Schistosomiasis control program in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil

Abstract

The Schistosomiasis Control Program (PCE) was implemented in Minas Gerais (MG) in 1984. In 1999, the state started the investigation and control of schistosomiasis in 470 municipalities. The aim of the present paper is to report the evolution of this Program from 1984-2007. The program included a coproscopic survey carried out in the municipalities of known endemic areas using a quantitative method. Positives were treated with praziquantel and given a program of health education. The information for this study was obtained from data collected and stored by the Health State Department. From 2003-2007, 2,643,564 stool examinations resulted in 141,284 positive tests for Schistosoma mansoni (5.3%). In the first evaluation after treatment, a decrease in the number of municipalities with prevalence over 10% was documented. In one village, selected for a more detailed evaluation, the percentage of positive tests decreased from 14.9% in the baseline survey to 5.3% after treatment. A reference centre for patients with severe schistosomiasis was created in Belo Horizonte, MG. Based on our findings, we believe that the implementation of PCE in MG is on the right path and in due time these new initiatives will provide desirable results

Thrombocytopenia as a surrogate marker of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis in endemic areas for Schistosomiasis mansoni

“…Particular attention was given to the abdominal examination; specifi cally, the right hepatic lobe was examined along the anterior axillary line, and the left hepatic lobe was examined along a line passing through the xiphoid process. The spleen was palpated and measured under the left costal margin with the patient in the dorsal decubitus position during deep inspiration [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] .…”

Polymerase chain reaction for the evaluation of Schistosoma mansoni infection in two low endemicity areas of Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Study area -This study was performed in the municipalities of Piau (S21º30'34'' W43º19'22'') and Coronel Pacheco (S21°35'16'' W43º15'57''), with areas of (IBGE 2007) and both are part of the region known as Zona da Mata Mineira (Drummond et al 2010). All samples were collected from January-April 2007.…”

“…In Brazil, it is estimated that six-eight million people are infected and 26 million are at risk in areas of Schistosoma mansoni infection. This disease is irregularly distributed in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), which has the highest prevalence rate for schistosomiasis in Brazil (do Amaral et al 2006, WHO 2008, Drummond et al 2010.…”

Morbidity of schistosomiasis mansoni in a low endemic setting in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Six million people are infected and 25 million live in endemic areas 1 . The State of Minas Gerais has the largest endemic area in the country, with 523 (61%) out of 853 municipalities affected 2 . Chronic forms prevail in endemic areas.…”