PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF SCHISTOSOMA-HAEMATOBIUM URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN THE PORT ST JOHNS DISTRICT

A urinary schistosomiasis survey undertaken in the Port St Johns distr ict of the former Transkei showed the parasite to be endemic and noted an increase in overall infection rates in the region compared with pr evious studies. There was a general stability in infection over the sa mpling period 1987 - 1989. Prevalence rates were low to moderate with an overall prevalence of 42%. These ranged from approximately 10% in t he low-prevalence settlement to 89.9% in the settlement with the highe st prevalence. Infection rates were found to decrease nearer the coast , and settlements closest to the sea had the lowest prevalence rates. The intensity of infection was low, with the majority of patients havi ng fewer than 200 eggs per 10 ml urine. Very few sufferers were treate d with Ambilhar at clinics and hospitals.