Abstract

To evaluate the impact of a single dose praziquantel on urinary schistosomiasis in the Barombi Kotto focus, urine samples were collected from 306 participants (279 school children and 27 volunteer parents) of the Barombi Kotto health area from May, 2007 to May, 2009 and were examined using the filtration technique. A malacological survey was conducted to identify and follow up the infection rates of the intermediate snail host. The overall prevalence (69.17%) of Schistosoma haematobium was significantly different between boys (73.22%) and girls (66.66%; P = 0.03), same as between the island (84.3%) and mainland (60.45%; P = 0.0001) quarters. The prevalence reduced significantly by 55.03% (from 69.17 to 31.10%; P = 0.0001) and intensity of infection by 76.16% (from 212.1 to 50.56 eggs/10 ml urine; P = 0.01) at 2 years post treatment. Heavy S. haematobium infections in school children decreased from 23.31 to 2.12% at 2 years post treatment. The infection rates of the intermediate snail hosts (Bulinus truncatus and Bulinus camerunensis) identified reduced from 3.7 to 0.9%. These results show a significant impact of a single dose praziquantel in reducing S. haematobium infections after two years. The general uptrend of the prevalence and intensity of infection observed requires a continued monitoring of the disease transmission, repeated treatment and availability of adequate sanitation facilities in the Barombi Kotto focus.                                                                     

Key words: Schistosoma haematobium, prevalence, intensity, praziquantel, Barombi Kotto focus, Cameroon.