Abstract
BackgroundA school-based survey was undertaken to assess prevalence and infection intensity of schistosomiasis in school-aged children in the Marolambo District of Madagascar.MethodsSchool-aged children from six purposively selected schools were tested for Schistosoma haematobium by urine filtration and Schistosoma mansoni using circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) and Kato-Katz stool analysis. The investigators did not address soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in this study.ResultsOf 399 school-aged children screened, 93.7% were infected with S. mansoni based on CCA analysis. Kato-Katz analysis of stool revealed S. mansoni infection in 73.6% (215/ 292). Heavy infections (> 400 eggs per gram) were common (32.1%; 69/ 215), with a mean of 482 eggs per gram of stool. Moderate infection intensities were detected in 31.2% (67/ 215) and light infection intensities in 36.7% (79/ 215) of infected participants. No infection with S. haematobium was detected by urine filtration.ConclusionsIntestinal schistosomiasis appears a considerable public health issue in this remote area of Madagascar where there is a pressing need for mass drug administration.
Highlights
A school-based survey was undertaken to assess prevalence and infection intensity of schistosomiasis in school-aged children in the Marolambo District of Madagascar
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article by the Madagascar Ministry of Health demonstrated that 107 of 114 districts in Madagascar are endemic with schistosomiasis [6]
Schistosomiasis frequently leads to nonspecific effects such as anaemia, undernutrition, decreased physical fitness, impaired cognition and quality of life [7,8,9,10]; measuring these is crucial in monitoring disease morbidity
Summary
A school-based survey was undertaken to assess prevalence and infection intensity of schistosomiasis in school-aged children in the Marolambo District of Madagascar. Schistosomiasis is common in sub-Saharan Africa and is known to be widespread in Madagascar where there is a substantial burden of disease [1, 2]. There are two endemic species of Schistosoma, with a geographical distribution tracking the underlying range of their permissive snail hosts [3, 4]. Schistosoma mansoni causes intestinal schistosomiasis and is found in eastern and southern areas of Madagascar while S. haematobium, which causes urogenital schistosomiasis, is present in northern and western locations, with areas of co-endemicity in four regions in north-central and south-western parts of the country [5, 6]. Schistosoma mansoni in particular results in intestinal and hepatosplenic disease causing abdominal pain, blood in stool, reduced appetite and diarrhoea [12, 13]
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