Potential for Transmission of Schistosomiasis in Kayonza District

Introduction: Schistosomiasis; also known as bilharzia or snail fever; is a tropical parasitic disease caused by a trematode platyhelminthes called Schistosoma check for this species in other resources sp. Schistosoma species are transmitted by cercariae penetrating the skin when a person is bathing; washing clothes; fishing or engaged in agricultural activities; involving contact with fresh water that has fecal or urinary contamination; and contains the parasites' snail host. The present study aimed to survey freshwater snails in Kayonza District (Rwanda) especially Lake Muhazi and surrounding water bodies; stream and swamps to assess the potential for transmission of two species of Schistosoma: S. mansoni check for this species in other resources and S. haematobium check for this species in other resources. Methods: Six sites were selected to assess the potential for transmission of schistosomiasis. The intermediate hosts of schistosomes; namely the snails Biomphalaria check for this species in other resources ; Bulinus check for this species in other resources sp. and Lymnaea check for this species in other resources sp.; were collected and brought to the laboratory and investigated to see if trematode cercaria responsible for the disease were present. Results: Snails dissected were not only infected with trematode cercaria but also with annelids and flatworms (Platyhelminths). Cercaria found therein were of two types: furcocercous; probably responsible for schistosomiasis; and gymnocephalous cercaria for fasciolasis: an infection of cattle; goats and sheep. Conclusion: Biomphalaria sp were the major hosts for schistosome cercaria; and most snails collected of this species were infected. Moreover; they were found in large number from all sites. Lymnaea sp; hosts snails for Fasciola cercaria check for this species in other resources ; were also found in a considerable number compared to the low number of Bulinus sp in the region. District and national authorities may wish to further investigate this infestation and identify potential interventions to disrupt the disease transmission

Intergrated control trial of schistosomiasis at Nakiwogo fishing village near Entebbe; Uganda

Using the Kato katzi technique; 600 people living in Nakiwogo fishing village at Lake Victoria; Uganda; were examined for schistosoma mansoni infection. The total population of this village was estimated between 1;00 and 1;500 mainly consisting of migrants from Western Uganda. Of the 600 individuals in the study group; 328 people (54.7) were found to be infected with S. mansoni. The geometric mean egg count was 422 eggs per gramme of stool. a survey of the snail intermediate hosts for S. mansoni and S. haematobium at Nakiwogo was carried out. The collected snails were tested for cercariae shedding. A significant decrease in the number of Biomphalaria choanomphala and Biomphalaria pfeifferi (52) which both still shed cercariae and Bulinus (52.5) could be observed. There was a lower none-significant decrease of 13.3of the Bulinus globosus population. With a combined approach including community participation in control measures in the form of health education; sanitation; environmental management and chemotherapy; the prevalence of S. mansoni infection was reduced from 54.7to 14.6 in the period of one year

Impact des effluents d'un complexe agro-industriel sucrier sur la distribution des mollusques dulcaquicoles a Mbandjock (Cameroun)

Des prospections malacologiques ont ete entreprises dans la zone sucriere de Mbandjock (Cameroun). La discussion des mollusques est discutee suivant les types d'habitat. L'incidence des effluents du complexe agro-industriel (SOSUCAM) sur la faune malacogique est evaluee. En general; un faible degre de pollution est favorable a la faune malacologique alors qu'une forte pollution lui est nuisible. La presence de bulinus globosus est mise en evidence. Ce mollusque; hote intermediaire de schistosoma haematobium; etait absent lors des prospections anterieures. L'extension de bulinus globosus dans la localite devrait faire l'objet d'une surveillance a long terme

A preliminary study on intermediate snail hosts of schistosomes in Reiver enyau; Arua District; Uganda

A total of 1260 snail intermediate hosts of both Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haemotobium were collected along the non-seasonal river enyau which lies half a kilometre west of Arya; north-western Uganda town. The snails collected were Biomphalaria pfeireri 709: Biomphalaria choanomphala 457; Bulinus tropicus 94. These were screened for cercariae shedding and 25 B. pfeifferi and 12 B. choabomphalal shed mammalian cercaricae while none of the Bulinus) tropicus shed any cercae. River enyau Biomphalaria snails were susceptible to a Schistosoma mansoni strain from Entebbe. Cercariae derived from these snails and also those found infected in the River Enyau were confirmed to be S. mansoni using laboratory mice