PREVALENCE OF HUMAN SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN THE TAVETA AREA OF KENYA, EAST AFRICA

Abstract

A total of 963 individuals in three villages were examined for schistosomiasis by both skin test and schistosome ova detection in stool and urine in 1974. The antigen used for skin test was VBS adult S. japonicum antigen (1 : 10, 000 dilution). Stool and urine samples were examined through the concentration methods. Egg-positive rate was 62.2 per cent in Jipe, 68.0 per cent in Eldoro, 69.6 per cent in Kivalwa. Jipe was infested mostly by S. mansoni, Kivalwa by S. haematobium and Eldoro by both two schistosomes. The egg-positive rate was higher in females than in males in Eldoro. In Jipe and Kivalwa, however, the differences in the rate between males and females were not statistically significant. The rate increased with age in children, reached a peak between the ages of 5 and 14 years and then decreased gradually. The positive rate of skin test was 76.4 per cent in total, higher than that of stool and urine examinations. The skin reaction was weak or absent among many egg-positive children. The skin-test-positive rate increased as the age advanced and reached 95 per cent in inhabitants from 40 years up. The positive rate of skin test was higher among males than females in Jipe. No significant difference in the rate between males and females was found in Eldoro and Kivalwa. Among the egg-positive subjects there was no significant difference in skin reaction between S. mansoni infection and S. haematobium infection. In 1975 stool and urine samples from Jipe, Kivalwa, Kuwahoma and Chala were examined. Kuwahoma proved to be infested by S. haematobium. In Chala schistosome infection was rare. There exist villages infested by S. mansoni and/or S. haematobium in the small area. It seems that VBS adult S. japonicum antigen for skin test and the concentration methods for stool and urine examinations are of use in the epidemiological survey in the areas where S. mansoni and/or S. haematobium infections are prevailing.