Urban focus of schistosomiasis in a metropolitan area in South-eastern Brazil

Authors

  • Carlos Tito Guimarães FIOCRUZ; Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou
  • Cecília Pereira de Souza FIOCRUZ; Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou
  • Omar dos Santos Carvalho FIOCRUZ; Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou
  • Naftale Katz FIOCRUZ; Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101993000300009

Keywords:

Biomphalaria^i2^sparasitol, Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosomiasis mansoni^i2^stransmiss, Urbanization

Abstract

Urban focus of schistosomiasis in an urban area of South-eastern, Brazil. An active, urban focus of schistosomiasis in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil is described. It is located in the "Julien Rien" Park, a leisure area of 48,500 m² created by the local administration in 1980 on the south side of city. Snail captures were made over 10 years (1983-1992) resulting in the collection of 3,361 Biomphalaria glabrata, ranging from 6.4 to 12.8 mm in diameter (mean = 9.3); 23 (0.7%) of these were found to be infected wi th Schistosoma mansoni. The finding of S. mansoni intermediate hosts in urban areas (ponds, small artificial lakes, etc) may be related to the introduction of fish and ornamental aquatic plants coming from specialized shops or areas in which they occur. It is suggested that the introduction of fish aquatic plants into urban water collections without a quarentine period should be avoided, as a prophylactic measure.

Published

1993-06-01

Issue

Section

Notes and Informations

How to Cite

Guimarães, C. T., Souza, C. P. de, Carvalho, O. dos S., & Katz, N. (1993). Urban focus of schistosomiasis in a metropolitan area in South-eastern Brazil . Revista De Saúde Pública, 27(3), 210-213. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101993000300009