[Schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma intercalatum and urbanization in central Africa]

The species name of Schistosoma intercalatum, Fischer 1934 is linked to the shape and the size of his eggs, which are intermediate between those of S. haematobium and S. bovis. S. intercalatum is the instrument of an intestinal form of schistosomiasis looking like the form induced by S. mansoni but characterized by a low location of the lesions, mainly situated at the rectum and sigmoid level. The spreading area of S. intercalatum is bound to Central Africa. The foci are often urban and of a size limited to a town district. Bulinus forskalii is the intermediate host mostly involved in transmitting S. intercalatum lower Guinea strain, which is the strain found in the largest number of foci. B. crystallinus too transmits the parasite in the area of Gamba in Gabon. The Central Basin congolese strain of S. intercalatum is transmitted by Bulinus globosus. The houses where inhabitants are voiding eggs of S. intercalatum are just in front of the river bank or stream which are snails'breeding places. S. intercalatum is expending at the present time because of the development of built-up areas which are characterized by a disorganized town-planning. The disease is due to the high faecal pollution of the environment, causing a contamination of the urban hydrographic network which is the setting of schistosomiasis transmission. Although primely linked to the forest area, S. intercalatum is spreading with deforestation. Coming from the savannah area, S. haematobium is now invading the forest area, entering into competition with S. intercalatum. But since Bulinus acting as intermediate hosts of S. haematobium are more heliophilous than Bulinus transmitting S. intercalatum, urinary schistosomiasis has a tendency to supplant recto-sigmoidal schistosomiasis, especially in foci where hybridization between the two species of schistosomes is occurring.