title: Non-equilibrium plasma prevention of Schistosoma japonicum transmission.
abstract: Schistosoma japonicum is a widespread human and animal parasite that causes intestinal and hepatosplenic schistosomiasis linked to colon, liver and bladder cancers, and anemia. Estimated 230 million people are currently infected with Schistosoma spp, with 779 million people at risk of contracting the parasite. Infection occurs when a host comes into contact with cercariae, a planktonic larval stage of the parasite, and can be prevented by inactivating the larvae, commonly by chemical treatment. We investigated the use of physical non-equilibrium plasma generated at atmospheric pressure using custom-made dielectric barrier discharge reactor to kill S. japonicum cercariae. Survival rate decreased with treatment time and applied power. Plasmas generated in O2and air gas discharges were more effective in killing S. japonicum cercariae than that generated in He, which is directly related to the mechanism by which cercariae are inactivated. Reactive oxygen species, such as O atoms, abundant in O2plasma and NO in air plasma play a major role in killing of S. japonicum cercariae via oxidation mechanisms. Similar level of efficacy is also shown for a gliding arc discharge plasma jet generated in ambient air, a system that may be more appropriate for scale-up and integration into existing water treatment processes.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Electronic Information, Institute of Optoelectronic Materials and Technology, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China.|School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.|Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
authors.forename: Xing-Quan
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Electronic Information, Institute of Optoelectronic Materials and Technology, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China.
authors.forename: Feng-Peng
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Electronic Information, Institute of Optoelectronic Materials and Technology, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Electronic Information, Institute of Optoelectronic Materials and Technology, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.|Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.|Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.|CSIRO-QUT Joint Sustainable Processes and Devices Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, P.O.Box 218, Lindfield, NSW 2070, Australia.
authors.forename: Kateryna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bazaka
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.|Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.|Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.|CSIRO-QUT Joint Sustainable Processes and Devices Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, P.O.Box 218, Lindfield, NSW 2070, Australia.
authors.forename: Kostya Ken
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ostrikov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058487:Cercaria / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000528:radiation effects; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control