Hyperendemicity of Schistosomiasis Japonica on Leyte Island, P. I.

Abstract

The presence of human infections by the blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum on Leyte Island was first reported by Garrison in 1907 (1). From a survey of Leyte and other islands reported in 1941, Tubangui and Pasco (2) estimate that 20% of the people living in an endemic area are infected with schistosomiasis. Our surveys of five barrios located on the eastern side of Leyte during April and May 1945 revealed that over 80% of the children 10 years of age or older can be proven positive on the basis of only one stool examination if the sedimentation technique is used. Since repeated stool examinations would increase the per cent found positive and since chronic cases of schistosomiasis often produce negative stools for long periods of time, it is our belief that everyone living in the endemic areas of Leyte becomes infected before reaching the age of 15.This condusion is supported by the habits of the people.