Insalubrious touristic environments and schistosomiasis transmission in Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

This study sought to identify and spatialize the risk of transmission of Manson’s schistosomiasis at localities in Pernambuco, Brazil that are used for tourist leisure activities and have freshwater environments that are inhabited by the snail that transmits this disease. In order to accomplish this, malacological surveys were conducted at the selected localities between May and December 2016, in order to identify and georeference the breeding sites and foci of schistosomiasis-transmitting mollusks of the genus Biomphalaria. The essential abiotic data for mollusk survival were evaluated at each breeding site: temperature, water pH and total dissolved solids (TDS). Data relating to breeding site quality were also recorded. The SPSS 20 software was used to analyze these data, and the chi-square test was applied to investigate associations between variables, taking a p-value ≤ 0.5. Based on geographic coordinates, maps representing the distribution of breeding sites and foci, mollusk species found and numbers of mollusks sampled in each water body were created. ArcGIS 10.4 software was used to build thematic maps using the interpolation technique of inverse distance weighting (IDW). A total of 72 localities distributed among 44 municipalities located in the Metropolitan, Zona da Mata and Agreste regions of Pernambuco were investigated. At these, 26 reservoirs, 32 breeding sites and 10 foci of schistosomiasis intermediate hosts were found. The study identified and located problematic localities that are visited by special groups that through exposure to unhealthy environments are subject to infection by the parasite S. mansoni.

Aspectos epidemiológicos e distribuição de casos de esquistossomose no Nordeste brasileiro no período de 2010 a 2017

“…A irradiação dos esgotos nos rios, lagoas e valas possibilita a criação de ambientes insalubres que são favoráveis à transmissão da doença. O foco da doença no estado é localizado na região metropolitana, na zona da mata e nas cidades vizinhas ao agreste pernambucano 15 .…”

Larval trematodes hosted by Biomphalaria straminea in the Brazilian semiarid region: implications for schistosomiasis control

“…Transmission occurs when infected individuals lay their faeces with parasite eggs in water bodies infested by snails, which become infected by miracidia that hatch from the eggs. Infected snails release cercariae that can penetrate the skin of humans, evolving to schistosomules that will develop to adult worms, which copulate and lay eggs in the mesenteric venous plexus (Barbosa et al, 2018;Carvalho et al, 2018).…”

Absence of norovirus contamination in shellfish harvested and commercialized in the Northeast coast of Brazil

“…The Northeast region is one of the favorite travel destinations in Brazil because of its stunning coastline and rich seafood cuisine. One important state in the region is Pernambuco, where tourists and residents are usually attracted by its recreational waters and beach-related activities (20). One study found NoV prevalence in humans in Pernambuco to be 15% (21).…”