Assessment of schistosomiasis in the semi-arid Northeast region of Brazil: the São Francisco River large-scale water transposition project

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Tereza Cristina Favre, Monica Ammon Fernandez, Lilian Christina Nóbrega Holsbach Beck, Ricardo José de Paula Souza Guimarães, Otávio Sarmento Pieri, Silvana Aparecida Carvalho Thiengo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2016
• Subjects: Integration Project of the São Francisco River; Epidemiological survey; Biomphalaria straminea; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0243-2015; https://doaj.org/article/252fb1506d0e4573a65b39c8c5780384

Abstract: INTRODUCTION Risk of schistosomiasis expansion to semi-arid northeastern Brazil under the influence of the Integration Project of the São Francisco River (IPSFR) was assessed. METHODS: Stool examinations of schoolchildren, epidemiological investigation, and survey of the local host snail Biomphalaria straminea were performed in five IPSFR municipalities. RESULTS Six of 4,770 examined schoolchildren were egg-positive for Schistosoma mansoni. Biomphalaria straminea was widespread, but not naturally infected with S. mansoni. Snails experimentally exposed to two laboratory S. mansoni strains yielded infection indices of 1-4.5%. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence of active schistosomiasis transmission in the area; thus, intensive surveillance actions are required.