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Adult resistance to schistosomiasis mansoni: age-dependence of reinfection remains constant in communities with diverse exposure patterns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1999

N. B. KABATEREINE
Affiliation:
Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, PO Box 1661, Kampala, Uganda
B. J. VENNERVALD
Affiliation:
Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, DK-2920, Charlottenlund, Denmark
J. H. OUMA
Affiliation:
Division of Vector Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, PO Box, 20750, Nairobi, Kenya
J. KEMIJUMBI
Affiliation:
Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, PO Box 1661, Kampala, Uganda
A. E. BUTTERWORTH
Affiliation:
47, The Footpath, Coton, Cambridge CB3 7PX, UK
D. W. DUNNE
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK
A. J. C. FULFORD
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK

Abstract

In a fishing community on Lake Albert in Uganda the pattern of intensity of Schistosoma mansoni infection 6 months after treatment with praziquantel was found to be very similar to reinfection patterns seen in previously studied endemic communities: the profile peaks sharply at around the age of 10 years falling away rapidly to much lower levels in adults. This is in stark contrast to the patterns of water contact, which differ greatly between fishing and non-fishing communities. On Lake Albert, adults appear to be more heavily exposed than children. From these observations we conclude that adults are physiologically (perhaps immunologically) more resistant to infection after treatment than children.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1999 Cambridge University Press

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