Frontiers of parasitology research in the People's Republic of China: infection, diagnosis, protection and surveillance

Abstract

Control and eventual elimination of human parasitic diseases in the People's Republic of China (P.R. China) requires novel approaches, particularly in the areas of diagnostics, mathematical modelling, monitoring, evaluation, surveillance and public health response. A comprehensive effort, involving the collaboration of 188 scientists (>85% from P.R. China) from 48 different institutions and universities (80% from P.R. China), covers this collection of 29 articles published in Parasites & Vectors. The research mainly stems from a research project entitled "Surveillance and diagnostic tools for major parasitic diseases in P.R. China" (grant no. 2008ZX10004-011) and highlights the frontiers of research in parasitology. The majority of articles in this thematic series deals with the most important parasitic diseases in P.R. China, emphasizing Schistosoma japonicum, Plasmodium vivax and Clonorchis sinensis plus some parasites of emerging importance such as Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Significant achievements have been made through the collaborative research programme in the following three fields: (i) development of strategies for the national control programme; (ii) updating the surveillance data of parasitic infections both in human and animals; and (iii) improvement of existing, and development of novel, diagnostic tools to detect parasitic infections. The progress is considerable and warrants broad validation efforts. Combined with the development of improved tools for diagnosis and surveillance, integrated and multi-pronged control strategies should now pave the way for elimination of parasitic diseases in P.R. China. Experiences and lessons learned can stimulate control and elimination efforts of parasitic diseases in other parts of the world.

Figure 1

Academic and research organizations that contributed to the 29 articles pertaining to various aspects of parasitology (e.g. surveillance, diagnosis, infection and immunity) in the People's Republic of China. (A) Number and percentage (%) of contributing organizations. (B) Number of authors from each contributing organization (CDCs: institutions belonging to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention at different levels; NIPD: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, China CDC; JIPD: Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases; SYU: Sun Yat-Sen University; ZJAM: Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences; LVRI: Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute; II: international institutions; OI: other institutions).

Figure 2

Bibliometric analysis of the 29 articles published in the thematic series of “Aspects of parasitology in the People's Republic of China: surveillance, diagnosis, infection and immunity”. (A) The number of articles according to the number of authors in each paper. (B) The number of articles according to the number of affiliations for each paper.

Figure 3

Bibliometric analysis of the research topic and discipline for the 29 articles published in this thematic series of “Aspects of parasitology in the People's Republic of China: surveillance, diagnosis, infection and immunity”. (A) Number and percentage (%) of articles according to disease research area. (B) Number and percentage (%) of articles according to the discipline involved.