TRANSMISSION OF INTESTINAL SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN ADDIS-ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Malacological and parasitological surveys were made in Bole-Kotobe are a in Addis Ababa in April 1996 to investigate the transmission of inte stinal schistosomiasis, Malacological survey conducted in Kotobe river showed Schistosoma mansoni cercarial infection rate of 2.6% (one out of 38) in Biomphalaria pfeifferi. In a total of 197stool specimens fro m school children examined using Kato thin smear method in Misrak Bar Number 1 and Wondirad Elementary and Junior Secondary Schools, the ove rall prevalence rate of Schistosomas mansoni was 4% and 10%, respectiv ely while the intensity of infection was 66 and 37 eggs per gram (EPG) of stool,respectively, Out of the 13 children found infected in the t wo schools, nine gave a history of having swam in Kotobe river and had never been outside of Addis Ababa since birth, The collection of B.pf eifferi infected with S.mansoni, the establishment of the isolated S.m ansoni in laboratory mice and the finding of schistosome infected chil d ren who had never been outside of Addis Ababa confirmed that transmi ssion of intestinal schistosomiasis is actually taking place in Addis Ababa, Further surveys in other water-bodies in the city for mapping o f schistosomiasis infection sites and transmission foci are recommende d to enable immediate control measures before the situation gets out o f control.