Abstract

Developing dams and other hydraulic facilities often increase water-borne parasitic diseases, particularly schistosomiasis. The study assessed the prevalence and infectionintensity category of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in school-aged children (SAC) before the impoundment of the Soum dam. A cross-sectional study including 271 SAC was conducted in Soum village from April to May 2012. Stool samples were tested for Schistosoma mansoni and STHs eggs using the Kato-Katz technique. Micro-haematuria and Schistosoma haematobium infection were detected using Hemastix® strips and urine filtration technique, respectively. A malacological survey was conducted at the dam transmission sites to identify potential intermediate host snails of human schistosomes in the area. The median age of participants in the study was 8 years, ranging from 5 to 15 years. The prevalence of STH infections was low, with Ascaris lumbricoides (2.58%), Enterobius vermicularis (1.48%), Trichuris trichiura (1.1%), and Strongyloides stercoralis (0.37%) being the most common species. All STH infections except that of S. stercoralis were of light intensity. Other intestinal helminths found were Taenia species (2.58%) and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (1.1%). Nineteen out of 271 children (7.01%) had micro-haematuria. The prevalence of S. haematobium was 0.74% (2/271), with an arithmetic mean intensity of the infection of 1.5±0.71 eggs/10 ml of urine. All snails collected belonged to the Bulinus truncatus species and shed cercariae of S. haematobium, with a snail infection rate of 1.5% (23/1503). Schistosomiasis is hypo-endemic in Soum village. However, epidemiological surveillance is strongly recommended to prevent the spread of schistosomiasis due to the ongoing development of irrigated areas. Although the prevalence of STH infection is low, individual and collective hygiene measures need to be strengthened.

Key words: Schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminth infections, snails, school-aged children, Burkina Faso.