Schistosoma mansoni infection and risk factors among the fishermen of Lake Hawassa, southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical parasitic disease caused by different species of genus Schistosoma. Schistosoma mansoni causes a severe intestinal parasitic infection of high public and medical importance in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of, and risk factors for, S. mansoni infection among the fishermen of Lake Hawassa, southern Ethiopia, using a cross-sectional study design. A total of 243 fishermen were selected from the Hawassa Town Fishermen Association’s list in 2013. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors were collected from the fishermen using semi-structured questionnaires. Stool samples were collected and processed using the Kato–Katz thick smear technique. The overall prevalence of S. mansoni among the fishermen was 29.21% and the mean intensity of infection was 158.88 eggs per gram (EPG). The overall prevalence of intestinal helminths, including S. mansoni, was 69.54%. Similar prevalences of S. mansoni were recorded in age groups 15–19, 20–24 and 25–29 years: 31.82%, 31.75% and 31.94%, respectively. Fishermen who swam a minimum of once a week in Lake Hawassa were 2.92 times (95% CI: 1.554, 5.502) more likely to have acquired S. mansoni infection than those who swam in the lake less than once a week. The results indicate moderate endemicity of S. mansoni infection among the fishermen of Lake Hawassa. These fishermen could be a potentially high-risk group for S. mansoni infection and might be responsible for the transmission of infection to other segments of the community visiting the lake for recreation. Moreover, a high prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) was recorded among the fishermen. Integrated prevention and control strategies for schistosomiasis and STHs by different sectors are needed to tackle this problem.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Schistosoma mansoni and Associated Factors among Fishermen at Lake Tana, Northwest Ethiopia

“…The prevalence of hookworm (19.6%) in the present study was in consistent with prevalence of 23.1% in Addiremets town [ 23 ] but lower than findings of 43.3% from Uganda along the Lake Victoria [ 26 ]. On the other hand, hookworm prevalence in the present study was higher as compared to results from Hawassa (5.76%) [ 16 ] and Abaye Deneba (0.4%) [ 24 ]. These differences might be due to the variations in the frequency of soil contact and shoe wearing habit.…”

“…Infection frequency of A. lumbricoides (11.9%) in the present study was higher than study findings of 8.3% from Abaye Deneba [ 24 ] and 3.4% in Addiremets town [ 23 ], but lower than findings of 40.74% from Hawassa [ 16 ]. This difference might be due to variations in hygiene and sanitation of study participants and endemicity of A. lumbricoides.…”

“…In the present study, the mean EPG of A. lumbricoides among fishermen was 1352.15 which was comparable with 1349.04 EPG from Hawassa [16], but lower than 5292 EPG in Addiremets town [23]. The mean EPG of hookworm species in the present study was also 116.13 which is higher than findings of 99.36 EPG from Hawassa [16] and lower than 563 EPG from Addiremets town [23]. The intensity of S. mansoni infection in the present study (171.91 EPG) is higher than previous findings of 158.88 EPG from Hawassa [16], but lower than 218 EPG from Addiremets town [23], 236.2 EPG from Uganda [26], and 183.21 EPG from Tanzania [29].…”

“…The prevalence of S. mansoni in the present study was 22.7% which is comparable with 26.3% prevalence from Addiremets town [23], 26.3% in Jimma [22], and 26.6% in Egypt [27]. This result was also higher than the results of 13.9% obtained from Brazil [28] and 16.35% in Burkina Faso [21], but lower than 29.21% prevalence in Hawassa [16], 41.3% in Abaye Deneba [24], 47.85% in Tanzania [29], 88.6% in Uganda Mayuge district [26], and 57.2% in Mukono district of Uganda [30]. The variation might be due to differences in laboratory techniques used, the variations in S. mansoni and snail distribution and fish catching places in Lakes.…”

“…In Ethiopia, about 5.01 million peoples are infected and 37.5 million are at risk of the disease schistosomiasis [ 11 , 13 ]. Fishing and irrigation activities, existence of snails, washing clothes and fetching water in infested water, open defecation practice, and being fishermen are the predisposing factors for schistosomiasis [ 7 , 8 , 13 – 16 ].…”