OBJECTIVETo study the effect of infection control on schistosomasis Japonicum based on selective chemotherapy.

METHODSData were derived from national surveillance of schistosomiasis from 2000 to 2002, and random effect model of Meta-analysis was used to analyze the effect of chemotherapy on controlling schistosomiasis infection.

RESULTSOne year after chemotherapy was started in the pilot villages where infection rate of schistosomiasis was more than 10%, the infection rates among residents and eggs per gram (EPG) of patients as well as population (geometric mean, GM) significantly reduced by 20.15%, 22.91% and 33.93% with 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.95 - 31.48, 14.69 - 30.34 and 11.69 - 50.68 respectively. In the pilot villages where infection rates were between 6% and 10%, the control measures largely base on chemotherapy significantly reduced the infection rate, by 24.50 (95% CI: 5.35 - 39.83). However the infection rates were no longer reduced in the pilot villages where the infection rate was less than 6%; EPG of patients and residents were maintained at the original level in the pilot villages where infection rate was 10% or less.

CONCLUSIONIn China, the rates of schistosomiasis Japonicum infection could be effectively reduced through the control measures largely based on chemotherapy, and they were kept at a relatively low level. However, it was very difficult to interrupt the transmission of schistosomiasis.