TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidemiology of Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminth Coinfections among Schoolchildren Living in Lambaréné, Gabon
AU - Dejon-Agobé, Jean Claude
AU - Honkpehedji, Yabo Josiane
AU - Zinsou, Jeannot Fréjus
AU - Edoa, Jean Ronald
AU - Adégbitè, Bayodé Roméo
AU - Mangaboula, Ance
AU - Agnandji, Selidji Todagbe
AU - Mombo-Ngoma, Ghyslain
AU - Ramharter, Michael
AU - Kremsner, Peter Gottfried
AU - Lell, Bertrand
AU - Grobusch, Martin Peter
AU - Adegnika, Ayôla Akim
N1 - Funding Information: Financial support: We are grateful to CERMEL for the financial and logistic support for the study. J. C. D. A. was supported financially by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft German-African Cooperation Projects in Infectiology GZ:MO1071/12-1 AOBJ:620617. Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2020 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/7
Y1 - 2020/7
N2 - Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection highly prevalent in Central Africa where it is co-endemic with many other parasitic infections, including soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). For its optimal control, there is a need of descriptive epidemiological data for each endemic region. The objective of the present study was to determine the epidemiological situation around schistosomiasis in Lambaréné, Gabon. A cross-sectional study was conducted among schoolchildren. One urine sample per day was collected on three consecutive days for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis using a urine filtration technique. One stool sample was collected for the detection of Schistosoma spp. and STH spp. eggs using the Kato-Katz technique, and for larvae, using the coproculture technique. A total of 614 schoolchildren were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis and STH infections was 26% (159/614) and 15% (70/473), respectively. Human-freshwater contact was the main risk factor for schistosomiasis in the area (relative risk (RR) = 2.96 [2.20-4.00], P < 0.001). Hematuria (RR = 5.53 [4.30-7.10], P < 0.001) and proteinuria (RR = 2.12 [1.63-2.75], P < 0.001) as well as infection with Trichuris trichiura (RR = 1.86 [1.33-2.61], P = 0.002) and Ascaris lumbricoides (RR = 1.96 [1.19-3.21], P = 0.039) were associated with an increased risk of schistosomiasis. Trichuris trichiura was the highest prevalent STH species in the area. Our study reports a moderate prevalence for schistosomiasis with human-water contact as the main risk factor, whereas the prevalence of STH infections appears to be low. Our results stress the need for the implementation of WHO recommendations for schistosomiasis control.
AB - Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection highly prevalent in Central Africa where it is co-endemic with many other parasitic infections, including soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). For its optimal control, there is a need of descriptive epidemiological data for each endemic region. The objective of the present study was to determine the epidemiological situation around schistosomiasis in Lambaréné, Gabon. A cross-sectional study was conducted among schoolchildren. One urine sample per day was collected on three consecutive days for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis using a urine filtration technique. One stool sample was collected for the detection of Schistosoma spp. and STH spp. eggs using the Kato-Katz technique, and for larvae, using the coproculture technique. A total of 614 schoolchildren were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis and STH infections was 26% (159/614) and 15% (70/473), respectively. Human-freshwater contact was the main risk factor for schistosomiasis in the area (relative risk (RR) = 2.96 [2.20-4.00], P < 0.001). Hematuria (RR = 5.53 [4.30-7.10], P < 0.001) and proteinuria (RR = 2.12 [1.63-2.75], P < 0.001) as well as infection with Trichuris trichiura (RR = 1.86 [1.33-2.61], P = 0.002) and Ascaris lumbricoides (RR = 1.96 [1.19-3.21], P = 0.039) were associated with an increased risk of schistosomiasis. Trichuris trichiura was the highest prevalent STH species in the area. Our study reports a moderate prevalence for schistosomiasis with human-water contact as the main risk factor, whereas the prevalence of STH infections appears to be low. Our results stress the need for the implementation of WHO recommendations for schistosomiasis control.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Albendazole/therapeutic use
KW - Anthelmintics/therapeutic use
KW - Ascariasis/drug therapy
KW - Child
KW - Coinfection/epidemiology
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Culture Techniques
KW - Feces/parasitology
KW - Female
KW - Gabon/epidemiology
KW - Hematuria/epidemiology
KW - Hookworm Infections/drug therapy
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Praziquantel/therapeutic use
KW - Prevalence
KW - Proteinuria/epidemiology
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Schistosomiasis haematobia/drug therapy
KW - Strongyloidiasis/drug therapy
KW - Trichuriasis/drug therapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088203084&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.19-0835
DO - https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.19-0835
M3 - Article
C2 - 32431272
SN - 0002-9637
VL - 103
SP - 325
EP - 333
JO - American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
JF - American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
IS - 1
ER -