Schistosomiasis is a tropical neglected disease commonly associated with rural areas; however, urban schistosomiasis has been reported worldwide, and increasing urbanization is one of the most important demographic shifts of the 20th and now 21st centuries. The pattern of urbanization is not uniform so that within the same city the rates and sources of population increase vary. Here, we report on the parasite composition in one neighbourhood in the metropolitan area of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Using epidemiological data and population genetics, we find evidence for local transmission and maintenance of Schistosoma mansoni infection within an urban population and little contribution from rural–urban migration. Our findings provide direction for local mitigation strategies and to assist the public living in this neighbourhood to interrupt the local transmission cycle.
Schistosomiasis is a tropical neglected disease commonly associated with
rural areas; however, urban schistosomiasis has been reported
world-wide, and increasing urbanization is one of the most important
demographic shifts of the 20 and now 21
centuries. The pattern of urbanization is not
uniform so that within the same city the rates and sources of population
increase vary. Here we report on the parasite composition in one
neighborhood in the metropolitan area of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Using
epidemiological data and population genetics we find evidence for local
transmission and maintenance of Schistosoma mansoni infection
within an urban population and little contribution from rural-urban
migration. Our findings provide direction for local mitigation
strategies and to assist the public living in this neighborhood to
interrupt the local transmission cycle.
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