MAPPING OF SCHISTOSOMA HEAMATOBIUM IN QENA DISTRICT, QENA GOVERNORATE, UPPER EGYPT; HOSPITAL-BASED STUDY

Schistosoma haematobium infection is one of the most serious endemic parasites worldwideespecially Africa. In Egypt, in spite of the control massive advances in reducing country-wideschistosomiasis prevalence rates; yet, endemic foci still exist. This study determined the percentageof positive urinary schistosomiasis cases among patients who complained from hematuriaand or dysuria at Qena General Hospital and to conduct a spatial mapping of S. haematobium infectionin Qena Governorate, Egypt.A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Urology and Nephrology outpatient clinics atQena General Hospital from January 2016 to December 2018. The subjects were permanent residentsin Qena district who complained of either hematuria and/or dysuria (N= 2371). The urinesamples were subjected to full parasitological examinations. A detailed personal history was obtainedafter informed consent from them.The results showed that 568/2371 (24%) cases were positive for Schistosoma haematobium.The largest number of positive cases were recorded in autumn (44%) followed by winter(35.2%). Significantly higher odds ratios were among young male patients (less than 18 years)presented complaint in seasons other than summer, and lived in villages in the western bank ofthe River Nile. But apparently, higher number of infected cases was detected in eastern villagescompared to western ones. Statistical analysis showed that living in the western area in Qenadistrict was a risk factor for S. haematobium infection. It coincides with studying geological criteriaof Qena district where western area is concave shape with slow water flow that allow moreprobability for snails’ existence and consequently higher susceptibility for infection compared toconvex shape of the eastern area.