Residual transmission of schistosomiasis in Ndikinimeki Health District (Centre Region, Cameroon) despite implementation of complementary control strategies: Prospects for elimination

• DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00410
• Publication Date: 2025-01-23T08:57:38Z
• Authors: Hervé Kengne Fogang; Hugues C. Nana Dj...; Alvine C. Kengne-...; Murielle C. Tcham...; Flobert Njiokou; Dickson S. Nsagha; Emmanuel Yenshu; Joseph Kamgno
• Keywords: Disease Control

Schistosomiasis control currently relies on school-based preventive chemotherapy (PC) with praziquantel, which has been proven, unfortunately, insufficient to interrupt disease transmission in areas persistent transmission. In the Ndikinimeki Health District (Centre Region, Cameroon), complementary strategies (community-based chemotherapy, water sanitation, hygiene, and health education) have also implemented accelerate interruption of schistosomiasis this focus. The assessment impact package interventions revealed that only a few individuals were still infected Schistosoma mansoni. This study, therefore, aimed investigate whether interrupted by assessing infection among population snails, intermediate hosts schistosomiasis. A cross-sectional malacological survey was conducted four using standardized technique. Collected snails transported laboratory, where they identified exposed sunlight for cercarial shedding. Overall, 350 schistosomes collected 32 sampling sites. total 330 (94.3 %) as Biomphalaria pfeifferi camerunensis, 20 (5.7 Bulinus forskalii. Of 154 survived during 30 days follow-up, 16 (10.4 %; 95 % CI: 6.5-16.2) shed cercariae, rate being quite heterogeneous between snails' species communities. study residual snail populations, emphasizing need complement current interruption.