Low urinary schistosomiasis and high intestinal parasitic infection prevalence after implementation of agricultural activities in the villages in the North and South of Gabon: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis and intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) in Impacted Villages (IVs) and Surrounding Villages (SVs) in Gabon. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2019 to January 2020, involving school-age children and adults in both IVs and SVs. Participants were included based on specific eligibility criteria. Schistosoma haematobium was detected using the urinary filtration technique, while IPIs were identified using the Kato-Katz method, modified formalin-ethyl acetate concentration (MIFc), and helminth cultures. Atotal of 326 participants were screened. Among them, 266 provided at least one stool sample, and 208 at least one urine sample. Five cases of schistosomiasis were recorded, with four of these cases occurring in participants from IVs. Three participants infected with S. haematobium were identified in IVs. The prevalence of IPIs was found in 65.7% (175 out of 266 cases) of participants and was similar between IVs and SVs. Specifically, the proportion of IPIs in participants living in IVs was 69.2% (63 out of 91), compared to 66.2% (116 out of 175) in SVs (p = 0.9). However, participants in SVs exhibited a higher prevalence of digestive disorders (p < 0.01), diarrhoea (p < 0.01), and cough (p < 0.01). The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infections was estimated at 37.2% (99 out of 266). Multivariate analysis indicated that living in earthen houses (p = 0.08) for helminth infections was a potential risk factor associated with IPIs. This study highlights a risk of resurgence of schistosomiasis cases in IVs and a predominance of IPIs associated with symptoms in SVs. Notably, the median parasite density of participants infected with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura was higher among those living in impacted villages. These findings suggest that control activities for schistosomiasis and IPIs should be sustained in these areas.