ESQUISTOSOMIASE MANSONI. SUBSÍDIO AO ESTUDO DE SUA INCIDÊNCIA E DISTRIBUIÇÃO GEOGRÁFICA NO BRASIL - LISTA BIBLIOGRÁFICA SOBRE A ESQUISTOSOMOSE MANSONI (DOENÇA DE MANSON-PIRAJÁ DA SILVA)

Abstract

In the first part of his paper the A. considers  schistosomiasis mansoni as an lmportant puhlic health problem in Brazil. The data available in Brazilian literature were reviewed and information has been presented to show that schistosmiasis mansom surveys conducted in different States of Brazil are not sufficient to provide a complete demographic picture of these infection. Other surveys based in more adequate technics of stool examinations for Schistosoma mansoni eggs are recommended. With this purpose, the advantages of the sedimentation and centrifugation technic (Hofiman Pons, Janer) are indicated instead oi the Willis procedure which was employed as the routine method in severa! localities. Following these conslderations the A. criticizes the want of data on statistics of signiiicant value on the real incidence of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil pointing out. in detail. the reasons for such a deficiency. ln spite of the discrepancies pointed out, there is substantial evidence that schistosomiasis mansoni is intensely endemic extensive areas of the Brazilian territory. In the second part of his paper the A. makes a complete review of the data found in literature on schistosomiasis mansoni incidence and the geographical distrihution in different States of Brazil. studying them separated. Surveys conducted by stool examinations or throngh pathological records. including liver hiopsies during visceretomie were exhaustively mentioned. The peculiar epidemiological aspects of schistosomiasis mansoni in relation to studies made in Brazil were likewise referred to, in detail.The frequency of schistomiasis infection in Brazilian youths was emphasized as well as its medical, social and economical importance.In the last part of his paper the A. reviews the data above referred to, concluding that the incidence figures found all over the country are estimated in 6.a per cent. To this figure correspond 2.808.600 shistosomiasis infected individuals in Brazil which seem to be a very low rate, considering the reasons pointed out in the text and given in full detail. Considering only the Northern States and Minas Gerais, known, as the more important endemie foci of shistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil, the A. found the incidence of 86,5 per cent and estimated that the approximate number of infected people is 1.817.892 individuals in that particular area. These figure he dreems are below the real incidence if we keep in view the same facts analized in the text. The calls attention to the fact that Sergipe and Alagoas have. respectively, the 1st and 2nd place with regards to the frequency of Manson's schistosomiasis, but information available is deficient because a recent and extensive survey has not been made. In 3rd, 4th and 5th place are, respectively, the States of Bahia. Pernambuco and Minas Gerais where the more recent and numerous studies, based on more reliable examination procédures, showed a greater and much wider dissemination o f the disease. All over Brazil, from the north to the south. from east to west, the occurrence of Manson´s; schistosomiasis exists anel was already verified but in severa! States. the data are scarce and fragmentary, in many areas no survey has heen undertaken and in many others only a few persons have been examined; also in many regions the data are based on unrepresentative groups population. Moreover. most surveys have employed a single technic on a single stool specimen; hence the positive cases reported represent only a fraction of the true incidence in the particular studied area. Finally the A. emphasizes the incomplete knowledge on geographical distribution of the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni (Australorbis glabratus) in Brazil at the present time, anel likewide calls attention to the lack of data on cercarial infecction indices of these snails pointing out tl1e importance of this matter in epidemiological studies on schistosomiasis in Brazil. Based in data presented the A. ends his paper ealling attention to public health authorities for Manson´s schistosomiasis as a matter of greater consideration on account of tis medical and economical importance and claims for immediate measures of control of thirst serious disease.The bibliography organised by the A. includes almost all the published papers in Brazil on schistosomiasis mansoni, and althought not complete, he thinks it of help to those interested in such an important subject.