Abstract: AIM:To study quantitatively human infested- water contactand
schistosome infection in a schistosomiasis endemic area after building dykes to
reclaim land from marshes. METHODS:A longitudinal study on human water contactand reinfection after treatmentwith praziquantel was carried out in
Poyang Lake region where dykes had been built to reclaim land from marshes two
years ago. RESULTS:The environment as well as the mode of production and the way of life in this area had been changed significantly. Most activities of the residents were localized in side the dykes, where cultivating and washing accounted for the main water contact activities. The frequences and intensities of water contact varied with different months or seasons, being higher in Spring and Summer. Females had more contacts than males but no differences were found between their in tensities of water contact. In contrast, little contact with lake water was observed out side the dykes. Human water contact level increased with age and peaked in the adulthood compared with gradual declining in the aged. CONCLUSION: The endemic situation of schistosomiasis in this area has fallen dramatically since the dykes were built two years ago an schemotherapy has effectively controlled the endemicity.

Key words: Infested- water contact, S.japonicum, islet- beach type area