Current status of schistosomiasis japonica in Sorsogon Province, Republic of the Philippines.

ABSTRACT

A resurvey of Irosin and the eight municipalities surrounding it for schistosomiasis japonica using COPT and FECT was done in order to determine the status of the disease thirty years after it was first reported in the town of Irosin in 1947. In Irosin, the results by FECT showed that there was a decrease in prevalence from 5.7% to 2.8%, however, if by COPT, then there was an increase from 5.7% to 12.2%. There is a definite trend of the disease to spread from Irosin into the surrounding municipalities. Whereas in 1951, only Irosin and Juban have been established as endemic foci for schistosomiasis, the result of previous surveys by the schisto-unit at Irosin and the present study seem to indicate that the disease has spread into seven additional towns surrounding Irosin. In like manner, the snail intermediate host, Oncomelania quadrasi has a tendency to spread to outlying areas outside of Irosin and Juban.