Analysis of characteristics of schistosome cercarial infested water contacts of residents in Poyang Lake endemic areas after operation of Three Gorges Project

OBJECTIVE: To understand the characteristics of schistosome cercarial infested water contact of residents in Poyang Lake endemic areas after the operation of Three Gorges Project, so as to provide the evidence for formulating a well-directed control strategy. METHODS: The residents in two villages in schistosomiasis endemic areas were selected and surveyed for their activities of infested water contacts by questionnaire. RESULTS: The proportion and frequency of infested water contacts of residents in Poyang Lake region were high and the average rate of infested water contacts was 69.77%, and 98.96% of infested water contacts occurred in spring, summer and autumn. The main ways of infested water contacts were fishing/swimming/playing for adult men, washing clothes/fishing for adult women, and swimming/playing for school children, respectively. The rates of infested water contacts were 73.33%, 71.63% and 61.87% in adult men, women and school children, respectively. The frequencies of infested water contacts > 1 time/week, 1 time/week-1 time/month, and < 1 time/month were 62.61%, 23.74% and 13.66% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The infested water contacts mainly occurs in spring, summer and autumn, and the main way of infested water contacts was fishing. Farming and mowing grass, which had been the primary way, now become the secondary way for the adult residents.