Schistosoma mansoni infection among patients visiting a health centre near Gilgel Gibe Dam, Jimma, south western Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVE
Schistosomiasis is a global parasitic disease and ranks second to malaria in terms of socioeconomic and public health importance in tropical and subtropical areas. It is a disease which remains a major health problem due to the lack of vaccines, the failure to eradicate the mollusc vector and the recent development of parasite resistance to antischistosome drugs. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection among patients visiting Assendabo health center, nearby Gilgel Gibe hydroelectric dam, South-Western Ethiopia.


RESULTS
From the total of 198 patients with stool sample 21 (10.61%) were positive for Schistosoma mansoni infection. Of the infected subjects, 11.6% had contact with water for one or more reasons.


CONCLUSIONS
The severity of infection and subsequent impact on the socio-cultural condition needs appropriate control measures especially where the water body which can act as habitat for the intermediate host is available.
Abebe
Gemeda
G
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Patology, Jimma University, P.O. Box 744, Ethiopia. Gemeda.abebe@ju.edu.et
Kiros
Mulugeta
M
Golasa
Lamu
L
Zeynudin
Ahmed
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014881:Water Supply; D055815:Young Adult