Ahmed Mawahib, Alharbi Basmah
Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Almulaida, 52571, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Almulaida, 52571, Saudi Arabia.
J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2025 Mar 18;15(1):45. doi: 10.1007/s44197-025-00388-9.
Schistosomiasis, a frequently overlooked parasitic disease, affects individuals worldwide. A comprehensive population-based observational study was conducted to assess the prevalence of schistosomiasis among both Saudi and non-Saudi residents. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the incidence of this parasitic infection within the population. Data on schistosomiasis incidence were collected by the Ministry of Health from January 2021 to December 2023. The chi-square test was employed to analyze the data and determine the incidence rates of schistosomiasis by type, gender, and nationality. Between 2021 and 2023, a total of 115 cases of schistosomiasis were reported. Among these, 61.7% were classified as intestinal schistosomiasis, 34.8% as urinary schistosomiasis, and 3.5% as mixed schistosomiasis. The findings revealed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in the prevalence rates of the different forms of schistosomiasis. Notably, 79.8% of the cases were observed in men, while women accounted for 20.2% of the cases. Furthermore, a majority of the reported cases (72%) were found among non-Saudi individuals. This study offers important insights into the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Saudi Arabia. These findings underscore the effectiveness of public health interventions implemented in the country and provide a strategic framework for the global elimination of schistosomiasis.
血吸虫病是一种常被忽视的寄生虫病，影响着世界各地的人群。一项基于人群的综合性观察性研究开展，以评估沙特和非沙特居民中血吸虫病的患病率。本研究的主要目的是调查该寄生虫感染在人群中的发病率。卫生部收集了2021年1月至2023年12月期间血吸虫病发病率的数据。采用卡方检验分析数据，并按类型、性别和国籍确定血吸虫病的发病率。2021年至2023年期间，共报告了115例血吸虫病病例。其中，61.7%被归类为肠道血吸虫病，34.8%为泌尿生殖系统血吸虫病，3.5%为混合型血吸虫病。研究结果显示，不同类型血吸虫病的患病率存在统计学显著差异（P < 0.05）。值得注意的是，79.8%的病例为男性，而女性占病例的20.2%。此外，报告病例中的大多数（72%）是非沙特人。本研究为沙特阿拉伯血吸虫病的流行病学提供了重要见解。这些发现强调了该国实施的公共卫生干预措施的有效性，并为全球消除血吸虫病提供了战略框架。
