02222nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653001700058653001700075100002600092700001300118700002400131700002400155700001300179700001500192700001500207700002100222700001800243245015700261856015300418300001100571490000700582520135300589022001401942       2023                            d  bElsevier BV10aEpidemiology10aParasitology1 aVásconez-González J1 aYeager J1 aIzquierdo-Condoy JS1 aFernandez-Naranjo R1 aLópez M1 aDávila MG1 aCordovez S1 aLópez-Cortés A1 aOrtiz-Prado E00aAn 11-year epidemiological analysis of schistosomiasis in Ecuador: Investigating a non-endemic, neglected, and challenging-to-identify parasitic disease  uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676623000094/pdfft?md5=a94b66a9a977f627fdbd67ec6e25c2df&pid=1-s2.0-S2405676623000094-main.pdf  ae001960 v313 a<p>Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease caused by parasites of the genus&nbsp;<em>Schistosoma</em>&nbsp;and transmitted by snails of the genus&nbsp;<em>Biomphalaria</em>. At least five species have the potential to infect humans living in or visiting tropical areas worldwide. In Latin America,&nbsp;<em>Schistosoma mansoni</em>&nbsp;is particularly common; however, it has not been reported in Ecuador. In this study, we assess the available official data on schistosomiasis in Ecuador to describe the prevalence of this neglected disease. We conducted a nationwide study to determine the demographic and spatial distribution patterns of schistosomiasis infection in Ecuador, using hospital discharge official data as a proxy for infection incidence from 2011 to 2021. We calculated crude and age-sex-adjusted morbidity and hospital admission rates by region, province, canton, and elevation. In the last decade of available data, schistosomiasis accounted for at least 551 hospital admissions in Ecuador. Women represented 53.7% (<em>n</em>&nbsp;=&nbsp;296) of cases, equivalent to 3.2 cases per 1,000,000 inhabits. The highest number of cases (61.2%,&nbsp;<em>n</em>&nbsp;=&nbsp;337) was found in the Coastal region. However, the highest incidence rates were observed in the Amazon region's provinces of Pastaza (173.44 cases/1,000,000).</p>
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