Schistosomiasis in the Kota Kota district of Nyasaland

Ransford, O.N.

doi:10.1016/s0035-9203(48)90438-6

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“… 39 The wide distribution of the disease in the plains and plateaus of Malawi has been reported for over 70 years. 14 , 40 While urinary schistosomiasis is highly prevalent in the lakeshore and southern region districts, intestinal schistosomiasis predominates on the central plains and in the Northern Region’s districts. 41 , 42 The first schistosomiasis mapping exercise, carried out in Malawi in 2003, demonstrated both a widespread occurrence of infection and a marked variability in infection prevalence.…”

Section: Historical Background and Epidemiological Distribution Of Sc...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring the Role of Community Involvement in Reducing the Burden of Schistosomiasis and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases in Malawi: Where are We in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases?

Lubanga,

Bwanali,

Munthali

et al. 2024

RRTM

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Schistosomiasis has been endemic in Malawi since 1947. Despite the longevity of endemicity of the disease, it still maintains a high burden in Malawi. This could be attributed to insufficient coverage of preventive and therapeutic mass drug administration (MDA) which mainly targets school-aged children, leaving out adults who also bear a high burden of the disease. Additionally, despite well documented impact of community involvement in boosting up the effectiveness of health programmes, there is minimal community involvement in schistosomiasis control and prevention programmes. Therefore, this perspective seeks to discuss the historical background of schistosomiasis in Malawi, gaps in community engagement and participation and suggest ways of enhancing the role of the community in prevention and control programmes. Amongst other challenges, the control programmes are centralised, leading to minimal input at the district and community level as well as low awareness of schistosomiasis control and prevention methods at the community level. It is of utmost significance therefore to provide comprehensive schistosomiasis health education to the communities and devise a thorough outline of the specific roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders including community members in the fight against schistosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases.

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Section: Historical Background and Epidemiological Distribution Of Sc...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With schistosomiasis being endemic in the country, with cases being reported as early as 1948, it would be expected that by now, community awareness of the disease would be considerably high coupled with active involvement in control and prevention efforts. 40 …”

Section: Gaps and Notable Challenges In The Fight Against Schistosomi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Role of Community Involvement in Reducing the Burden of Schistosomiasis and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases in Malawi: Where are We in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases?

Lubanga,

Bwanali,

Munthali

et al. 2024

RRTM

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“…In Malawi, novel central nervous system manifestations have been reported (CDC 1993), and gynecological lesions added to overall morbidity (Wright et al 1982) could theoretically facilitate the transmission of AIDS (Feldmeier et al 1994;Harms and Feldmeier 2002). The widespread occurrence of schistosomiasis in Malawi has been recognized for over 70 years (Dye 1924;Cullinan 1945;Ransford 1948); however, the open waters of Lake Malawi were considered to be schistosomiasis-free (Evans 1975) until the late 1980s (Stauffer et al 1997a). In 1999, the Danish Bilharzias Laboratory investigated the human epidemiology of schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections in 28 villages and 19 primary schools on the Nankumba Peninsula (Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2000).…”

Section: Schistosomiasis In Lake Malawimentioning

confidence: 99%

Taxonomy: A Precursor to Understanding Ecological Interactions among Schistosomes, Snail Hosts, and Snail‐Eating Fishes

Stauffer

Madsen

Konings³

et al. 2007

Trans Am Fish Soc

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We have observed a dramatic decrease in the abundance of snail‐eating fishes and an increase in the prevalence of schistosomiasis among village residents and expatriate tourists at Lake Malawi, Africa, over the past two decades. We hypothesized that these observations were linked by a cause‐and‐effect relationship and that the observed decrease in fish molluscivores permitted an increase in the abundance of snails that are intermediate hosts to schistosomes; we proposed a sampling protocol to determine these relationships. Initially, we thought that intensive study of the interactions among fish, intermediate‐host snails, and human schistosomes in southern Lake Malawi could be applied to other areas throughout the lake. More than two‐thirds of the cichlid species in Lake Malawi are undescribed, the taxonomy of the Bulinus snails is poorly known, and not all strains of Schistosoma hematobium have been identified. Before we can identify the interactions among these components of the system and effectively manage snail‐eating fishes, we must be able to accurately delimit the taxonomic units (e.g., species, populations, and demes) within each of the above groups.

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“…Schistosomiasis has long plagued Malawi, but transmission of this disease was historically restricted to rice fields, slowmoving streams, and the swampy backwaters adjacent to the lake [(8-10); A.C. Evans, unpublished data]; the open waters of Lake Malawi were considered safe from schistosomiasis transmission (8). Lake Malawi contains some 28 snail species (11) of which 15 are endemic and more than 12 molluscivorous cichlid species (12) ofwhich all are endemic.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lake Malawi contains some 28 snail species (11) of which 15 are endemic and more than 12 molluscivorous cichlid species (12) ofwhich all are endemic. Two snail species are thought to act as the principal intermediate hosts of disease-causing schistosomes in Malawi:Bulinus globosus and Biomphalaria pfeifferi are hosts to the trematodes that cause urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis, respectively (8,13).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The modification of human society by natural systems: discontinuities caused by the exploitation of endemic species and the introduction of exotics.

Cairns

Bidwell

1996

Environ Health Perspect

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Drastic reductions in Earth's biodiversity, old growth forests, top soil, clean water and air, and truly wild areas are occurring during a period when discussions of sustainable growth and sustainable production are becoming common. Using such terms as sustainable growth and sustainable production rather than the more accurate sustainable use of the planet leaves the impression that, with a little more skill, society can continue its present practices indefinitely. A number of explanations are possible for this desire to maintain two conflicting beliefs (i.e., severe environmental destruction occurs but society can continue its basic practices indefinitely): 1) the idea that a technological solution can be found for every problem; 2) an addiction to present behavioral norms, which is so strong that the consequences of continuing such behavior are irrelevant; and 3) the concept that, while human society can alter natural systems to suit its own needs, natural systems are incapable of altering human society. This last issue is the focus of this discussion: if human society eliminates all species on the planet that are incapable of tolerating human society's present practices, the only species remaining will be those that human society is unable to control successfully or eliminate; these species are called pests. Another hypothesis could be stated: a world of pests that human society cannot control effectively will inevitably reshape human society through disease and famine, technological breakdown, and interference with domesticated and wild species upon which the integrity of human societal structure depends.

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Schistosomiasis in the Kota Kota district of Nyasaland

Cited by 16 publications

References 3 publications

Exploring the Role of Community Involvement in Reducing the Burden of Schistosomiasis and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases in Malawi: Where are We in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases?

Exploring the Role of Community Involvement in Reducing the Burden of Schistosomiasis and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases in Malawi: Where are We in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases?

Taxonomy: A Precursor to Understanding Ecological Interactions among Schistosomes, Snail Hosts, and Snail‐Eating Fishes

The modification of human society by natural systems: discontinuities caused by the exploitation of endemic species and the introduction of exotics.

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