A comparative cross-sectional study on the prevalence and morbidity of schistosomiasis in a community in northeastern Brazil (1979-2010).
A cross-sectional study on the prevalence and morbidity of schistosomiasis was conducted in the main settlement of the municipality of Alhandra, in the southern coastal region of the state of Paraíba, in 2010. The results of this study were compared with the results of a previous study conducted in the same area in 1979. The systematic sampling per family conglomerate included approximately 10% of the resident population in the urban area of Alhandra. Faecal examinations were performed using the Kato-Katz method. The clinical forms of the disease were classified in accordance with FS Barbosa as Type I - intestinal form, Type II - hepatointestinal form and Type III - hepatosplenic form. The prevalence of the infection in 2010 was 10.05%, whereas in 1979 it was 46.6% among untreated patients. The percentages of the three clinical forms in 2010 were as follows: 95.3% Type I, 4.6% Type II and 0% Type III; in 1979, the percentages were 94.4%, 3% and 2.6% for Types I, II and III, respectively. In 1979, 6.07% of the Biomphalaria glabrata specimens (the intermediate host in this area) excreted cercariae, where in 2010 only 1.27% of the specimens caught excreted the parasite.
Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Eric Vinaud de
EV
Melo
Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil.
Walfredo da
Wd
Costa
Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Maria José
MJ
Conceição
Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
José Rodrigues
JR
Coura
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000469:parasitology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D015995:Prevalence; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population