Urban epidemiology of Schistosoma intercalatum in the city of Bata, Equatorial Guinea.

In a cross sectional study, 1221 individuals were enrolled to determine the urban epidemiology of Schistosoma intercalatum in the city of Bata, Equatorial Guinea. Bulinus forskalii was the only intermediate host for schistosomes found in the study areas. The only Schistosoma species detected in faeces was S. intercalatum. However, no Schistosoma eggs were found in urine. The overall prevalence of S. intercalatum infection was 21.2%. Although infected subjects were found in all age groups, peak prevalence and highest parasite load occurred in 5-14 years old children. But only 38 individuals (3.1%) had infection with more than 400 eggs per gram faeces. Thirty out of these (78.9%), were children between 5 and 14 years of age. In the heavily infected subjects (greater than 400 eggs/g. faeces) highly significantly more diarrhoea with microscopic and macroscopic blood in stool was present (p less than 0.0001).