BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a chronic parasitic blood fluke infection acquired through contact with contaminated surface water. The illness may be mild or can cause significant morbidity with potentially serious complications. Children and those living in rural areas with limited access to piped water and services for healthcare are the most commonly infected. To address the prevalence of the disease in parts of South Africa (SA) effective national control measures are planned, but have not yet been implemented. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and trends of public sector laboratory-confirmed schistosomiasis cases in SA over an eight-year (2011-2018) period, to inform future control measures. METHODOLOGY & PRINCIPAL FINDINGS This is a descriptive analysis of secondary data from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). The study included all records of patients for whom microscopic examination detected Schistosoma species eggs in urine or stool specimens from January 2011 to December 2018. Crude estimates of the prevalence were calculated using national census mid-year provincial population estimates as denominators, and simple linear regression was used to analyse prevalence trends. A test rate ratio was developed to describe variations in testing volumes among different groups and to adjust prevalence estimates for testing variations. A total number of 135 627 schistosomiasis cases was analysed with the highest prevalence observed among males and individuals aged 5-19 years. We describe ongoing endemicity in the Eastern Cape Province, and indicate important differences in the testing between population groups. CONCLUSION While there was no overall change in the prevalence of schistosomiasis during the analysis period, an average of 36 people per 100 000 was infected annually. As such, this represents an opportunity to control the disease and improve quality of life of affected people. Laboratory-based surveillance is a useful method for reporting occurrence and evaluating future intervention programs where resources to implement active surveillance are limited.

中文翻译：

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2011-2018 年南非公共卫生部门显微镜确诊的血吸虫病流行趋势。

背景血吸虫病，也称为血吸虫病，是一种通过接触受污染的地表水而获得的慢性寄生虫血吸虫感染。这种疾病可能是轻微的，也可能导致严重的并发症和潜在的严重并发症。儿童和生活在农村地区无法获得自来水和医疗保健服务的人是最常见的感染者。为解决该病在南非部分地区的流行，已计划采取有效的国家控制措施，但尚未实施。本研究旨在估计南非八年（2011-2018 年）期间公共部门实验室确诊血吸虫病病例的患病率和趋势，为未来的控制措施提供信息。方法 ＆主要发现 这是对来自国家卫生实验室服务 (NHLS) 的二级数据的描述性分析。该研究纳入了 2011 年 1 月至 2018 年 12 月显微镜检查在尿液或粪便标本中检测到血吸虫虫卵的患者的所有记录。 流行率的粗估计是使用全国人口普查年中省级人口估计数作为分母，并进行简单线性回归计算用于分析流行趋势。开发了测试率比率来描述不同组之间测试量的变化并调整测试变化的流行率估计。共分析了 135 627 例血吸虫病病例，其中男性和 5-19 岁人群的患病率最高。我们描述了东开普省的持续流行，并指出人群之间测试的重要差异。结论 虽然在分析期间血吸虫病的患病率没有总体变化，但每年平均每 10 万人中有 36 人受到感染。因此，这代表了控制疾病和改善受影响人群生活质量的机会。在实施主动监测的资源有限的情况下，基于实验室的监测是报告发生情况和评估未来干预计划的有用方法。这是控制疾病和改善受影响人群生活质量的机会。在实施主动监测的资源有限的情况下，基于实验室的监测是报告发生情况和评估未来干预计划的有用方法。这是控制疾病和改善受影响人群生活质量的机会。在实施主动监测的资源有限的情况下，基于实验室的监测是报告发生情况和评估未来干预计划的有用方法。