Epidemiology and control of human schistosomiasis in Tanzania

In Tanzania, the first cases of schistosomiasis were reported in the early 19th century. Since then, various studies have reported prevalences of up to 100% in some areas. However, for many years, there have been no sustainable control programmes and systematic data from observational and control st...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasites & vectors 2012-11, Vol.5 (1), p.274-274, Article 274
Main Authors: Mazigo, Humphrey D, Nuwaha, Fred, Kinung’hi, Safari M, Morona, Domenica, Moira, Angela Pinot de, Wilson, Shona, Heukelbach, Jorg, Dunne, David W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anthelmintics - therapeutic use
Chemotherapy
Clinical trials
control
control methods
disease control
Disease prevention
Disease Vectors
Endemic Diseases - prevention & control
Endemic Diseases - statistics & numerical data
Epidemiology
Health sciences
Humans
Infection control
Islands
malacology
Morbidity
Parasites
Population
praziquantel
Praziquantel - therapeutic use
Prevalence
Prevention
Public health
Review
S. mansoni
Schistosoma
Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis - epidemiology
Schistosomiasis - prevention & control
Schistosomiasis - transmission
Snails
Tanzania
Tanzania - epidemiology
Tropical diseases
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Summary:In Tanzania, the first cases of schistosomiasis were reported in the early 19th century. Since then, various studies have reported prevalences of up to 100% in some areas. However, for many years, there have been no sustainable control programmes and systematic data from observational and control studies are very limited in the public domain. To cover that gap, the present article reviews the epidemiology, malacology, morbidity, and the milestones the country has made in efforts to control schistosomiasis and discusses future control approaches. The available evidence indicates that, both urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis are still highly endemic in Tanzania and cause significant morbidity.Mass drug administration using praziquantel, currently used as a key intervention measure, has not been successful in decreasing prevalence of infection. There is therefore an urgent need to revise the current approach for the successful control of the disease. Clearly, these need to be integrated control measures.
ISSN:1756-3305
1756-3305
DOI:10.1186/1756-3305-5-274