title: Decline in transmission of schistosomiasis mansoni in Oman.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intestinal schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma mansoni was first reported in Oman in 1979. We describe the trend in parasitological and serological prevalence of human infection with S. mansoni in the endemic area over the period 1982-2014, and the compliance of data generated by the national monitoring and evaluation system with schistosomiasis elimination criteria set by the Ministry of Health of Oman.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parasitological and serological assessments were carried out on population (mainly children) living in the area at risk for schistosomiasis in Dhofar, the country's only endemic Governorate, for a period of over 30 years. Kato-Katz thick smear and Indirect Haemagglutination Assay were the techniques employed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data indicate a progressive decline in prevalence of S. mansoni throughout the 1980s and the 1990s, a recrudescence in the early 2000s, and a more marked decrease following the implementation of six rounds of mass treatment with praziquantel from 2007 to 2013. Latest parasitological prevalence (2011) was 0%, while latest serological prevalence (2014) was 0.11%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transmission of schistosomiasis has reached very low levels in Oman. Elimination criteria established by the Ministry of Health of Oman (parasitological prevalence ≤ 1% and serological prevalence ≤ 5%) have been met since 2008. Further investigations are required to assess whether interruption of transmission has been achieved in some or all foci, in view of the establishment of a formal verification process under the auspices of WHO.
authors.affiliation: Directorate General for Disease Surveillance & Control, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Idris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al Abaidani
authors.affiliation: Directorate General for Disease Surveillance & Control, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Seif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Abri
authors.affiliation: Undersecretary Office, Ministry of Health, Salalah, Oman.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaban
authors.affiliation: Directorate General of Health Services, Dhofar Governorate, Ministry of Health, Salalah, Oman.
authors.forename: Satish L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ghugey
authors.affiliation: Directorate General of Health Services, Dhofar Governorate, Ministry of Health, Salalah, Oman.
authors.forename: Salem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Kathery
authors.affiliation: Directorate General of Health Services, Dhofar Governorate, Ministry of Health, Salalah, Oman.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Mashikhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Amadou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garba
authors.affiliation: Division of Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Shara'a Abdul Razzak Al Sanhouri, PO Box 7608, Nasr City, 11371, Cairo, Egypt. gabriellia@who.int.
authors.forename: Albis Francesco
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2266-6295
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel
keywords: Elimination; Oman; Parasitology; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; Serology