Study of prevalence and parasite load of Schistosoma haematobium in schoolchildren in the Rosso region, Mauritania.

Abstract

This study assessed the prevalence of schistosomiasis among 307 schoolchildren aged from 7 to 17 years at various schools in four districts in the Rosso region. Hematuria was observed among 17.5% (54/307) and Schistosoma hematobium eggs were found among 15.6% (48/307). We observed the highest prevalence rates (P = 0.003) among schoolchildren in the districts of Breun (19.75% ± 0.09), Tounguen (18.66% ±0.08) and PK 7 (18.42 % ±0.08). The statistical analysis showed that the differences in the prevalence, hematuria rate, and parasite load did not differ significantly by the schoolchildren's age and sex (P > 0.05). Schoolchildren in Demeldek were significantly (P = 0.003) less infested (5.33% ± 0.11) than those in the other districts. The parasite load ranged from 6 to 15 eggs/10 ml of urine. The malacological investigations conducted at the water points of each village visited showed the presence of Bulinus truncatis, Bulinus forskalii, Lymnaea natalanis, Biomphalariae feifferi and Melanoides tuberculata. These results show that schistosomiasis poses a public health problem in the region. To eradicate this parasitosis, it will be necessary to conduct more detailed malacological studies and combine several types of preventive actions.