Schistosoma mansoni infection in residents of a riverside community in Eastern Amazon

Abstract

Schistosoma mansoni worms cause a waterborne parasitic disease called schistosomiasis. It commonly affects individuals in lack of sanitation structure. In Brazil, Pará state has Belém as one of the worst sanitation-ranking places in 2023, where schistosomiasis transmission was already documented. This study reports the occurrence of schistosomiasis in residents of Ilha das Onças, an island next to Belém. Stool samples were obtained from participants over 2 years old, all residents from Furo do Rio Grande, one of the rivers on the island. The Kato-Katz technique was performed for parasite investigation in the stool samples. Each participant responded to a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire. The residences were georeferenced for map designing. Three out of 263 participants were S. mansoni positive, all men, ages ranging from 19 to 41 years old, with low parasitic load. Malacological surveys were carried out, but no Biomphalaria snails were found. Risk factors for schistosomiasis establishment are present on the island, and the lack of sanitation makes it a potential risk area. Malacological surveys are highly encouraged as preventive measures, as well as health surveillance for riverside populations, generating data that will help health authorities in the management and planning of preventive control actions. HIGHLIGHTS The study revealed the presence of Schistosoma mansoni infection in residents of Ilha das Onças.; The area had no previous reports of the disease.; Only male individuals tested positive for the infection.; No Biomphalaria snails were found in the peridomestic area of infected individuals.; Environmental conditions might enable schistosomiasis establishment on the island.;

Keywords

• basic sanitation
• epidemiology
• health surveillance
• parasitic infections
• riverside population
• snails