Schistosomiasis on the Entebbe Peninsula

A comparative study of the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni and their intermediate host in the fishing villages of Nakiwogo and Kigungu is reported. A total of 520 inhabitants from the two villages were examined for Schistosoma mansoni. Their age varied from 4 to 40 and the infection was found to be higher at Nakiwogo 95(36.6%) than at Kigungu 40(15.4%). The snails collected were 1,345 Biomphalaria choanomphala, 237 Biomphalaria pfeifferi, 180 Bulinus (Bulinus) tropicus, 56 Bulinus (physopsis) globosus and other snails of non-medical importance like Pila ovata, Melanoides tuberculata and Bellamya species. Biomphalaria choanomphala was found to be the major intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni in the two villages. The intermediate hosts for S. mansoni were screened for cercarial shedding, 2 Biomphalaria pfeifferi shed furcocercous cercariae and 9 Leptocercous cercariae while Biomphalaria choanomphala were an negative. The water contact activities related to infection in the two villages are discussed.