Evaluation of an improved approach using residences of schistosomiasis-positive school children to identify carriers in an area of low endemicity.
School children were used as indicators for the identification of schistosomiasis-positive family members in a area of low endemicity. This study was designed to improve current schistosomiasis control programs by applying this strategy to identify schistosomiasis-positive individuals in a more efficient way. The initial prevalence among school children was 8.6%. However, the prevalence among the family members of these school children increased to 15.5%. In contrast to these findings the prevalence in family members of schistosomiasis-negative school children was 3.8%. Although the applied methodology showed a relatively low sensitivity (50.0%), the high negative predictive value (87.7%) indicates that a few positive family members of school children with a negative stool result will be missed. This shows that this method of evaluation could be a strategy for a more efficient and cheaper identification of schistosomiasis-positive individuals in areas of low endemicity.
Massara
Cristiano Lara
CL
Laboratory of Intestinal Helminthiasis, Laboratory of Epidemiology and Medical Anthropology, and Laboratory Health Education, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, René Rachou Research Center, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. massara@cpqrr.fiocruz.br
Peixoto
Sérgio Viana
SV
Enk
Martin Johannes
MJ
da Silva Barros
Héliton
H
dos Santos Carvalho
Omar
O
Sakurai
Emilia
E
Schall
Virginia
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000254:growth & development*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013334:Students