Endemicity, focality and seasonality of transmission of human schistosomiasis in Amagunze Village, eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The pattern of transmission of human schistosomiasis was studied in Amagunze Village, eastern Nigeria, during 1986-1987. The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium in 119 schoolboys aged 5-12 years was 79%. The geometric mean of intensity of infection was 49 eggs/10 ml urine and the frequency of visible haematuria was 25.2%. No S. mansoni infections were demonstrated. A marked seasonality in population density of Bulinus truncatus, B. forskalii and Biomphalaria pfeifferi was demonstrated with reduced densities during the late rainy and early dry seasons. Schistosoma sp. infected B. truncatus were found in the late dry and early rainy seasons in 2 out of 7 major human water contact sites studied. Seasonality and focality of transmission of S. haematobium and its high endemicity in the area were thus demonstrated.