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AN ECOLOGICAL FIELD STUDY OF THE WATER-RAT NECTOMYS SQUAMIPES AS A WILD RESERVOIR INDICATOR OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI TRANSMISSION IN AN ENDEMIC AREA
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Abstract
Small mammals are found naturally infected by Schistosoma mansoni, becoming a confounding factor for control
programs of schistosomiasis in endemic areas. The aims of this study were: to investigate the infection rates by S.
mansoni on the water-rat Nectomys squamipes during four years in endemic areas of Sumidouro, state of Rio de
Janeiro, using mark-recapture technique; to compare two diagnostic methods for schistosomiasis; and to evaluate
the effects of the chemotherapy in the human infected population on the rodent infection rates. The rodent infection
rates of S. mansoni increased when rodent population sizes were lower. Coprology and serology results presented
the same trends along time and were correlated. Serology could detect recent infection, including the false negatives
in the coprology. The chemotherapy in the humans could not interrupt the rodent infection. Rodents can
increase the schistosomiaisis transmission where it already exists, they probably maintain the transmission cycle in
the nature and can be considered as biological indicators of the transmission sites of this parasite since they are
highly susceptible to infection. The water-rats may present different levels of importance in the transmission dynamics
of S. mansoni infection cycle for each area, and can be considered important wild-reservoirs of this human
disease.
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