Effect of floods on the transmission of schistosomiasis in the Yangtze River valley, People's Republic of China

Abstract The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of floods on the transmission of schistosomiasis in the Yangtze River valley, People's Republic of China. Retrospective analyses of malacologic, clinical and epidemiologic data, covering a 22-year period, were carried out to elucida...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasitology international 2008-09, Vol.57 (3), p.271-276
Main Authors: Wu, Xiao-Hua, Zhang, Shi-Qing, Xu, Xing-Jian, Huang, Yi-Xin, Steinmann, Peter, Utzinger, Jürg, Wang, Tian-Ping, Xu, Jing, Zheng, Jiang, Zhou, Xiao-Nong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
China - epidemiology
Disasters
Ecosystem
Flood
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Humans
Infection
Infectious Disease
People's Republic of China
Prevalence
Rivers
Schistosoma japonicum
Schistosomiasis japonica
Schistosomiasis japonica - epidemiology
Schistosomiasis japonica - parasitology
Schistosomiasis japonica - transmission
Snail dispersal
Snails - parasitology
Snails - physiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of floods on the transmission of schistosomiasis in the Yangtze River valley, People's Republic of China. Retrospective analyses of malacologic, clinical and epidemiologic data, covering a 22-year period, were carried out to elucidate the dispersal patterns of intermediate host snails ( Oncomelania hupensis ), and acute and chronic infections with Schistosoma japonicum in humans in relation to floods. Potential O. hupensis habitats in years with floods were 2.6–2.7 times larger than in years when water levels were normal. Both the density and infection rate of O. hupensis dropped in the first two years after a flood, but significantly increased in the third year. The number of acute cases with schistosomiasis japonica was markedly higher in years characterized by floods; on average, 2.8 times more cases were observed when compared to years that the Yangtze River had normal water levels. In view of our findings, emergency responses are warranted as soon as possible after the occurrence of a flood in order to avoid or mitigate the reemergence and spread of human schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China.
ISSN:1383-5769
1873-0329
DOI:10.1016/j.parint.2008.04.004