Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a major communicable disease with a great impact on both public health and socioeconomic status of the developing world. It is highly prevalent in tropics and causes morbidity and mortality in developing countries including Sudan. Because of its chronicity and robust immunomodulatory activity, the effects of Schistosomiasis on other diseases such as allergies, autoimmunity and infectious diseases have been studied extensively in both epidemiological and experimental settings. Salmonella spp. is a common water-and food-borne cause of gastrointestinal and systemic diseases worldwide. Approximately, 2 million individuals die each year of diarrhea and Salmonella is a leading cause of this illness. A relationship between persistent as well as recurrent Salmonella bacteremia and schistosomiasis has been described both in adults and children. The present cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the relationship between schistosomiasis and salmonellosis in Helat Mahajoub in AL-Gezira Agricultural Scheme. Urine and faecal samples were collected from 288 individuals and investigated for Schistosoma ova using the modified Kato thick smear technique and the concentration technique. 207 subjects were positive for schistosomiasis and were thence subjected to bacteriological cultures of S. typhi, S. paratyphi A and S. paratyphi B. Salmonella species were detected in 64 schistosomiasis patients (30.9%). Salmonella infection was found to increase when the duration of schistosomiasis infestation was more than one year.