Identification of a Transmission Focus of Schistosoma mansoni in the Southernmost Brazilian State, Rio Grande do Sul

Biomphalaria tenagophila potencial vector of Schistosoma mansoni in the Paraná River basin (Argentina and Paraguay)

“…In 1997 a population of B. glabrata was found in Esteio, a locality of Rio Grande do Sul near Porto Alegre . Graeff-Teixeira et al (1999) found foci of S. mansoni transmission next to metropolitan area of Porto Alegre (29°49'37''S, 5l°10'56''W), the capital of the state of Rio Grande do Sul and actually it is distinguished as a low endemicity area for the schistosomiasis expansion (Graeff-Teixeira et al 2004).…”

The initial epidemiological studies in the low endemicity schistosomiasis area in esteio, Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost Brazilian State, 1997 to 2000

“…The area next to Banhado do Azeite has already been the site of a "hunting and fishing club" and although today it does not have any infrastructure like toilets, in sunny weekends the place may be crowded with visitors spending the day and the usual sites for defecation are the bushes (see Fig. 4) next to the pond where B. glabrata was found in huge numbers (Graeff-Teixeira et al 1999). The distribution of infected snails along the margins next to the bushes and the River supports the ranking of BA as a very important transmission site (Fig.…”

“…Initially 9 mice were infected by intra-peritonial injection of 80 cercaria and after 7 weeks, identification of adult S. mansoni was possible, as already previously reported (Graeff-Teixeira et al, 1999). Samples of the snails were sent for identification at the Laboratório de Helmintíases Intestinais, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte.…”

“…Biomphalaria glabrata was detected for the first time in 1997 (Carvalho et al 1998) after the diagnosis of what later was confirmed to be the first detected autochthonous human infection with Schistosoma mansoni in the region. A year later, the identification of infected snails in a pond next to the Sinos River was reported (Graeff-Teixeira et al 1999). The initial epidemiological investigation in the current southern border of the geographic distribution of schistosomiasis in Americas is now reported.…”

Evaluation of a linear spectral mixture model and vegetation indices (NDVI and EVI) in a study of schistosomiasis mansoni and Biomphalaria glabrata distribution in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Schistosomiasis treatment is simple due to readily available drugs that can be administered in a single oral dose . The disease has been primarily spreading from the outskirts of cities to urban centres and other regions of the country (Graeff-Teixeira et al 1999). SchisSchistosomiasis is primarily caused by a lack of basic sanitation in the peripheries of large urban centres where in natura sewage is directly released into drainage.…”