Five-Year Follow-Up on the Prevalence and Intensity of Infections of Schistosoma mansoni in a Hard-to-Reach District of Madagascar

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Mar 8;104(5):1841-1850. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-1433.

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a major public health problem in Madagascar. The WHO recommends preventive chemotherapy by mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel as the primary approach to control Schistosoma mansoni-related morbidity in endemic populations, alongside complementary interventions such as health education. The impact of annual MDA and health education programs was assessed in the hard-to-reach Marolambo district of eastern Madagascar, an area endemic for S. mansoni. Repeated cross-sectional studies undertaken 2015-2019 examined between 300 and 381 school-aged children (aged 5-14 years) annually. The prevalence and infection intensity of S. mansoni were assessed by urine-circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) dipsticks and coproscopy using Kato-Katz (KK) methodologies. After four rounds of annual MDA, a reduction in S. mansoni prevalence was seen in CCA (93.9% in year 1-87.7% in year 5; P = 0.007) and KK (73.9% in year 1-59.4% in year 5; P < 0.0001). The prevalence of heavy-intensity infections roughly halved from 23.7% to 10.1% (P < 0.0001), and the mean intensity of infection fell by 55.0% (480.2-216.3 eggs per gram of feces). A malacological survey found Biomphalaria pfeifferi snail intermediate hosts in multiple water contact sites including rice paddies, streams, and Nosivolo River. Despite reductions in infection prevalence and intensity, schistosomiasis still poses a significant public health challenge in Marolambo district. Twice yearly MDA cycles and/or community-wide MDA are suggested to better reduce infections. Expanding health education, improving standards of water, sanitation and hygiene, and attention on snail-related control will also be important, especially in rice paddy irrigated areas.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / administration & dosage
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Madagascar / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Mass Drug Administration
  • Praziquantel / administration & dosage
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use
  • Prevalence
  • Schistosoma mansoni / physiology
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / drug therapy
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / epidemiology*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / pathology*

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Praziquantel