Abstract
BackgroundSchistosomiasis remains an important public health problem, also among adults, and infected individuals not treated serve as a reservoir for continued transmission. Despite this fact, evidence on the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in adults in Côte d’Ivoire is scanty. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Schistosoma infection and co-infection with other helminth species and Plasmodium among adults in the Taabo region in the south-central part of Côte d’Ivoire.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was carried out in April and May 2017 in the frame of the “Côte d’Ivoire Dual Burden of Disease Study” (CoDuBu). A total of 901 randomly selected individuals, aged 18–90 years, provided blood, stool and urine samples for the diagnosis of malaria and helminth infections. Stool samples were subjected to the Kato-Katz technique for detection of Schistosoma mansoni and soil-transmitted helminth eggs, while urine samples were examined for eggs of Schistosoma haematobium and circulating cathodic antigen of S. mansoni. Risk factors and morbidity profiles were assessed using health examination and questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regressions were employed to identify risk factors and morbidity patterns associated with S. mansoni mono- and co-infections.ResultsThe prevalence of S. mansoni and S. haematobium was 23.2% and 1.0%, respectively. Most S. mansoni were mono-infections (81.3%). Independent determinants of S. mansoni infection were young age, low socioeconomic status (mono- and co-infection) and poor hygiene practices (co-infection) (P < 0.05). S. mansoni infection was independently associated with higher pain and symptom scores (mono-infection), poor self-rated health and low healthcare use (co-infection) (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study showed that adults represent a substantial reservoir of S. mansoni. To sustain schistosomiasis control and improve people’s wellbeing, it is important to expand preventive chemotherapy from school-aged children to adults, coupled with hygiene and health education.
Highlights
Schistosomiasis remains an important public health problem, among adults, and infected indi‐ viduals not treated serve as a reservoir for continued transmission
This study showed that adults represent a substantial reservoir of S. mansoni
The present study provides important information that might be useful to enhance the control of schistosomiasis and other helminthiases in the Taabo region
Summary
Schistosomiasis remains an important public health problem, among adults, and infected indi‐ viduals not treated serve as a reservoir for continued transmission. Despite this fact, evidence on the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in adults in Côte d’Ivoire is scanty. A limitation of this strategy is that parts of the population are excluded, such as preschoolaged children, women of reproductive age and adults more generally This issue might represent an obstacle to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations, calling to end neglected tropical diseases such as schistosomiasis by 2030 [6, 7]. The epidemiology of schistosomiasis in adults in Côte d’Ivoire is poorly understood [1, 10, 11]
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