Preliminary schistosomiasis survey in the lower Volta River below Akosombo Dam, Ghana

Snail surveys were carried out in Kpong Lake, in southern Ghana, and along the lower Volta River below the lake. Bulinus globosus and Biomphalaria pfeifferi were abundant in the Kpong Lake and B. truncatus and Biom . pfeifferi, especially the latter, were widespread below the lake. Urine surveys among primary school children at eight localities along the lower Volta showed Schistosoma haematobium prevalence rates of 38.8-96.2%. At Bator and Mepe , where records for an earlier survey were available for comparison, the present survey showed more than a doubling in prevalence rate in ten years: at Bator , from 27.1% in 1971-72 to 74.6% in 1981; at Mepe the corresponding figures were 36.4 and 88.0%. In Ghana infection with S. mansoni is less common than with S. haematobium and the known foci of S. mansoni transmission are few and widely scattered. In the present survey the disease is first reported along the lower Volta at Bator , Mepe , Adidome and Tefle , with prevalence rates ranging from 6.7% at Bator to 52.4% at Tefle . This survey has added an important focus of S. mansoni infection to those already known.