Results of a brief schistosomiasis survey around lake Mainit, Mindanao

ABSTRACT

The survey and field observations made by the writer in April, 1940, in Agusan and Surigao, around Lake Mainit, has brought to light for the first time a new endemic area in the Poblacion of Jabonga, Agusan, and confirmed previous findings regarding the endemicity of schistosomiasis japonica in some sitios of Mainit, Surigao. This survey showed an incidence of 6% in a series of 100 inhabitants in the first locality and 21.6% in a series of 125 in the second. In both localities, infected snails (Blanfordia quadrasi) were found and collected; and experimental infection of monkeys confirmed the fact that the fork-tailed cercariae obtained from them were no other than those of the S. japonicumIt is hoped that this paper would serve as a contribution to the accumulated data on the endemicity of schistosomiasis japonica in the Philippines, particularly around Lake Mainit, in northeastern Mindanao. The procedure followed and the findings in this survey may be of some help to present and future field workers in the campaign against this dreadful and serious disease, which is a great menace to the health of our people in endemic localities. More than that, it is hoped that this paper will stimulate interest and enthusiasm among medical men, especially the guardians of public health, because of the growing magnitude of this medical and health problem. (Summary and Conclusions)