Predicting frequency distribution and influence of sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors of Schistosoma mansoni infection and analysis of co-infection with intestinal parasites

• Published in: Geospatial health Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 303
• Main Authors: Rollemberg, Carla V.V., Silva, Marília M.B.L., Rollemberg, Karla C., Amorim, Fábio R., Lessa, Nayanna M.N., Santos, Marcos D.S., Souza, Acácia M.B., Melo, Enaldo V., Almeida, Roque P., Silva, Ângela M., Werneck, Guilherme L., Santos, Mario A., Almeida, José A.P., Jesus, Amélia R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy PAGEPress Publications 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Animals; Ascariasis - epidemiology; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Coinfection - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Entamoebiasis - epidemiology; Feces - parasitology; Female; Hookworm Infections - epidemiology; Humans; Infections; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology; Intestinal parasites; Low income groups; Male; Middle Aged; Occupations; Parasites; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Rural Health; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; Schistosomiasis mansoni - epidemiology; Sex Factors; Sociodemographics; Socioeconomic Factors; Soil-transmitted helminths; Spatial Analysis; Trichuriasis - epidemiology; Water Supply; Young Adult; Brazil
• DOI: 10.4081/gh.2015.303
• ISSN: 1827-1987

Geospatial analysis was used to study the epidemiology of Schistosoma mansoni, intestinal parasites and co-infections in an area (Ilha das Flores) in Sergipe, Brazil. We collected individually georeferenced sociodemographic, behavioral and parasitological data from 500 subjects, analyzed them by conventional statistics, and produced risk maps by Kernel estimation. The prevalence rates found were: S. mansoni (24.0%), Trichuris trichiura (54.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides (49.2%), Hookworm (17.6%) and Entamoeba histolytica (7.0%). Only 59/500 (11.8%) individuals did not present any of these infections, whereas 279/500 (55.8%) were simultaneously infected by three or more parasites. We observed associations between S. mansoni infection and various variables such as male gender, being rice farmer or fisherman, low educational level, low income, water contact and drinking untreated water. The Kernel estimator indicated that high-risk areas coincide with the poorest regions of the villages as well as with the part of the villages without an adequate sewage system. We also noted associations between both A. lumbricoides and hookworm infections with low education and low income. A. lumbricoides infection and T. trichiura infection were both associated with drinking untreated water and residential open-air sewage. These findings call for an integrated approach to effectively control multiple parasitic infections.