Schistosomiasis in Cambodia: a review

Abstract

Human schistosomiasis has been known in Cambodia only since 1968. In 1968-1970, many cases were detected in the provincial capital of Kratie. Infection seemed to be confined to the ethnic Vietnamese fishermen who inhabited raft houses (=floating villages) on the Mekong River at Kratie. Overall prevalence in fishermen of all ages was between 7 and 10%. In the children of fishermen between the ages of 1 to 14, the prevalence was between 14 and 22%. Transmission was apparently limited to floating houses stationed more or less permanently near shore and connected to each other in a chain. It is believed that transmission occurred only in the areas of still water which were created between raft and shore. The principal focus of schistosomiasis in Cambodia appears to be Kratie. Only a few cases have been detected elsewhere in the country. The parasite is undoubtedly identical with the Schistosoma reported from humans and dogs at Khong Island, Laos. However, the transmitting snail in Laos, Lithoglyphopsis aperta, has thus far not been reported from the Mekong River in Cambodia.