Relationship of the livestock trade to schistosomiasis transmission in mountainous area.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between the livestock trade and schistosomiasis transmission and to provide an evidence for making a strategy of schistosomiasis control in mountainous areas.


METHODS
A retrospective survey and analysis was conducted to investigate the prevalence of schistosomiasis in both humans and livestock (cattle, horses, mules, donkeys and pigs), and the number and migration of livestock in Weishan County, Yunnan Province in 1980-1991.


RESULTS
A positive correlation was found between the infection rate of residents and the numbers of livestock migration (R = 0.9151, P < 0.01). During 1980 to 1991 the infection rate was increased gradually along with the development of livestock husbandry, especially, from the economic reforms since 1984. In 1984 there was positive correlation in the infection rate both human and livestock (R = 0.8458, P < 0.05). The results show that the infection rates of livestock on sale including cattle, horses, mules, donkeys and pigs are 9.54%, 29.39%, 16.38%, 14.47%, 25.73% and 11.11%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The infection rate of human and livestock arises by parallel. The high frequency of livestock trade resulted in serious spreading of the infection source of schistosomiasis. The migration of the infected livestock might be an important factor in transmitting schistosomiasis.
Zheng
J
J
Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai 200025.
Guo
J G
JG
Wang
X F
XF
Zhu
H Q
HQ
D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology*; D002417:Cattle; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary; D013552:Swine