In Brazil, high levels of schistosomiasis mansoni are linked to the presence of the species Biomphalaria glabrata, considered to be the main host of Schistosoma mansoni in endemic areas. This work conducted a survey of 40 endemic municipalities in the State of Alagoas, aiming at identifying this species and its important role in the maintenance of schistosomiasis. Among the municipalities surveyed, 28 lie in the mesoregion of the Leste Alagoano and 12, in the mesoregion of the Agreste Alagoano. The snails collected for analysis came from different types of habitats, namely streams, springs, ditches, dams, swamps, wells and ponds. The snails were collected from February 1996 through December 1998. The identification of Biomphalaria glabrata was made through anatomical analysis of the soft inner parts of the snails after having been removed their shells. As for the detection of cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni, the crush technique was applied in order to calculate the percentage of infection rates. Among the areas surveyed, 32 municipalities (80% of the total), presented the species Biomphalaria glabrata, six of which containing snails infected with cercariae of the parasite. Penedo presented the highest infection rate (6.6%), followed by Ibateguara (5.6%). Lower rates were noticed in Chã Preta (2.7%), in Murici (2.5%), Porto Real do Colégio (0.1%) and Igreja Nova (0.1%).The coproparasitologic analyses conducted at the Fundação Nacional de Saúde in 1997, 1998/1999 and 2000, confirmed the importance of schistosomiasis mansoni in the areas surveyed in this work.
Schistosomiasis; Biomphalaria glabrata; Epidemiology; Alagoas
