[Assessment of the diagnostic value and prognosis of different detection markers in endocervical adenocarcinoma]

Objective: To study the diagnostic value of different detection markers in histological categories of endocervical adenocarcinoma (ECA), and their assessment of patient prognosis. Methods: A retrospective study of 54 patients with ECA in the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2005-2010 were performed. The cases of ECA were classified into two categories, namely human papillomavirus-associated adenocarcinoma (HPVA) and non-human papillomavirus-associated adenocarcinoma (NHPVA), based on the 2018 international endocervical adenocarcinoma criteria and classification (IECC). To detect HR-HPV DNA and HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA in all patients, we used whole tissue section PCR (WTS-PCR) and HPV E6/E7 mRNA in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques, respectively. Additionally, we performed Laser microdissection PCR (LCM-PCR) on 15 randomly selected HR-HPV DNA-positive cases to confirm the accuracy of the above two assays in identifying ECA lesions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze the efficacy of markers to identify HPVA and NHPVA. Univariate and multifactorial Cox proportional risk model regression analyses were performed for factors influencing ECA patients' prognoses. Results: Of the 54 patients with ECA, 30 were HPVA and 24 were NHPVA. A total of 96.7% (29/30) of HPVA patients were positive for HR-HPV DNA and 63.3% (19/30) for HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA, and 33.3% (8/24) of NHPVA patients were positive for HR-HPV DNA and HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA was not detected (0/24), and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.001). LCM-PCR showed that five patients were positive for HR-HPV DNA in the area of glandular epithelial lesions and others were negative, which was in good agreement with the E6/E7 mRNA ISH assay (Kappa=0.842, P=0.001). Analysis of the ROC results showed that the AUC of HR-HPV DNA, HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA, and p16 to identify HPVA and NHPVA were 0.817, 0.817, and 0.692, respectively, with sensitivities of 96.7%, 63.3%, and 80.0% and specificities of 66.7%, 100.0%, and 58.3%, respectively. HR-HPV DNA identified HPVA and NHPVA with higher AUC than p16 (P=0.044). The difference in survival rates between HR-HPV DNA (WTS-PCR assay) positive and negative patients was not statistically significant (P=0.156), while the difference in survival rates between HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA positive and negative patients, and p16 positive and negative patients were statistically significant (both P<0.05). Multifactorial Cox regression analysis showed that International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) staging (HR=19.875, 95% CI: 1.526-258.833) and parametrial involvement (HR=14.032, 95% CI: 1.281-153.761) were independent factors influencing the prognosis of patients with ECA. Conclusions: HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA is more reflective of HPV infection in ECA tissue. The efficacy of HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA and HR-HPV DNA (WTS-PCR assay) in identifying HPVA and NHPVA is similar, with higher sensitivity of HR-HPV DNA and higher specificity of HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA. HR-HPV DNA is more effective than p16 in identifying HPVA and NHPVA. HPV E6/E7 mRNA and p16 positive ECA patients have better survival rates than negative.

[Association between gestational diabetes mellitus and preterm birth subtypes]

Objective: To investigate the association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preterm birth subtypes. Methods: Based on the cohort of pregnant women in Anqing Prefectural Hospital, the pregnant women who received prenatal screening in the first or second trimesters were recruited into baseline cohorts; and followed up for them was conducted until delivery, and the information about their pregnancy status and outcomes were obtained through electronic medical record system and questionnaire surveys. The log-binomial regression model was used to explore the association between GDM and preterm birth [iatrogenic preterm birth, spontaneous preterm birth (preterm premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor)]. For multiple confounding factors, the propensity score correction model was used to compute the adjusted association. Results: Among the 2 031 pregnant women with a singleton delivery, the incidence of GDM and preterm birth were 10.0% (204 cases) and 4.4% (90 cases) respectively. The proportions of iatrogenic preterm birth and spontaneous preterm birth in the GDM group (n=204) were 1.5% and 5.9% respectively, while the proportions in non-GDM group (n=1 827) were 0.9% and 3.2% respectively, and the difference in the proportion of spontaneous preterm birth between the two groups was significant (P=0.048). Subtypes of spontaneous preterm were further analyzed, and the results showed that the proportions of preterm premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor in the GDM group were 4.9% and 1.0% respectively, while the proportions in the non-GDM group were 2.1% and 1.1% respectively. It showed that the risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes in GDM pregnant women was 2.34 times (aRR=2.34, 95%CI: 1.16-4.69) higher than that in non-GDM pregnant women. Conclusions: Our results showed that GDM might increase the risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes. No significant increase in the proportion of preterm labor in pregnant women with GDM was found.

CaFeFeNbO6 - an iron-based double double perovskite

Ordering of cations is important for controlling properties of ABO₃ perovskites, and CaFeFeNbO₆ is the first example of an Fe-based AA'BB'O₆ double double perovskite, with Ca²⁺/Fe²⁺ ordered on A-site columns, and Fe³⁺/Nb⁵⁺ at the octahedral B-sites. Substantial (37%) antisite disorder of the latter cations leads to spin glassy magnetism below a freezing transition at 12 K. The CaMnFeNbO₆ analogue also shows substantial cation disorder and spin glassy behaviour. Comparison of synthesis pressures for ordered materials based on different A-site transition metals, suggests that pressures of at least 14-18 GPa will be required to discover the expected plethora of double double perovskites based on A' cations smaller than Mn²⁺.

Probing the pressure dependence of sound speed and attenuation in bubbly media: Experimental observations, a theoretical model and numerical calculations

The problem of attenuation and sound speed of bubbly media has remained partially unsolved. Comprehensive data regarding pressure-dependent changes of the attenuation and sound speed of a bubbly medium are not available. Our theoretical understanding of the problem is limited to linear or semi-linear theoretical models, which are not accurate in the regime of large amplitude bubble oscillations. Here, by controlling the size of the lipid coated bubbles (mean diameter of ≈5.4μm), we report the first time observation and characterization of the simultaneous pressure dependence of sound speed and attenuation in bubbly water below, at and above microbubbles resonance (frequency range between 1-3 MHz). With increasing acoustic pressure (between 12.5-100 kPa), the frequency of the peak attenuation and sound speed decreases while maximum and minimum amplitudes of the sound speed increase. We propose a nonlinear model for the estimation of the pressure dependent sound speed and attenuation with good agreement with the experiments. The model calculations are validated by comparing with the linear and semi-linear models predictions. One of the major challenges of the previously developed models is the significant overestimation of the attenuation at the bubble resonance at higher void fractions (e.g. 0.005). We addressed this problem by incorporating bubble-bubble interactions and comparing the results to experiments. Influence of the bubble-bubble interactions increases with increasing pressure. Within the examined exposure parameters, we numerically show that, even for low void fractions (e.g. 5.1×10-6) with increasing pressure the sound speed may become 4 times higher than the sound speed in the non-bubbly medium.

Temporal Structures in Electron Spectra and Charge Sign Effects in Galactic Cosmic Rays

We present the precision measurements of 11 years of daily cosmic electron fluxes in the rigidity interval from 1.00 to 41.9 GV based on 2.0×10^{8} electrons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The electron fluxes exhibit variations on multiple timescales. Recurrent electron flux variations with periods of 27 days, 13.5 days, and 9 days are observed. We find that the electron fluxes show distinctly different time variations from the proton fluxes. Remarkably, a hysteresis between the electron flux and the proton flux is observed with a significance of greater than 6σ at rigidities below 8.5 GV. Furthermore, significant structures in the electron-proton hysteresis are observed corresponding to sharp structures in both fluxes. This continuous daily electron data provide unique input to the understanding of the charge sign dependence of cosmic rays over an 11-year solar cycle.

A 2-Stage Root Analog Implant with Compact Structure, Uniform Roughness, and High Accuracy

Immediate implant placement has the advantages of shortening the operation time, reducing the treatment cycle and cost. At present, this technology has been used widely, but the indications of immediate implantation are still limited. Here, a novel type of root analog implant (RAI) was manufactured by selective laser melting technology to address the limitation. Under optimized condition, RAIs were printed with the internal density of 99.73% and the uniform surface roughness of 11 μm (Sa). Besides, the deviation between RAI specimen and design models is controlled within 0.15 mm after optimizing scanning parameters. The substrate printed could promote human bone marrow stromal cell proliferation, spreading, and osteogenic differentiation. The bone-implant contact (BIC, 75% ± 7%) and bone volume/total volume (BV/TV, 74% ± 7%) of RAIs were significantly higher than that of conventional implants (BIC, 66% ± 5%; BV/TV, 62% ± 5%) in in vivo experiments. Further, customized abutments were designed for the RAIs, improving the masticatory ability of the beagle dogs after crown restoration. This study aims to design a personalized 2-stage RAI with compact structure and uniform roughness, in order to achieve better fracture resistance, initial osseointegration efficiency, and dispersed stress in immediate implantation. It provides a certain guiding value for standardizing the manufacture and clinical application of RAI in immediate implantation.

Production Change Optimization Model of Nonlinear Supply Chain System under Emergencies

Aiming at the problem that the upstream manufacturer cannot accurately formulate the production plan after the link of the nonlinear supply chain system changes under emergencies, an optimization model of production change in a nonlinear supply chain system under emergencies is designed. Firstly, based on the structural characteristics of the supply chain system and the logical relationship between production, sales, and storage parameters, a three-level single-chain nonlinear supply chain dynamic system model containing producers, sellers, and retailers was established based on the introduction of nonlinear parameters. Secondly, the radial basis function (RBF) neural network and improved fast variable power convergence law were introduced to improve the traditional sliding mode control, and the improved adaptive sliding mode control is proposed so that it can have a good control effect on the unknown nonlinear supply chain system. Finally, based on the numerical assumptions, the constructed optimization model was parameterized and simulated for comparison experiments. The simulation results show that the optimized model can reduce the adjustment time by 37.50% and inventory fluctuation by 42.97%, respectively, compared with the traditional sliding mode control, while helping the supply chain system to return the smooth operation after the change within 5 days.

Thermal Stability, Optical and Electrical Properties of Substoichiometric Molybdenum Oxide

Substoichiometric molybdenum oxide ceramics have aroused widespread interest owing to their promising optical and electrical performance. In this work, the thermal stability and decomposition mechanism of Mo₉O₂₆ and Mo₄O₁₁ at 700-1000 °C and 700-1100 °C were investigated, respectively. Based on this information, MoO_x (2 < x < 3) bulk ceramics were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The results show that Mo₉O₂₆ is stable up to 790 °C in an argon atmosphere. As the temperature rises, it decomposes into Mo₄O₁₁. Mo₄O₁₁ can exist stably at 830 °C, beyond which it will convert to MoO₂. The MoO_x ceramic bulks with four different components (MoO_2.9, MoO_2.8, MoO_2.7 and MoO_2.6) were successfully sintered by SPS, and their relative density was greater than 96.4% as measured by the Archimedes principle. The reflectivity of MoO_x ceramic bulk is low and only 6.3% when the composition is MoO_2.8. The resistivity increases from 10^-3 to 10^-1 Ωcm with the increase in the O/Mo atomic ratio x. In general, the thermal stability information provides a theoretical basis for the processing of MoO_x materials, such as the sintering of the MoO_x target. The optical and electrical properties show that MoO_x is a low-reflective conductive oxide material with great photoelectric application value.

Apical Papilla Regulates Dental Follicle Fate via the OGN-Hh Pathway

Root apical complex, including Hertwig's epithelial root sheath, apical papilla, and dental follicle (DF), is the germinal center of root development, wherein the DF constantly develops into periodontal tissue. However, whether DF development is regulated by the adjacent apical papilla remains largely unknown. In this study, we employed a transwell coculture system and found that stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) inhibit the differentiation and maintain the stemness of dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs). Meanwhile, partial SCAP differentiation markers were upregulated after DFSC coculture. High-throughput RNA sequencing revealed that the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway was significantly downregulated in DFSCs cocultured with SCAPs. Upregulation or downregulation of the Hh pathway can respectively activate or inhibit the multidirectional differentiation of DFSCs. Osteoglycin (OGN) (previously known as mimecan) is highly expressed in the dental papilla, similarly to Hh pathway factors. By secreting OGN, SCAP regulated the stemness and multidirectional differentiation of DFSCs via the OGN-Hh pathway. Finally, Ogn^-/- mice were established using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. We found that the root length growth rate was accelerated during root development from PN0 to PN30 in Ogn^-/- mice. Moreover, the hard tissues (including dentin and cementum) of the root in Ogn^-/- mice were thicker than those in wild-type mice. These phenotypes were likely due to Hh pathway activation and the increased cell proliferation and differentiation in both the apical papilla and DF. The current work elucidates the molecular regulation of early periodontal tissue development, providing a theoretical basis for future research on tooth root biology and periodontal tissue regeneration.

Author Correction: An investigation into the mechanism of nobiletin's inhibition of papillary thyroid cancer using network pharmacology analysis and experimental pharmacology

Correction to: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 2023; 27 (4): 1553-1564. DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202302_31398-PMID: 36876711-published online on February 15, 2023. After publication, the authors applied some corrections to the galley proof: -       The order of Table I and II has been inverted. -       The scale bar of Figure 9A has been inserted in the Legend. There are amendments to this paper. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/31398.

[Clinical analysis of liver dysfunction induced by SHR-1210 alone or combined with apatinib and chemotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of abnormal liver function in patients with advanced esophageal squamous carcinoma treated with programmed death-1 (PD-1) antibody SHR-1210 alone or in combination with apatinib and chemotherapy. Methods: Clinical data of 73 patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma from 2 prospective clinical studies conducted at the Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from May 11, 2016, to November 19, 2019, were analyzed, and logistic regression analysis was used for the analysis of influencing factors. Results: Of the 73 patients, 35 had abnormal liver function. 13 of the 43 patients treated with PD-1 antibody monotherapy (PD-1 monotherapy group) had abnormal liver function, and the median time to first abnormal liver function was 55 days. Of the 30 patients treated with PD-1 antibody in combination with apatinib and chemotherapy (PD-1 combination group), 22 had abnormal liver function, and the median time to first abnormal liver function was 41 days. Of the 35 patients with abnormal liver function, 2 had clinical symptoms, including malaise and loss of appetite, and 1 had jaundice. 28 of the 35 patients with abnormal liver function returned to normal and 7 improved to grade 1, and none of the patients had serious life-threatening or fatal liver function abnormalities. Combination therapy was a risk factor for patients to develop abnormal liver function (P=0.007). Conclusions: Most of the liver function abnormalities that occur during treatment with PD-1 antibody SHR-1210 alone or in combination with apatinib and chemotherapy are mild, and liver function can return to normal or improve with symptomatic treatment. For patients who receive PD-1 antibody in combination with targeted therapy and chemotherapy and have a history of long-term previous smoking, alcohol consumption and hepatitis B virus infection, liver function should be monitored and actively managed in a timely manner.

Risk factors analysis and establishment of predictive nomogram of extranodal B-cell lymphoma of mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue

PURPOSE

The role of radiation therapy in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is poorly defined. The objective of this study was to explore the factors associated with the performance of radiotherapy and to assess its prognostic impact in patients with MALT lymphoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with MALT lymphoma diagnosed between 1992 and 2017 were identified in the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (SEER). Factors associated with the delivery of radiotherapy were assessed by chi-square test. Overall survival (OS) and lymphoma-specific survival (LSS) were compared between patients with and without radiotherapy, using Cox proportional hazard regression models, in patients with early stage as well as those with advanced stage.

RESULTS

Of the 10,344 patients identified with a diagnosis of MALT lymphoma, 33.6% had received radiotherapy; this rate was 38.9% for stage I/II patients and 12.0% for stage III/IV patients, respectively. Older patients and those who already received primary surgery or chemotherapy had a significantly lower rate of receiving radiotherapy, regardless of lymphoma stage. After univariate and multivariate analysis, radiotherapy was associated with improved OS and LSS in patients with stage I/II (HR=0.71 [0.65-0.78]) and (HR=0.66 [0.59-0.74]), respectively, but not in patients with stage III/IV (HR=1.01 [0.80-1.26]) and (HR=0.93 [0.67-1.29]). The nomogram built from the significant prognostic factors associated with overall survival of stage I/II patients had a good concordance (C-index=0.749±0.002).

CONCLUSION

This cohort study shows that radiotherapy is significantly associated with a better prognosis in patients with early but not advanced MALT lymphoma. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the prognostic impact of radiotherapy in patients with MALT lymphoma.

[Optimized pathway to schistosomiasis elimination in China: a scrutiny using a marginal benefit approach]

Following concerted efforts for over 7 decades, great achievements have been gained in the national schistosomiasis control program of China. Currently, China is moving towards the stage of schistosomiasis elimination, when the major task is to make full use of available resources to improve schistosomiasis surveillance and response to sustainably consolidate gained schistosomiasis control achievements and prevent re-emerging schistosomiasis. There is therefore an urgent need for optimization of interventions for schistosomiasis elimination. Based on analysis of socioeconomic features at different stages of the national schistosomiasis control program in China, this review discusses the relationship between the needs of assessment of schistosomiasis elimination interventions and the optimized strategy of schistosomiasis elimination at different stages of the national schistosomiasis control program using a marginal benefit approach and proposes the optimized schistosomiasis elimination strategy that allows the highest marginal benefit with currently available schistosomiasis elimination costs, so as to provide the optimal strategic pathway to schistosomiasis elimination and facilitate the achievement of the targets set in Healthy China 2030.

[Effect of hemoperfusion on protein energy wasting and long-term prognosis in patients on maintenance hemodialysis]

Objective: To explore the effect of hemoperfusion (HP) combined with hemodialysis (HD) (HD+HP) on protein energy wasting (PEW) and long-term prognosis in patients on maintenance HD (MHD). Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted. Adult MHD patients who completed PEW assessment and underwent regular dialysis between July 2015 and July 2021 at 23 hemodialysis centers in Guizhou Province were selected. Demographic characteristics, physical indicators, laboratory indicators, 3-day diet diary and HP treatment data of the subjects were collected. The patients were divided into different groups according to the presence or absence of HP, the frequency of HP treatment and the type of cartridge, and then relevant indicators were compared. Multivariate logistic regression model and Cox proportional regression model were used to analyze the influence of HP treatment on PEW risk in MHD patients. Meanwhile, Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot the survival curve. Results: A total of 4 623 MHD patients (2 789 males and 1 834 females) aged (53.7±15.9) years were included in the study, with a median dialysis age of 64.3 (44.3, 92.3) months. There were 3 429 (74.2%) MHD patients treated with HD+HP, and 1 194 patients (25.8%) were not treated with HP. According to the 2008 diagnostic criteria of the International Society for Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM), the incidence of PEW was 26.0% (1 204/4 623). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female (OR=2.48, 95%CI: 1.55-3.95, P<0.001), diabetes (OR=1.75, 95%CI: 1.08-2.83, P=0.024) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (OR=1.02, 95%CI: 1.01-1.03, P=0.003) were risk factors for PEW, while treatment with HD+HP (OR=0.51, 95%CI: 0.31-0.87, P=0.012) and elevated triglyceride levels (OR=0.62, 95%CI: 0.48-0.80, P<0.001) were protective factors. Cox hazard ratio regression showed that among different HP treatment frequencies and cartridge types, 2 times/month (HR=0.40, 95%CI: 0.17-0.95, P=0.037), 3 times/month (HR=0.44, 95%CI: 0.23-0.85, P=0.014), 4 times/month (HR=0.54, 95%CI: 0.34-0.85, P=0.008), HA130 (HR=0.57, 95%CI: 0.36-0.89, P=0.014) and HA230 (HR=0.30, 95%CI: 0.15-0.63, P=0.001) had protective effects on the occurrence of PEW in MHD patients. The all-cause mortality rate was 11.3% (521/4 623) at 33 (24, 48) months of follow-up. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients undergoing 4 times/month HP treatment (χ²=36.78, P<0.001) and using HA230 (χ²=9.46, P=0.002) had the highest survival rate. Conclusion: Treatment with HD+HP is a protective factor for PEW in patients with MHD, and 4 times/month HP treatment or HA230 significantly reduces the risk of PEW and all-cause mortality in patients with MHD.

miR-199-3p suppresses cellular migration and viability and promotes progesterone production in goose ovarian follicles before selection through regulating ITGB8 and other ECM-related genes

1. The extracellular matrix (ECM) constitutes the basal lamina and the area between follicular cells. Remodelling the ECM is believed to be a key event in follicular development, especially during selection, and plays an important role in cell migration, survival, and steroidogenesis. miR-199-3p is differentially expressed in the goose granulosa layer during follicular selection and is reported to play a primary role in inhibiting cell migration and invasion. Nevertheless, the effect of miR-199-3p on ovarian follicles and its role in follicular cellular migration is not understood.2. In this study, qRT-PCR assays revealed that miR-199-3p was differentially expressed in the granulosa layer from goose ovarian follicles before and after follicular selection. Additionally, miR-199-3p overexpression in cultured granulosa cells (GCs) from goose pre-hierarchical follicles significantly suppressed cell viability and migration. It elevated the concentration of progesterone and the expression of key progesterone production genes. Furthermore, miR-199-3p overexpression in the GCs of goose pre-hierarchical follicles inhibited the expression of ECM-related genes (ITGB8, MMP9 and MMP15) yet promoted the expression of another two ECM-related genes (COL4A1 and LAMA1). Finally, dual-fluorescence reporter experiments on 293T cells established the direct targeting of ECM gene ITGB8 by miR-199-3p.3. In conclusion, miR-199-3p may participate in granulosa cell migration, viability, and steroidogenesis in goose ovarian follicles before selection by modulating ITGB8 and other ECM-related genes.

Research on Real-Time Robust Optimization of Perishable Supply-Chain Systems Based on Digital Twins

Aiming at the real-time robust optimization problem of perishable supply-chain systems in complex environments, a real-time robust optimization scheme based on supply-chain digital twins is proposed. Firstly, based on the quantitative logical relationship between production and sales of single-chain series supply-chain system products, the state space equation of the supply-chain system with logical characteristics, structural characteristics, and quantitative characteristics was constructed, and twin data were introduced to construct the digital twins of supply chains based on the state-space equation. Secondly, the perishable supply-chain system in complex environments was regarded as an uncertain closed-loop system from the perspective of the state space equation, and then a robust H∞ controller design strategy was proposed, and the supply-chain digital twins was used to update and correct the relevant parameters of the supply-chain system in real-time, to implement the real-time robust optimization based on the supply-chain digital twins. Finally, the simulation experiment was carried out with a cake supply-chain production as an example. The experimental results show that the real-time updating of relevant parameters through the digital twins can help enterprise managers to formulate reasonable management plans, effectively avoid the shortage problem of enterprises in the cake supply-chain system, and reduce the maximum inventory movement standard deviation of each link by 12.65%, 6.50%, and 14.87%, and the maximum production movement standard deviation by 70.21%, 56.84%, and 45.19%.

[Prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium in captive-bred Mustela putorius furo in Jiangsu Province]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence and molecular features of Cryptosporidium in captive-bred Mustela putorius furo in Jiangsu Province.

METHODS

A total of 290 fresh stool samples were collected from a ferret farm in Jiangsu Province on May 2017, and the small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene of Cryptosporidium was amplified in stool samples using nested PCR assay. The actin, cowp and gp60 genes were amplified in positive samples and sequenced to characterize Cryptosporidium species/genotypes.

RESULTS

A total of 18 stool samples were tested positive for Cryptosporidium SSU rRNA gene, with a detection rate of 6.2%. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of SSU rRNA, actin and cowp genes characterized Cryptosporidium isolated from captive-bred ferrets as Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype. In addition, gp60 gene was amplified in 10 out of 18 stool samples tested positive for Cryptosporidium.

CONCLUSIONS

Cryptosporidium is widely prevalent in captive-bred ferrets in Jiangsu Province, and Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype is the only Cryptosporidium genotype in ferrets.