High burden of Schistosoma mansoni infection in school-aged children in Marolambo District,Madagascar

Background: a school-based survey was undertaken to assess prevalence and infection intensity of schistosomiasis in school-aged children in the marolambo district of madagascar. methods: school-aged children from six purposively selected schools were tested for schistosoma haematobium by urine filtration and schistosoma mansoni using circulating cathodic antigen (cca) and kato-katz stool analysis. the investigators did not address soil-transmitted helminths (sth) in this study. results: of 399 school-aged children screened,93.7% were infected with s. mansoni based on cca analysis. kato-katz analysis of stool revealed s. mansoni infection in 73.6% (215/ 292). heavy infections (> 400 eggs per gram) were common (32.1%; 69/ 215),with a mean of 482 eggs per gram of stool. moderate infection intensities were detected in 31.2% (67/ 215) and light infection intensities in 36.7% (79/ 215) of infected participants. no infection with s. haematobium was detected by urine filtration. conclusions: intestinal schistosomiasis appears a considerable public health issue in this remote area of madagascar where there is a pressing need for mass drug administration. © 2017 the author(s).