diseases are essential.

Objective This study aims to understand the carriage status of Beilong virus (BeiV) in small mammals in Haikou, a city in Hainan Province, China, to provide a basis for the prevention and control of BeiV. Methods Following field sampling, a cDNA library was constructed from the tissues of small mammal specimens, including heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain, intestine, and muscle tissues. The presence of BeiV was detected using PCR, and some purified L gene fragments were subjected to Sanger sequencing. The complete genome sequences of members of the Paramyxoviridae virus family were obtained from the NCBI database using Python, using MAFFT (version 7) and MEGA-X for multiple sequence alignment and neighbor-joining method to construct a phylogenetic tree. Results A total of 38 rodent samples were collected, revealing a positive rate of 5.26%, with Rattus norvegicus exhibiting a positive rate of 7.41%. Evolutionary analysis indicated that BeiV carried by R. norvegicus in Haikou was similar to that found in R. norvegicus in Hong Kong, China, although notable genetic variations were also observed. Conclusions This study reports the first detection of BeiV in Haikou. Considering the reports of newly discovered Paramyxoviridae viruses in recent decades and the identification of BeiV in small mammals across more than a dozen provinces, it is evident that the distribution range of BeiV is much broader than previously assumed. This highlights the importance of enhancing rodent monitoring and control, as well as the screening and prevention of rodent-related pathogens.

In this article, we describe two new species of the genus Brachypogon in China: Brachypogon (B.) caelatus Liu sp. nov., found in Muchuan County, Sichuan Province; and Brachypogon (Isohelea) decus Liu sp. nov., found in Bachu County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Both species were collected using the sweep-net method. In the case of Brachypogon (B.) caelatus Liu, the male insect has a finger-shaped apical process on the median lobe of the aedeagus and a pair of parameres with fine and pointed ends and medial apical processes in the middle. The female has two equal-sized spermathecae, oval-shaped, sensillum pits at the end of the third segment of the palpus, and 13 fine teeth at the end of the mandible. With regard to Brachypogon (Isohelea) decus Liu, the female insect has two unequal-sized seminal vesicles, and the male has a blunt apical process on the median lobe of the aedeagus and four slender and pointed parameres. These characteristics can be clearly distinguished from those of other Brachypogon species. The examined specimens have been deposited at the Medical Insect Collection of the Academy of Military Sciences.

The aim of the present paper is to describe the administration of an imported Plasmodium ovale case with thrombocytopenia, and provide reference for the prevention and control of imported malaria. The patient was a 68-year-old male migrant worker who had been infected with P. ovale and had not received standard treatment. The main manifestation of this attack was thrombocytonia (platelet 81×10⁹/L). The blood sample was tested positive by the rapid detection kit of P. ovale. The patient was treated with antimalarial therapy immediately, but platelets decreased progressively, and metabolic acidosis (bicarbonate concentration 17.2 mmol/L), acute kidney injury (creatinine 251 μmol/L) and other severe changes occurred. After active symptomatic treatment and replacement of malaria treatment regimen, the patient gradually improved. Therefore, early and adequate use of appropriate antimalarial drugs for patients with malaria infection with progressive platelet reduction is the key to curb the progression to severe disease.