Wei Zhang

Publications (3)5.59 Total impact

• Article: Serological prevalence of echinococcosis and risk factors for infection among children in rural communities of southern Ningxia, China.

  Yu Rong Yang, Philip S Craig, Dominique A Vuitton, Gail M Williams, Tao Sun, Tian Xi Liu, Belgees Boufana, Patrick Giraudoux, Jing Teng, Yanbin Li, Ling Huang, Wei Zhang, Malcolm K Jones, Donald P McManus
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  ABSTRACT: To assess the usefulness of serology as an indicator of Echinococcus transmission for developing preventive measures against echinococcosis in rural communities. Cross-sectional survey in 2002 among 861 children aged 7 to 18 years in Xiji County, Ningxia, China. Before ultrasound abdominal examination, a questionnaire was used to identify socioeconomic, sanitary and hygiene risk factors for echinococcal infection; filter paper blood samples were collected from each child for specific antibody detection using EmP (Echinococcus multilocularis) and EgB (Echinococcus granulosus) antigens. Transmission of both E. multilocularis and E. granulosus occur in this area. Serological prevalence was far higher than disease prevalence in this age range. We found no gender-related differences of seroprevalence among the children, suggesting an equal chance of exposure to echinococcal egg-contaminated environments. The seroprevalence distribution was associated with changes in the ecology of wild hosts for E. multilocularis contamination, and with changes in socio-geographic features of the communities for E. granulosus contamination. Serological data obtained for children in mass surveys of echinococcosis appear to be a comprehensive and useful tool to monitor changes of transmission dynamics in humans and provide 'warning signals' to decision makers for the instigation of specific control measures against the disease.
  Tropical Medicine & International Health 07/2008; 13(8):1086-94. · 2.80 Impact Factor
• Article: Serological prevalence of echinococcosis and risk factors for infection among children in rural communities of southern Ningxia, China

  Yu Rong Yang, Philip S. Craig, Dominique A. Vuitton, Gail M. Williams, Tao Sun, Tian Xi Liu, Belgees Boufana, Patrick Giraudoux, Jing Teng, Yanbin Li, Ling Huang, Wei Zhang, Malcolm K. Jones, Donald P. McManus
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  ABSTRACT: Objective  To assess the usefulness of serology as an indicator of Echinococcus transmission for developing preventive measures against echinococcosis in rural communities.Methods  Cross-sectional survey in 2002 among 861 children aged 7 to 18 years in Xiji County, Ningxia, China. Before ultrasound abdominal examination, a questionnaire was used to identify socioeconomic, sanitary and hygiene risk factors for echinococcal infection; filter paper blood samples were collected from each child for specific antibody detection using EmP (Echinococcus multilocularis) and EgB (Echinococcus granulosus) antigens.Results  Transmission of both E. multilocularis and E. granulosus occur in this area. Serological prevalence was far higher than disease prevalence in this age range. We found no gender-related differences of seroprevalence among the children, suggesting an equal chance of exposure to echinococcal egg-contaminated environments. The seroprevalence distribution was associated with changes in the ecology of wild hosts for E. multilocularis contamination, and with changes in socio-geographic features of the communities for E. granulosus contamination.Conclusions  Serological data obtained for children in mass surveys of echinococcosis appear to be a comprehensive and useful tool to monitor changes of transmission dynamics in humans and provide ‘warning signals’ to decision makers for the instigation of specific control measures against the disease.Objectif:  Evaluer l’utilité de la sérologie comme un indicateur de la transmission de l’Echinococcus afin de développer des mesures préventives contre l’échinococcose dans les communautés rurales.Méthodes:  Etude transversale menée en 2002 sur 861 enfants âgés de 7 à 18 ans dans le comté de Xiji, à Ningxia, en Chine. Avant l’examen échographique abdominale, un questionnaire a permis d’identifier les facteurs de risque socio-économiques, sanitaires et d’hygiène pour l’infection par l’Echinococcus. Pour chaque enfant, un échantillon de sang a été prélevé sur papier filtre pour la détection d’anticorps spécifiques basés sur les antigènes EmP (Echinococcus multilocularis) et EgB (Echinococcus granulosus).Résultats:  La transmission de E. multilocularis et E. granulosus s’effectue dans cette région. La prévalence sérologique était beaucoup plus élevée que la prévalence de la maladie dans cette tranche d’âge. Nous n’avons pas trouvé de différences de séroprévalence liée au sexe chez les enfants, ce qui suggère une chance égale d’exposition aux environnements contaminés par des œufs d’Echinococcus. La distribution de la séroprévalence était associée aux changements dans l’écologie des hôtes sauvages pour la contamination àE. multilocularis, ainsi qu’aux changements dans les caractéristiques socio-géographiques des communautés pour la contamination àE. granulosus.Conclusions:  Les données sérologiques obtenues chez les enfants dans les vastes surveillances de l’échinococcose semblent être un outil détaillé et utile pour suivre l’évolution de la dynamique de la transmission chez l’homme et procure des “signaux d’alarme” aux décideurs pour l’instigation de certaines mesures de lutte contre la maladie.Objetivo:  Evaluar la utilidad de la serología como un indicador de la transmisión de Echinococcus, para el desarrollo de medidas preventivas frente a la equinococosis en comunidades rurales.Métodos:  Estudio croseccional realizado en el 2002 con 861 niños de edades comprendidas entre los 7 y 18 años, en el condado de Xiji, Ningxia, China. Antes del examen abdominal por ultrasonido, se utilizó un cuestionario para identificar los factores de riesgo socioeconómicos, sanitarios y de higiene para la infección por equinococo; se recolectaron muestras de sangre de cada niño, en papel de filtro, para la detección de anticuerpos específicos, utilizando antígenos EmP (Echinococcus multilocularis) y EgB (Echinococcus granulosus).Resultados:  En esta área existe transmisión, tanto de E. multilocularis como de E. granulosus. La prevalencia serológica era mayor que la de la enfermedad en este rango de edad. No encontramos diferencias en seroprevalencia relacionadas con el género entre los niños, lo cual sugiere una igualdad en la probabilidad de exposición a los ambientes contaminados con huevos de equinococo. La distribución de la seroprevalencia estaba asociada con cambios en la ecología de hospederos salvajes en el caso de contaminación con E. multilocularis, y con cambios en las características socio-geográficas de las comunidades en el caso de contaminación con E. granulosus.Conclusiones:  Los datos serológicos obtenidos en niños durante estudios masivos de equinococosis parecen ser una herramienta completa y útil para monitorizar cambios en la dinámica de transmisión en humanos, y proveer ‘señales de aviso’ a los políticos para instigar medidas de control específicas frente a la enfermedad.
  Tropical Medicine & International Health 06/2008; 13(8):1086 - 1094. · 2.80 Impact Factor
• Article: Children serology of echinococcosis infection as an environmental health indicator to guide preventive activities in Ningxia, PR China

  Yu R. Yang, Philip S Craig, Dominique A Vuitton, Tao Sun, Gail M Williams, Zheng Z.. Li, Belchis Boufana, Patrick Giraudoux, Yan B. Li, Ling Huang, Wei Zhang, Donald P McManus
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  ABSTRACT: This study was undertaken to develop an environmental health indicator for use as a basis for developing preventive measures against cystic (CE) and alveolar (AE) echinococcosis infection in children from rural communities in Xiji County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, P.R. of China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2002 among 861 children under 18 years old. After ultrasound (US) abdominal examination, a questionnaire to identify risk factors for infection (socioeconomic, sanitation and hygiene variables) and collected filter-paper blood samples from each child for specific antibody detections using EmP and EgB antigens. The overall prevalence of echinococcosis by US was 0.1% for CE; no detectable AE was found. The results showed the dog/fox faeces environmental contamination and age-bias behaviour were significant risk factors for both human AE and CE. There was a statistically significant association between both infections and child domicile indicating that infection risk also included geographic independent factors, with the eco-geographic environment being a risk factor for AE and the sociogeographic environment increasing risk for CE. In conclusion, the environmental health indicator, which incorporated the most significant biological, environmental and social factors associated with the risk of echinococcosis infection, can provide clear “warning signals” to decisionmakers for the institution of specific control measures in this Chinese population.