Assessment of the Transmission Risk of Schistosomiasis after Flooding — North Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province, China, 2020

Shan Lv,Shizhu Li,Fan Yang,Jing Xu,Xiao-Nong Zhou,Chunli Cao,Zhiqiang Qin

doi:10.46234/ccdcw2021.022

Abstract

What is already known about this topic? Over 90% of Oncomelania snails, the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, are distributed in the middle and low reaches of Yangtze River. Flooding can extend the distribution of Oncomelania snails and hence accelerate the transmission of schistosomiasis. What is added by this report? Although the dispersal of Oncomelania snails was negligible in north Poyang Lake after flooding in 2020, 2 samples of cattle feces with Schistosoma egg and 2 infected snails samples were indeed found. All four risk sites were distributed in Lushan County. Cattle feces were observed in the six out of seven field sites in Lushan County. What are the implications for public health practice? The present national control strategy focusing on control of infection source should be reinforced in Lushan and other schistosomiasis endemic areas. Overlaps of infected snails and cattle feces with Schistosoma egg were not observed, which called for intensive surveillance in Lushan County.

Highlights

97.36% habitats infested by Oncomelania snails are in the middle and low reaches of the Yangtze River (1)
Oncomelania snails, and animal feces released to the environment were collected in two counties, i.e., Lushan and Lianxi
No infected humans were found in the survey, infections in snails and animal feces were discovered from four field sites in Lushan

Summary

Introduction

97.36% habitats infested by Oncomelania snails are in the middle and low reaches of the Yangtze River (1). Oncomelania snails, and animal feces released to the environment were collected in two counties, i.e., Lushan and Lianxi. No infected humans were found in the survey, infections in snails and animal feces were discovered from four field sites in Lushan. I.e., Lushan and Lianxi, located in the northwest bank of Poyang Lake leading to Yangtze River were selected.

Results

Conclusion