Basic and associated causes of schistosomiasis-related mortality in Brazil: A population-based study and a 20-year time series of a disease still neglected

Abstract

Background Schistosomiasis is a persistent public health problem in Brazil. Regardless advances in diagnosis and mass treatment, schistosomiasis has a severe impact on morbimortality in the country and remains a neglected tropical disease. Herein, we assessed the basic and associated causes of schistosomiasis-related deaths and the temporal and spatial patterns of mortality from the disease in Brazil between 1999 and 2018. Methods We conducted an ecological and time series study. The segmented log-linear regression model was applied to assess time trends, considering all deaths recorded in the category B65/ICD-10. Additionally, we elaborated maps of mortality rates from schistosomiasis in Brazil. Results A total of 4168 schistosomiasis-related deaths were recorded in Brazil in this period, as an associated cause. Time trend analysis revealed an increase in the average age of deaths from schistosomiasis (annual percentage change (APC) = 0.84), and stable trend in Brazil (APC = 0.31). Concerning schistosomiasis-related deaths, we observed disorders related to the digestive system, liver diseases, septicemias, and chronic diseases. Surprisingly, there were deaths caused by non-endemic Schistosoma species in Brazil. Also, municipalities from non-endemic areas in Brazil presented schistosomiasis-related deaths. Conclusion Altogether, our analyses demonstrated that schistosomiasis remains a significant cause of death in Brazil, and it is increasing in some areas, especially in the Northeast region. Additionally, women and the elderly showed a stable time trend of deaths. Thereby, it urgently requires improvements in the control programs strategies, in the sense of an effective reduction in cases and deaths from the disease in Brazil.

Climate and urbanization drive changes in the habitat suitability of Schistosoma mansoni competent snails in Brazil

“…Next, we included high density urban areas in both analyses: >1500 people per grid cell with contiguous grid cells totaling more than 150,000 people 56 . As population-based definitions of urban areas are inconsistent, as a separate analysis, we repeated the analysis with alternative definitions of urbanization as described in supplement p 2, and the results yielded similar results (supplement pp 7, [17][18][19][20][21][22]. We used WorldPop to estimate population size and cumulative cost mappingwhere every pixel is assigned the total cost of the lowest cost path (distance) to an urban pixel-to estimate the distance to the nearest urban and rural pixels for points collected between 2000 and 2020.…”

“…However, total elimination remains elusive. Moreover, temporal trends in schistosomiasis related deaths have remained stable from 1999 to 2018 throughout most of the country, and has increased in the Northeast, where B. glabrata and B. straminea are found 17 . Globally, schistosomiasis control has been orchestrated through preventative and reactive medical treatment via administration of the drug praziquantel 2 , WASH interventions (access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene) 2 , and environmental interventions (e.g., water engineering and snail control) 18 , 19 .…”

Reduced HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates and increased AIDS mortality due to late diagnosis in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Despite being the 12th largest economy in the world, with a gross domestic product of about US$ 1.434 trillion in 2021, Brazil faces significant social inequalities across its regions and states. Additionally, it is endemic for several Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as Leishmaniasis 26 , Schistosomiasis 27,28 , Dengue 29 , Chagas disease 30 , and Leprosy 31 .…”

Modelagem GAMLSS espaçotemporal da incidência de esquistossomose na região central do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

“…Portanto, está associada às periferias das cidades, onde são mais comuns a falta de infraestrutura e a ausência de esgotamento sanitário 3,4 . No país, a forma endêmica é causada pelo helminto S. mansoni, responsável pela forma hepatoesplênica da esquistossomose, embora existam relatos de casos de outras espécies 5 . Segundo Souza et al 6 , 523 municípios de Minas Gerais -ou seja, 61% do total de municípios do estado -são considerados endêmicos pelas altas taxas de infecção e pela ampla distribuição geográfica das espécies de caramujo (Biomphalaria spp.…”