Human Schistosomiasis in Cameroon

Changes in the distribution of human schistosomiasis in Far North province, Cameroon, since 1986

“…Since antischistosomal treatment has never been delivered at community level in North province, the reasons behind this favourable trend were (and remain) unclear. The aim of the present, cross-sectional survey, conducted in 25 primary schools in 2009, was to see if urinary schistosomiasis and intestinal schistosomiasis had shown a similar decline in Far North province, from the prevalences of 35% and 9%, respectively, recorded among schoolchildren in 1986 (Ratard et al, 1990). Lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) was used, previous studies having shown this to be a cost-effective method of identifying communities that qualify for treatment (Rabarijaona et al, 2003;Brooker et al, 2005).…”

“…The most recent, large-scale survey on human urinary schistosomiasis (caused by Schistosoma haematobium) and human intestinal schistosomiasis (caused by S. mansoni) in Cameroon, which was carried out in 1986, revealed that both diseases were endemic throughout Far North province (Ratard et al, 1990). In a survey in 2008-2009, Massenet et al (2009 found that the prevalences of these diseases in the neighbouring North province were markedly lower than those recorded by Ratard et al (1990), in the same area, about two decades earlier.…”

“…In a survey in 2008-2009, Massenet et al (2009 found that the prevalences of these diseases in the neighbouring North province were markedly lower than those recorded by Ratard et al (1990), in the same area, about two decades earlier. Since antischistosomal treatment has never been delivered at community level in North province, the reasons behind this favourable trend were (and remain) unclear.…”

“…Although the results of such comparison must be interpreted with care, because the two surveys used different sampling methods, the Table allows the results of the survey in Far North province in 1986 study (Ratard Ratard et al (1990).…”

“…The 25 surveyed schools (see Figure) were those previously investigated, in 1986, by Ratard et al, (1990). In each school, eight boys and seven girls were randomly selected from an exhaustive list of the children aged 9-11 years who were present on the day of the survey.…”