Schistosoma mansoni in Pachwach, Nebbi District, Uganda, 40 years after Nelson.
Human- and snail-related aspects of the transmission of schistosomiasis mansoni was studied in the Amor Parish community located at the western bank of the River Nile in the Nebbi District, north-western Uganda. A cross sectional survey involving 642 people revealed an overall prevalence of infection among males and females of 81.6% and 81.3%, respectively. The prevalence of infection peaked in the 10-14 years age group, being 93.2% and 93.6% in males and females, respectively, but the prevalence remained high also in older age groups. Intensity of infection peaked in the 10-14 years age group in males and in the 15-19 years age group in females, reaching 768 and 482 eggs/g faeces, respectively. Intensity of infection diminished only to a moderate extent with increasing age with the infection intensity in the 40+ years age group being 270 and 241 eggs/g faeces in males and females, respectively. Observations on the human water contact pattern revealed a community having a very intensive water contact persisting into old age. Interviews revealed a high level of awareness of the disease schistosomiasis, and 87.2% had a history of passing blood in stool. The total set of observations point to intestinal schistosomiasis being of public health importance in Amor Parish. Studies on snail-related aspects of transmission revealed that Biomphalaria stanleyi was by far the most important snail host in the area. A tendency was seen for B. stanleyi snail numbers to be reduced during the rainy season.
Kabatereine
N B
NB
Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Ariho
C
C
Christensen
N O
NO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004199:Disease Vectors; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D015995:Prevalence; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology