Objective: To understand the changes of hydrological regime in the Yangtze River and schistosomiasis endemic situation in Nanjing City after the implementation of Three Gorges Project.
Methods: The data of hydrological regime of the Yangtze River, schistosomiasis epidemic situation, and Oncomelania hupensis snail status were collected and analyzed in Nanjing City from 2002 to 2012.
Results: After the implementation of the Three Gorges Project in 2003, the water level of the Yangtze River slightly rose from January to April, the average water levels in May and August both reduced compared with those in 2002, and the time of water withdrawal was moved up. The water level of the Yangtze River slightly reduced from November to December. The endemic situation of schistosomiasis showed a decline tendency in the areas along the Yangtze River in Nanjing City. In 2012, the rates of human and bovine infected with Schistosoma japonicum both reduced by 100% as compared with those in 2002, and the snail area, infected snail area and snail density were reduced by 48.45%, 100% and 95.76% respectively as compared with those in 2002.
Conclusion: After the implementation of the Three Gorges Project, the schistosomiasis endemic situation shows a decline tendency in the areas along the Yangtze River in Nanjing City, but the long-term monitoring still need to be carried out.