Evaluation of an experimental mollusciciding programme to control Schistosoma mansoni transmission in St Lucia.
The size and number of colonies of Biomphalaria glabrata were reduced after four years of a surveillance/treatment snail control programme using an emulsifiable concentrate of niclosamide (25% active ingredient). Surveys among the human population showed that the incidence of new Schistosoma mansoni infections in 0-10 year-old children fell from 22% to 4.3%, while in a comparison area the incidence remained at 20%. With reduced transmission over four years, the prevalence of infection in a cohort of children examined in 1971 and 1975 fell from 34% to 23%. The fall in prevalence and intensity of infection led to a reduction of 66% in the index of potential contamination, which was reflected in a reduced rate of infection among sentinel snails and representative samples of B. glabrata collected during surveillance searches.The overall annual cost of the programme was US $3.24 per capita.
D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000469:parasitology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D008975:Molluscacides; D009534:Niclosamide; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D014900:West Indies
D008975:Molluscacides; D009534:Niclosamide