Assessing the effects of diagnostic sensitivity on schistosomiasis dynamics

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a parasite infection that affects millions of people around the world. It is endemic in 13 different states in Brazil and responsible for increasing morbidity in the population. One of its main characteristics is a heterogeneous distribution of worm burden in the human population, which makes the diagnosis difficult. We aimed to investigate how the sensitivity of the diagnostic method may contribute to successful control interventions against infections in a population. In order to do that, we present an ordinary differential equations model that considers three levels of worm burden in the human population, a snail population, and a miracidium reservoir. Through a steady-state analysis and its local stability, we show how this worm-burden heterogeneity can be responsible for the persistence of infection, especially due to reinfection in the highest level of worm burden. The analysis highlights sensitive diagnosis, besides treatment and sanitary improvements, as a key factor for schistosomiasis transmission control.