AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS INTERCALATUM IN SAO-TOME BYANTIGEN-DETECTION IN URINE

Schistosomiasis intercalatum in known to exist in Sao Tome since 1988, (Corachan et al.). It is transmitted by Bulinus forskalii, (Brown et al., 1989). Stool, blood and urine specimens have been collected from 380 inhabitants of all age groups living in the small town of Guadalup e close to the Agua traz river and Agua Polino. The prevalence of schi stosomiasis by detection of S. intercalatum eggs in a 10 mg stool thic k smear (Kato technique) is 25.5 %. An excreted Schistosoma polysaccha ride antigen, detected by means of a monoclonal antibody (Ripert et al ., 1992), is found in 49.1 % of the urine samples. Patients voiding S. intercalatum eggs in stools have been treated with praziquantel (40 m g/kg body weight), as recommended by WHO Expert Committee on Schitosom iasis, but it might be wise to also treat persons excreting antigen in urine. The prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis, ascariasis (73,7 % ), trichuriasis (73,7 %) and necatoriasis have been measured.