DISCUSSION
As a result of the schistosomiasis control program since 1995, disease prevalence has been dramatically decreasing in the endemic areas in Cambodia (Sinuon et al., 2007***). Since the decrease in prevalence results in a reduction of worm burden in patients, the difficulty of detecting eggs in feces is increasing. As described in this report, our seroepidemiological survey indicates the existence of a risk of contact with schistosomes in villages in Kratie province. The mass drug administration campaign intercepts the transmission of schistosomiasis from humans to snails and has been very effective in reducing the incidence of schistosomiasis mekongi. In areas where the risk of schistosome infection remains, more studies on reservoir hosts and the intermediate host snail are necessary for further progress toward the elimination of the disease. Determining the distribution of the intermediate host snails is important for the control of schistosomiasis mekongi. We know that their habitat may change due to a variety of factors. For example, the strength of the water current, direction of the stream, landscape, and distribution of stones along riverbanks can affect the distribution of N. aperta. Therefore, repeated snail surveys may be required to determine infection sites in endemic villages such as Kbal Chuor.
***Sinuon et al., Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg., 101, 34-39, 2007.
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Table 1. 
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Summary of seroepidemiologic survey results of schistosomiasis mekongi in Cambodia (April-May 2005 and April-May 2006).
|
|
Results of ELISA (April-May, 2005) |
Results of ELISA
(April-May, 2006) |
Village (province) |
No. examined |
No. positive (%) |
Preceding results of ELISA |
No. examined |
No. positive (%) |
Kompong Krabei (Kratie) |
ND |
|
All individuals not examined in 2005 |
126 |
55 (43.7) |
Kbal Chuor (Kratie) |
256 |
133 (52.0) |
Negative in 2005 |
37 |
16 (43.2) |
Positive in 2005 |
8 |
7 (87.5) |
Not examined in 2005 |
70 |
44 (62.9) |
Total |
115 |
67 (58.3) |
Sambok (Kratie) |
ND |
|
All individuals not examined in 2005 |
150 |
49 (32.7) |
Rokakandal (Kratie) |
ND |
|
All individuals not examined in 2005 |
65 |
32 (49.2) |
Talous (Kratie) |
155 |
8 (5.2) |
Negative in 2005 |
79 |
3 (3.8) |
Positive in 2005 |
0 |
|
Not examined in 2005 |
56 |
7 (12.5) |
Total |
135 |
10 (7.4) |
Sdau
(Stung Treng) |
131 |
18 (13.7) |
Negative in 2005 |
38 |
4 (10.5) |
Positive in 2005 |
5 |
4 (80.0) |
Not examined in 2005 |
61 |
11 (18.0) |
Total |
104 |
19 (18.3) |
Chey Oudam (Rattanakiri) |
131 |
6 (4.6) |
Negative in 2005 |
0 |
|
Positive in 2005 |
5 |
3 (60.0) |
Not examined in 2005 |
0 |
|
Total |
5 |
3 (60.0) |
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ND: not done.
Cut-off limit: 0.2.
Blood samples were collected on filter paper.
Antigen: S. mekongi soluble egg antigen (SMP-treated).
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Figure 1. 
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ELISA values of individuals are plotted as dots. The survey was conducted using SMP-ELISA with S. mekongi egg antigen (April to May 2006).
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Figure 2. 
|
Map of the Mekong River basin in Cambodia. Results of SMP-ELISA among children using S. mekongi egg antigen are mapped. The results of ELISA among children who were not examined in 2005 are shown as positive rates. The positive rates in each village are described under the name of the village with bar graphs (cut-off value = 0.200).
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