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Detection and Transmission Dynamics of Intestinal Schistosomiasis among Primary School Pupils in Tharaka Nithi County in the Mt. Kenya Highlands
Rael Musili
Nancy Kinyatta
Luna Kamau
Abstract
Emerging infections cause considerable public health problems to humanity worldwide. The presence of Biomphalaria spp vector snails, the compatibility of the snails with schistosomes, and the prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis infection in school-going children were determined. The study sought to determine the presence and transmission dynamics of schistosomiasis in Tharaka Nithi, an emerging schistosomiasis transmission focus in the Mt. Kenya highlands. The Epidemiological Triangle Model (ETM), which sheds light on the transmission of infectious diseases, served as the foundation for this study. A cross-sectional study design was used. The study targeted 178 students in grades 1–8 from the two primary schools in Tharaka Nithi located along the catchment area of Mukothima and Thanantu rivers. The number of study participants was determined using the Cochran formula. Study participants were selected randomly from the class register while ensuring equal numbers of boys and girls to avoid bias in results. The stool samples collected from the participants were processed using Kato Katz's quantitative screening technique for helminths and formal ether concentration technique for intestinal protozoa. Biomphalaria snails were collected and identified based on morphology. Snails were also bred and experimentally infected with a laboratory strain of Schistosoma mansoni and passed to the F5 generation to check the compatibility with the Schistosoma mansoni parasite. The overall mean snail parasite infection rate was 23.51% with a positivity of 19.38% in Mukothima River compared to 27.64% in Thanantu River. Although none of the field sampled snails were found infected with S. mansoni, pupils tested were found to be infected with the parasite with a positivity rate of 15.5%. Other parasites detected included Ascaris lumbricoides with a prevalence rate of 9.23% and Entamoeba histolytica with a prevalence of 8.48%. Results from the snail susceptibility experiment showed that the snails supported the development of S. mansoni to full patency, indicating the potential to support the schistosomiasis transmission cycle. Despite not finding any field-sampled snails infected with S. mansoni, the demonstrated compatibility of the snails with the parasite and the finding of infection in school children suggests that transmission is a possibility. Schistosomiasis prevention strategies including deworming programs, school and community environment sanitation, and latrines provision are highly recommended to prevent further spread of the disease.
