The initial epidemiological studies in the low endemicity schistosomiasis area in Esteio, Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost Brazilian state, 1997 to 2000.
Nor Biomphalaria glabrata neither Schistosoma mansoni were reported from Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost Brazilian state before 1997. Their detection next to the Sinos River, Esteio, confirmed predictions of schistosomiasis expansion to the south. Parasitological examinations both in snails and fecal samples from the human population were performed from 1997 to 2000. The last 3 out of 5 surveys were performed after a preliminar serological screening procedure in a risk group identified at a population census. A total of 11 infected individuals were found infected and snails from 2 different sites were positive for S. mansoni. Samples from these 2 and other sites were identified as B. glabrata. Egg counts in feces were below 1 per gram in 6 out of 11 patients. Some socio-cultural perceptions of water contact activities next to the Sinos River may cause difficulties to control efforts, but they also may be partially acting against a very rapid increase in transmission intensity. The southernmost schistomiasis mansoni foci in Americas rise the alert for its ongoing expansion.
Faculdade de Biociências, Instituto de Pesquisas Biomédicas da PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga 6690, 90690-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. graeteix@pucrs.br
Carlos
C
Graeff-Teixeira
Cristiana
C
Valar
Caroline K de
CK
Moraes
Adriana Mostardeiro
AM
Salvany
Charles de Ornellas
Cde O
Brum
Rafael Lucyk
RL
Maurer
Renata
R
Ben
Lúcia B L F
LB
Mardini
Marta Bañolas
MB
Jobim
Ronaldo Santos do
RS
Amaral
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000469:parasitology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D045483:Rivers; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission