title: Schistosomiasis mansoni in Bananal (State of São Paulo, Brazil): III. Seroepidemiological studies in the Palha District.
abstract: The Palha district, municipality of Bananal, State of São Paulo, Brazil, had 10.3% cases of Schistosoma mansoni diagnosed from 1994 to 2000 by coproscopy: about three times the municipality average. The immunofluorescent antibody test was used to assess gut-associated IgM antibody titers of samples from 452 inhabitants. It disclosed 129 (28.5%) positive cases. Subjects were classified according to age, sex, birthplace, and period of residence. Titers varied from 8 to 4,096 (geometric mean: 170.2). Seropositives were aged from 6 to 69 years (average: 24.5), 75% of them aged 34 or less, predominantly males (78 or 60.5%). Of all subjects, 65.7% were born and had been living in Bananal since; 24.2% came from neighboring municipalities and are residing in Bananal from two months to 89 years (average: 22.7 years). Further Kato-Katz coproscopy from 97 seropositives (geometric mean titer, 619) revealed S. mansoni eggs in 11 subjects (11.3%). Serology was deemed useful in screening subjects to be further investigated by coproscopy, considering that blood collection had better acceptance than supplying fecal samples. Higher than average serological titers may indicate new cases in endemic areas. Longitudinal studies associated with epidemiological investigation, including titer evolution are advised, as isolated data are difficult to interpret.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Soroepidemiologia, Coordenação dos Laboratórios de Referência e Desenvolvimento Científico, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo, SP, 01027-000, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zacharias
authors.forename: Maria Esther
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Cybele
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gargioni
authors.forename: Horacio M Santana
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Teles
authors.forename: Cláudio S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Valquíria R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: de Lima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007075:Immunoglobulin M