Schistosomiasis control effect of agricultural integrated development in Tieban Marshland of Yangtze River

Abstract

To evaluate the schistosomiasis control effect of the comprehensive measures that focused on beachland smoothing and tillage cultivation in Tieban Marshland, Wuhan Section of the Yangtze River. From 2011 to 2015, before and after the comprehensive control, the Oncomelania hupensis snail situations in Tieban Marshland were investigated in spring annually, and the residents aged 6-65 years in Huayuan Community which was next to the marshland were examined to understand their schistosome infection status. In late July, 2014, the sentinel mouse surveillance was carried out. Moreover, the economic effectiveness of comprehensive development was evaluated. The schistosome infection rates of residents in 2011 (before the comprehensive control), 2012 (after the comprehensive control), and 2013 were 0.72% (3/414), 0.37% (2/536) and 0.31% (1/326), respectively, and no schistosomiasis patients were found in 2014 and 2015. The snail area, the occurrence rate of frames with snails, and the average density of living snails in Tieban Marshland in 2005 decreased by 22.18%, 97.83% and 98.25%, respectively compared to those in 2011, and no schistosome infected snails were found. No positive mice were found in the sentinel mouse surveillance. The annual net income of Tieban Marshland increased by 233.33% compared to that before the comprehensive development. The endemic situation of schistosomiasis and snail situation declined significantly after the comprehensive development in Tieban Marshland, and the economic and social benefits are significant.