Prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis among School Children in Alkalakla Area, Khartoum State, Sudan with Emphasis on the Identification of Snail Intermediate Host

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis is considered the most widespread parasitic infection. Both Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni are present, and as waterborne infections, their epidemiology is closely associated with proximity and exposure to freshwater sources. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium among school children and snail – parasite compatibility.   Methods: The study is cross sectional study included 500urine sample collected randomly from targeted children (265 male and 235 female). The population was classified according to age group into two groups: less than 12 and 12-16 years. Also, the educational level of parents was classified into three levels :( low, medium and high) which corresponds to primary, secondary and graduated education levels respectively. The urine samples were examined for S.haematobium eggs by using sedimentation technique. A questionnaire was designed to collect data related to human behavior. Data presented in tables and graphs using Microsoft Excel after analysis by SPSS. Results: The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was 0.6% (3 positive cases). All positive cases were males who showed direct contact with water and this showed a association between gender and contact with water to the rate of infection. In other hands All the examined snails showed no cercarial shedding. Conclusion: The study concluded that the absence of infection in the studied snails (Bulinus) was the reason for the infection rate of S. haematobium in the study area. Recommendations: Mass treatment must be repeated frequently in this area due to presence of many factors associated with infection such as continuous contact with water, presence of the natural intermediate host and existence of the parasite itself. Also further studies on the seasonal dynamics of the snail population should be done.