Urban Schistosomiasis Transmission In Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is endemic in South Africa and continues to pose public health challenges especiallyindynamicallychangingareas, eg. informal settlements. Asurvey was conductedin the central Pieter maritzburg area, KwaZulu-Natal, to determine the prevalence, distribution and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis (Schistosoma haematobium) amongst occupants of informal settlements and to establish the distribution of snail hosts in relation to the settlements. Results revealed urinary schistosomiasis to be present amongst settlement dwellersatlowprevalence(7.2%)and intensity levels (mostly < 200eggs/10ml.) Transmission was patchy. Infected snail hosts (Bulmm africanus) were found in nearby rivers and dams and an active focus ofS. haematobium transmission was discovered in a city park - the first example of urban schistosomiasis from South Africa. A structured interview questionnaire was administered to settlement occupants to provide ancillary data. The public health implications of schistosomiasis control for South Africa are discussed.