title: National serologic survey of Haematobium schistosomiasis in Morocco: evidence for elimination.
abstract: The Moroccan Health Ministry launched a Process of Eliminating Schistosomiasis in 1994. During 2005-2009, the epidemiologic status showed a clear interruption of disease transmission at the national level; only a few residual cases were recorded. Our present study is the first systematic serologic survey to evaluate the transmission status in remaining disease-endemic foci. A study population of 2,382 children born after the date of the last autochthonous cases were selected from provinces with histories of high schistosomiasis transmission (Tata, Chtouka Ait Baha, Errachidia, El Kelaa Des Sraghna, and Beni Mellal). To identify the presence of disease, specific antibodies directed against Schistosoma haematobium adult worm microsomal antigens were detected by using an enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot assay. The results showed an absence of antibodies in all serum samples. Consequently, our findings confirm either a low transmission status or an interruption of schistosomiasis transmission within the last disease endemic foci.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco. fatima_inh@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amarir
authors.forename: Bouchra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: El Mansouri
authors.forename: Hajiba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fellah
authors.forename: Faiza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sebti
authors.forename: Lakranbi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Sukwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Handali
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: Abderrahman Laamrani
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: El Idrissi
authors.forename: Abderrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sadak
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rhajaoui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies