02757nas a2200421   4500000000100000008004100001653003900042653002000081653000900101653001700110653001600127653001700143653001300160653001500173653001200188653001800200653001000218653001100228653001700239653001500256653002400271653002800295653003000323100001800353700001400371700001300385700001300398700001700411700001800428700001200446700001700458245006400475856007700539300000800616490000600624520169100630022001402321       2016                            d10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aschistosomiasis10aOman10aTransmission10aElimination10aParasitology10aSerology10aAdolescent10aAnimals10aAnthelmintics10aChild10aHumans10aPraziquantel10aPrevalence10aSchistosoma mansoni10aSchistosomiasis mansoni10aSeroepidemiologic Studies1 aAl Abaidani I1 aAl-Abri S1 aShaban M1 aGhugey S1 aAl Kathery S1 aAl-Mashikhi K1 aGarba A1 aGabrielli AF00aDecline in transmission of schistosomiasis mansoni in Oman.  uhttps://idpjournal.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s40249-016-0210-1  a1120 v53 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Intestinal schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma mansoni was first reported in Oman in 1979. We describe the trend in parasitological and serological prevalence of human infection with S. mansoni in the endemic area over the period 1982-2014, and the compliance of data generated by the national monitoring and evaluation system with schistosomiasis elimination criteria set by the Ministry of Health of Oman.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Parasitological and serological assessments were carried out on population (mainly children) living in the area at risk for schistosomiasis in Dhofar, the country's only endemic Governorate, for a period of over 30&nbsp;years. Kato-Katz thick smear and Indirect Haemagglutination Assay were the techniques employed.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Data indicate a progressive decline in prevalence of S. mansoni throughout the 1980s and the 1990s, a recrudescence in the early 2000s, and a more marked decrease following the implementation of six rounds of mass treatment with praziquantel from 2007 to 2013. Latest parasitological prevalence (2011) was 0%, while latest serological prevalence (2014) was 0.11%.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Transmission of schistosomiasis has reached very low levels in Oman. Elimination criteria established by the Ministry of Health of Oman (parasitological prevalence ≤ 1% and serological prevalence ≤ 5%) have been met since 2008. Further investigations are required to assess whether interruption of transmission has been achieved in some or all foci, in view of the establishment of a formal verification process under the auspices of WHO.</p>
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