Abstract

The level of infestation and mechanism of persistence of urinary schistosomiasis was determined in two villages (Kotto Barombi and Marumba II) by conducting a survey on school children from May 2007 to May 2008. Urine samples were collected from 418 children and examined using filtration technique. All participants were subsequently treated by Praziquantel. Drug efficacy and incidence rate were assessed 3 months and 1 year later respectively. The initial prevalence (50.8%) ofS. haematobium was 69.5% (Kotto Barombi) and 41.3% (Marumba II).The prevalence differed significantly between the villages (P = 0.004). The mean parasite load of 211.3 (Kotto Barombi) and 39.62 (Marumba II) eggs/10 ml of urine differed significantly (P = 0.0001) and between the quarters (Mainland and Island) in Kotto Barombi (P = 0.007). Praziquantel was highly efficacious on schistosome worms, with a global cure rate (CR) and egg reduction rate (ERR) of 97.2 and 99.2% respectively. These values were 100% in Kotto Barombi, 88.1% (CR) and 79.8% (ERR) in Marumba II. The overall incidence rate was 13.5%:  Kotto Barombi (13.5%), Marumba II (13.7%).These results suggest that the initial prevalence (50.8%) may be reached soon, if the WHO recommendations (appropriate health education and snails’ control) are not effectively implemented.

Key words: Urinary schistosomiasis, S. haematobium, prevalence, parasite load, drug efficacy, cure rate, egg reduction rate, incidence rate, Kotto Barombi, Marumba II.