AGE-RELATED WORM LOAD AND WORM FECUNDITY PATTERNS IN HUMAN-POPULATIONS, AS INDICATED BY SCHISTOSOME CIRCULATING ANTIGENS

Recently, our group determined the relationship between serum CAA leve ls and fecal egg counts in two foci with very intense Schistosoma mans oni transmission: Maniema (Zaire), an area endemic for S. mansion sinc e several decades, and Ndombo (Senegal), where transmission has only b een established since a few years. The objective was to study and comp are age-related worm load and worm fecundity patterns in these two dif ferent endemic settings. Here, we will summarize the most important fi ndings and conclusions of this study.