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Schistosomiasis Mansoni in Bananal (State of São Paulo, Brazil). I. Efficiency of Diagnostic and Treatment Procedures
Horacio Manuel Santana Teles; Maria Esther de Carvalho; Cláudio Santos Ferreira; Fabiana Zacharias; Valquíria Rosa de Lima & Maria Lucia Condino Fadel
Abstract
Bananal is an important focus of Schistosoma mansoni in the
State of São Paulo. Accordingly, programmed active search for human
cases, annual coproscopic surveys and treatment of infected cases were started
in 1998, aiming at producing a sharp prevalence rate drop by the year 2000.
S. mansoni eggs were searched for in two Kato-Katz slides per patient. Cases
were followed up according to the routine of the local Family Health Program.
In 1998, 130 samples out of 3,860 showed S. mansoni eggs; in 1999, 105 out
of 3,550, and in 2000, 64 out of 3,528. Prevalence rates were 3.4%, 2.9%,
and 1.8%, and average egg-counts 59, 64, and 79 eggs per gram of feces respectively.
Prevalence rates decreased steadily after treatment, but persistently positive
cases showed no significant decrease in parasite burdens. Egg count variation
depended on sex and age bracket.
Persistent residual cases admittedly preclude the eradication of this infection
by only searching for and treating carriers. In addition, resistance to
therapy and low sensitivity of fecal examinations, can not be ignored. Moderate
to heavy worm burdens, frequently associated with hepatomegaly elsewhere,
produced no serious cases in Bananal.
Keywords
schistosomiasis - control - diagnosis - treatment - resistance - São Paulo - Brazil
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