Re-evaluation of schistosomiasis mansoni in Minas Gerais, Brazil, III: "noroeste de Minas" mesoregion

Com o objetivo de verificar a possivel presenca da esquistossomose mansoni na mesorregiao Noroeste de Minas, area do estado de Minas Gerais ate o momento considerada indene para aquela parasitose, foi realizado um levantamento malacologico e um diagnostico coproscopico nos 13 municipios da mesorregiao. Foram coletados e examinados 3.627 planorbideos, identificados como Biomphalaria straminea em sete municipios (Unai, Bonfinopolis de Minas, Paracatu, Joao Pinheiro, Vazante, Lagamar e Lagoa Grande) e B. peregrina em um (Presidente Olegario). Os moluscos estavam negativos para S. mansoni. O exame coproscopico, pelo metodo Kato-Katz, foi realizado em 3.283 estudantes do primeiro grau da rede estadual de ensino. Quatro estudantes foram diagnosticados com esquistossomose nos municipios de Buritis, Formoso, Paracatu e Unai. Entretanto, nenhum dos casos foi considerado autoctone. Podemos concluir que a mesorregiao do Noroeste de Minas continua livre da esquistossomose, mas a presenca de hospedeiros intermediarios enfatiza a necessidade de implantacao de um programa de vigilancia epidemiologica na mesorregiao Noroeste de Minas...

Schistosomiasis mansoni in the region of the Triângulo Mineiro, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

In order to reevaluate the possible presence of schistosomiasis mansoni in the Triângulo Mineiro, one of the areas of the State of Minas Gerais where this parasite is not commonly found, malacological survey and fecal examinations were undertaken in the region between October 1990 and June 1992. A sample of 7,032 1st grade school children from 29 counties had their feces examined using the Kato-Katz method. Amongst the children examined, two from Planura and one from each countie of Capinópolis, Conceição das Alagoas, Uberaba, Uberlândia, Prata and Gurinhatã were positive for Schistosoma mansoni. None of the children were identified as being autoctonous cases. In the malacological survey, 5,406 planorbid snails were examined. The specimens were identified morphologically and examined for S. mansoni by squashing between glass plates. The species were identified as Biomphalaria tenagophila in three counties, as B. straminea in ten and B. intermedia in 16. No snails were found in eight other counties studies. The snails were found to be negative for S. mansoni. The presence of intermediate hosts for S. mansoni, associated with parasitized individuals emphasizes the necessity of epidemiological surveillance for schistosomiasis in the region of Triângulo in the State of Minas Gerais.