Abstract
BackgroundSchistosomiasis japonica is prevalent in Asian countries and it remains a major public health problem in China. The major endemic foci are the marsh and lake regions of southern China, particularly the Dongting Lake region bordering Hunan and Hubei provinces, and the Poyang Lake region in Jiangxi province. Domestic ruminants, especially bovines, have long been considered to play a major role in the transmission of Schistosoma japonicum to humans.Methods and FindingsA miracidial hatching technique was used to investigate the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in domestic ruminants and field feces collected from two towns located to the south and east of Dongting Lake, Hunan province, between 2005 and 2010. The overall prevalence of infection was not significantly reduced from 4.93% in 2005 to 3.64% in 2008, after which it was maintained at this level. Bovines comprised 23.5–58.2% of the total infected ruminants, while goats comprised 41.8–76.5%. Infection rates in cattle and goats were significantly higher than those found in buffalo in most study years. The prevalence in buffalo younger than three years was significantly higher than that in those aged over three years. All the positive field samples of feces were derived from bovines in Nandashan. In Matang Town, 61.22% of the positive field feces were from bovines, while the rest were from goats. The positive rates for field feces were approximately the same in April and November/October.ConclusionsThe present study found that bovines and goats are major sources of S. japonicum infection in the Dongting lake region and there was age-related resistance in buffalo. Both bovines and goats should be treated equally when controlling S. japonicum infections in the Dongting lake region. It is essential to conduct an additional mass treatment in late March or early April, in addition to the original treatment scheme.
Highlights
Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic infections worldwide
The present study found that bovines and goats are major sources of S. japonicum infection in the Dongting lake region and there was age-related resistance in buffalo
Schistosomiasis japonica is prevalent in many Asian countries and it remains a major public health problem in China, with an estimated 65 million people at risk of infection and 0.36 million individuals infected in 2009 [6]
Summary
Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic infections worldwide. According to the World Health Organization [1], the schistosomiasis disease burden is equivalent to 1.7 to 4.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) [2] lost worldwide each year, which is among the highest of all neglected tropical diseases. Schistosomiasis japonica is prevalent in many Asian countries and it remains a major public health problem in China, with an estimated 65 million people at risk of infection and 0.36 million individuals infected in 2009 [6]. The major endemic foci are the marsh and lake regions of southern China where more than 82% of infected individuals live [7], the Dongting Lake region bordering Hubei and Hunan provinces, and the Poyang Lake region in Jiangxi province. Schistosomiasis japonica is prevalent in Asian countries and it remains a major public health problem in China. The major endemic foci are the marsh and lake regions of southern China, the Dongting Lake region bordering Hunan and Hubei provinces, and the Poyang Lake region in Jiangxi province. Especially bovines, have long been considered to play a major role in the transmission of Schistosoma japonicum to humans
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