Abstract
BackgroundDespite twelve rounds of school-based preventive chemotherapy for schistosomiasis in endemic areas of Tanzania such as Mtama district, Lindi: the burden of Schistosoma haematobium infection has remained highly conceivable due to re-infections. The factors associated with continuity of S.haematobium transmission in Mtama district, Lindi have not been fully established. This study investigated the burden and factors contributing to the ongoing transmission of S.haematobium infection in the endemic district of Mtama, Lindi.MethodsA quantitative cross-sectional survey was carried out among 649 school-age children in the Mtama district to determine the burden and factors associated with continuity of S.haematobium infection transmission. A single urine specimen was obtained from each pupil and tested for macro- and microhaematuria, presence of S.haematobium ova, as well intensity of infection; this was complemented with a survey of Bulinus spp snail intermediate hosts and their infectivity. A structured questionnaire was employed to gather information on individual and environmental risk factors for S.haematobium transmission. Summary statistics were computed for individual variables; while a univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between risk factors with S.haematobium infection.ResultsPrevalence of S.haematobium infection by macro- and microhaematuria was 13.1% and 46.2% respectively. The prevalence of S.haematobium ova was 52.7%; intensity of infection was light in 53.1%, and heavy in 46.9%. Snail intermediate hosts were Bulinus globosus and B.nasutus, whose infectivity was 2.2% and 1.3%, respectively. Among the assessed risk factors, long residency (10–13 years) in the area was a significant risk factor for the continuity of S.haematobium transmission (AOR: 21.79, 95% CI: 1.37–346.4).ConclusionsThe observed 52.7% prevalence of S.haematobium infection represents unacceptably high prevalence after 12 rounds of preventive chemotherapy. Therefore, an urgent need for the implementation of integrated multiple control interventions in the Mtama district; is considered to be imperative.
Highlights
Urogenital schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic parasitic disease caused by blood flukes known as Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium), which resides in the vasculature surrounding the urogenital system [1,2]
For transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis to occur, there must be contamination of the freshwater sources with viable S.haematobium eggs, presence of freshwater snails of the Bulinus species, which serves as the intermediate host for the development of the cercariae, and human water contact, which expose them to the infective stage [6]
Prevalence of macro and micro haematuria, urogenital schistosomiasis and intensity stratified according to socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants
Summary
Urogenital schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic parasitic disease caused by blood flukes known as Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium), which resides in the vasculature surrounding the urogenital system [1,2]. For transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis to occur, there must be contamination of the freshwater sources with viable S.haematobium eggs, presence of freshwater snails of the Bulinus species (spp), which serves as the intermediate host for the development of the cercariae, and human water contact, which expose them to the infective stage [6]. Approximately 436 million people in 78 countries live in endemic areas that put them at risk of urogenital schistosomiasis, and over 112 million people are infected. Despite twelve rounds of school-based preventive chemotherapy for schistosomiasis in endemic areas of Tanzania such as Mtama district, Lindi: the burden of Schistosoma haematobium infection has remained highly conceivable due to re-infections. This study investigated the burden and factors contributing to the ongoing transmission of S.haematobium infection in the endemic district of Mtama, Lindi
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