Malacological and Parasitological Surveys on Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes: Implications for Control and Elimination of Snail-Borne Diseases

Beekam Kebede Olkeba, Pieter Boets, Seid Tiku Mereta, Belayhun Mandefro, Gemechu Debesa, Mahmud Ahmednur, Argaw Ambelu, Wolyu Korma and Peter L. M. Goethals
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Beekam Kebede Olkeba: Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Building F, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Pieter Boets: Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Building F, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Seid Tiku Mereta: Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia
Belayhun Mandefro: Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Dilla University, Dilla 419, Ethiopia
Gemechu Debesa: Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia
Mahmud Ahmednur: Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia
Argaw Ambelu: Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia
Wolyu Korma: Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia
Peter L. M. Goethals: Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Building F, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Schistosomiasis is one of the snail-borne diseases responsible for the second-highest burden of diseases among neglected tropical diseases. The use of mass drug administration to the populations most at risk is a backbone of the strategy to prevent and control schistosomiasis transmission. However, it offers no protection against re-infection, and humans are often re-exposed when they return to water bodies where snails release cercariae. Surveys on cercarial infection in snails could provide better insights on human disease risk. Hence, in this study, we investigated cercarial infection in snails and also determined the epidemiology of Schistosoma mansoni among fishermen at Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes. Freshwater snails were collected from the shorelines of Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes for examination of cercarial infection during 2020. Environmental data on water quality variables and physical characteristics of snail habitats were collected. Stool samples were collected from fishermen and the Kato-Katz technique was applied for the quantification of Schistosoma mansoni eggs. A malacological survey indicated that six morphologically distinguishable types of cercariae were found in snails. Infected snails with cercaria were more likely present in habitats with high five-day biological oxygen demand and low dissolved oxygen. The overall prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection among the fishermen at Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes was found to be 21.5%. This indicates that fishermen at Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes are one of the groups of people harboring schistosome cercariae which are potentially responsible for the transmission of schistosomiasis to lakeshore communities who have contact with lake water. Therefore, complementary medical treatment, public health interventions, environmental management and snail reduction are needed to control the transmission of schistosomiasis.

Keywords: freshwater snails; cercarial infection; Schistosoma mansoni; fishermen; Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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