[Prevalence and parasite load of urinary schistosomiasis in schoolchildren in the Wilaya of Gorgol in Mauritania].

The purpose of this article is to describe the findings of a study carried out in a cohort of 610 schoolchildren aged 6-15 years to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in Wilaya of Gorgol. The schistosomiasis prevalence rate was high ranging from 1.3 to 30.1% depending on location and from 7.9 to 13.7% according to age. Parasite loads up to 14 eggs/10 mL were measured. Children living in the wet zone were significantly more infected than those living in the intermediate and dry zones (p = 0.005). However, no significant difference in prevalence was found according to age (p = 0.258). Infection rate and parasite burden were correlated with exposure in terms of frequency of contact with permanent water sources. Schoolchildren in frequent contact with breeding grounds were more vulnerable to urinary schistosomiasis. Areas along the riverbank were more affected than areas located away from the river or permanent water sources.