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Soil-transmitted helminths in China

Sunday, 1st of November 2015

Soil-transmitted helminths in China

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

Men-Bao Qian et al.

Best viewed, with map, at http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099%2815%2900373-4/fulltext

Simon Brooker and colleagues¹x1Brooker, SJ, Nikolay, B, Balabanova, D, and Pullan, RL. Global feasibility assessment of interrupting the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths: a statistical modelling study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2015; 15: 941–950

Summary | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (1)

See all References analysed the feasibility of interrupting transmission of soil-transmitted helminths from a global view. It is encouraging that China is listed in the “most feasible” group. Indeed, drastic economic development and helminth control activity have contributed to the great decrease in soil-transmitted helminths in China: the estimated number of infected people declined from 536 million in 1988–1992 to 129 million in 2001–04.²x2Technical Steering Panel for National Survey of Current Status of Major Human Parasitic Diseases. Report on the National Survey of Current Status of Major Human Parasitic Diseases in China. Peoples Medical Publishing House, Beijing; 2008 ()See all References Furthermore, recent data from national surveillance has shown a continuing pattern of decline.³x3Zang, W, Zhang, XQ, and Chen, YD. Analysis on the epidemiological situation of soil-transmitted nematodiasis at monitoring spots from 2006 to 2010. Guo Ji Yi Xue Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi. 2013; 40: 144–148 ()See all References Thus, it is reasonable to pursue a higher target—namely, the transmission interruption of soil-transmitted helminths in China, which will not only benefit the health of the Chinese people, but also contribute greatly to achievement of worldwide control.

Owing to the unsuitable environment in northern China and rapid economic development in the east, high endemicity of soil-transmitted helminths is only present in central and southwestern areas of China (figure).²x2Technical Steering Panel for National Survey of Current Status of Major Human Parasitic Diseases. Report on the National Survey of Current Status of Major Human Parasitic Diseases in China. Peoples Medical Publishing House, Beijing; 2008 ()See all References Thus, the feasibility of transmission interruption should be further assessed at the provincial level. The method applied in Brooker and colleagues Article could be used in China, but would require more accurate data to be extracted when applying the feasibility analysis at the provincial level. For example, the third national survey on parasitic diseases was initiated in 2014, in which sampling design was based on a provincial level and the Kato-Katz method was used to detect intestinal helminths.⁴x4National Health and Family Planning Commission of China. Plan on national survey on important parasitic diseases. http://www.moh.gov.cn/jkj/s5873/201410/b6e24b157c1942c7bab31e2d76458faa.shtml. ()See all References Obviously, updated prevalence and infection intensity at the provincial level will lay the foundation for objective and accurate assessment. After further collection of other required data, optimisation of modelling for suitability in China is needed. The assessment map for transmission interruption will help Chinas policy makers to prioritise areas and formulate further control programmes. Additionally, after the national survey on parasitic diseases in 2001–04, 22 national surveillance spots for soil-transmitted helminths were established in 2006.³x3Zang, W, Zhang, XQ, and Chen, YD. Analysis on the epidemiological situation of soil-transmitted nematodiasis at monitoring spots from 2006 to 2010. Guo Ji Yi Xue Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi. 2013; 40: 144–148 ()See all References More surveillance spots could be advocated after the updated national survey initiated in 2014. This expanded surveillance system for soil-transmitted helminths would provide real-time data for assessing the process of transmission interruption, which will benefit the adjustment of interventions accordingly.

Figure

Epidemiological map of soil-transmitted helminths in China, 2001–04

We declare no competing interests.

1. 1Brooker, SJ, Nikolay, B, Balabanova, D, and Pullan, RL. Global feasibility assessment of interrupting the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths: a statistical modelling study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2015; 15: 941–950
   • View in Article 
   • | Summary
   • | Full Text
   • | Full Text PDF
   • | PubMed
   • | Scopus (1)
2. 2Technical Steering Panel for National Survey of Current Status of Major Human Parasitic Diseases. Report on the National Survey of Current Status of Major Human Parasitic Diseases in China. Peoples Medical Publishing House, Beijing; 2008 ()
   • View in Article 
3. 3Zang, W, Zhang, XQ, and Chen, YD. Analysis on the epidemiological situation of soil-transmitted nematodiasis at monitoring spots from 2006 to 2010. Guo Ji Yi Xue Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi. 2013; 40: 144–148 ()
   • View in Article 
4. 4National Health and Family Planning Commission of China. Plan on national survey on important parasitic diseases. http://www.moh.gov.cn/jkj/s5873/201410/b6e24b157c1942c7bab31e2d76458faa.shtml. ()
   • View in Article