prevalence of schistosoma intercalatum and s. haematobium infection among primary schoolchildren in capital areas of democratic republic of são tomé and príncipe, west africa

background: a parasitological survey of schistosoma haematobium and s. intercalatum infection among primary schoolchildren in capital area of democratic republic of são tomé and príncipe (drstp) was undertaken. methods: subjects with positive infection were confirmed by the detection of s. haematobium ova in the urine or s. intercalatum ova in the stool by using centrifugation concentration or merthiolate-iodine-forma­lin concentration method. totally, 252 urine and stool samples, respectively, were obtained from apparently healthy schoolchildren, of which 121 from boys (9.8 ± 1.4 yr) and 131 from girls (9.7 ± 1.3 yr). results: none of participating schoolchildren were found having s. haematobium ova in the urinary speci­men. while, among 4 primary schools studied, only schoolchildren from saint marçal were detected with s. intercalatum ova in the fecal specimen, making the overall prevalence of s. intercalatum infection among schoolchildren was 2.4% (6/252) and girls had insignificantly higher prevalence (3.1%, 4/131) than that (1.7%, 2/121) in boys (χ 2 = 0.5, p = 0.5). conclusion: water control and sanitation as well as snails eliminated by molluscicides are urgently needed to reduce s. intercalatum infection in drstp inhabitants.