Iranian Journal of Parasitology (Feb 2012)

Prevalence of Schistosoma Intercalatum and S. Haematobium Infection Among Primary Schoolchildren in Capital Areas of Democratic Republic Of São Tomé and Príncipe, West Africa

  • Peter WS Chang,
  • A Tsubouchi,
  • T Nara,
  • DD Ji,
  • ASRJ Costa,
  • YT Chang,
  • YC Huang,
  • CW Liao,
  • TB Chu,
  • WT Chiu,
  • CK Fan

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 67 – 72

Abstract

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Background: A parasitological survey of Schistosoma haematobium and S. intercalatum infection among primary schoolchildren in capital area of Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (DRSTP) was undertaken.Methods: Subjects with positive infection were confirmed by the detection of S. haematobium ova in the urine or S. intercalatum ova in the stool by using centrifugation concentration or merthiolate-iodine-forma­lin concentration method. Totally, 252 urine and stool samples, respectively, were obtained from apparently healthy schoolchildren, of which 121 from boys (9.8 ± 1.4 yr) and 131 from girls (9.7 ± 1.3 yr).Results: None of participating schoolchildren were found having S. haematobium ova in the urinary speci­men. While, among 4 primary schools studied, only schoolchildren from Saint Marçal were detected with S. intercalatum ova in the fecal specimen, making the overall prevalence of S. intercalatum infection among schoolchildren was 2.4% (6/252) and girls had insignificantly higher prevalence (3.1%, 4/131) than that (1.7%, 2/121) in boys (χ2 = 0.5, P = 0.5).Conclusion: Water control and sanitation as well as snails eliminated by molluscicides are urgently needed to reduce S. intercalatum infection in DRSTP inhabitants.

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