Schistosoma mansoni infection and risk factors among fishermen at Lake Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia
Schistosomiasis/Bilharziasis is one of the neglected tropical parasitic diseases caused by different species of genus schistosoma. Among the species, S.mansoni (causative agents of intestinal schistosomiasis) is one of the causes of severe intestinal parasitic infections with high public and medical importance in Ethiopia. There is scarcity of information about the status of S.mansoni infection among the fisherman in the present study area and in the country at large. Therefore this study was designed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of S.mansoni infection among fishermen at Lake Hawassa, southern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the fishermen from April to June 2013 in Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia. A total of 243 fishermen were included by Systematic Random Sampling from the lists of the fishermen members in the registration book of fishermen associations in the Hawassa Town. Data on socio-demographic features and risk factors were collected by using semi-structured questionnaires. Stool samples were collected and processed using Kato-Katz thick smear techniques and examined between 30-40 minute for hook worm and after 24 hours for S.mansoni and other soil transmitted helminths (STHs). The overall prevalence of S.mansoni among the fishermen was 29.21% (71/243) and the mean intensity of infection was 158.88 eggs per gram (EPG). The prevalence of intestinal helminths including S.mansoni was 69.54% (169/243). Moreover, the prevalence of soil transmitted helminths (STHs) were 40.74% (99/243), 35.80% (87/243) and 5.76% (14/243) for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and hookworm species, respectively. Almost similar prevalence of S.mansoni, 31.82%, 31.75%, 31.94% were recorded in age groups of 15-19, 20-24 and 25-29 years, respectively. Fishermen who are swimming always were 2.92 times [95% CI: 1.554, 5.502] more likely to acquire S.mansoni infection than other water contacting habit of the study participants. The results of current investigation indicated the moderate endemicity of S.mansoni among the fishermen at Lake Hawassa, southern Ethiopia. Fishermen could be the potential risk group for S.mansoni infection and might be responsible for the transmission of S.mansoni to other segments of the communities. Since high prevalence of STH were recorded among the fishermen, integrated prevention and control strategies from different sectors might be important to tackle the problem.\n\nAuthor summaryIt is known that schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical parasitic diseases. However there is scarcity of information about the status of S.mansoni infection among the fisherman in the study area and in many parts of the world. Knowing the epidemiology of these parasites among the risk groups (fishermen) can contribute a lot to scale up the current control and elimination strategies. In addition, Fishermen could be the potential risk group for S.mansoni infection and might be responsible for the transmission of S.mansoni to other segments of the communities. To determine the prevalence of S.mansoni infection among the fisherman, the present study is done using stool samples from study groups.