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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Hepatosplenic morbidity due to Schistosoma mansoni in schoolchildren on Ukerewe Island, Tanzania
Parasitology Research, Volume 110, No. 6, Year 2012
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Description
The study was conducted to assess infection intensity and morbidity due to Schistosoma mansoni in schoolchildren on Ukerewe Island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania, East Africa. Three hundred and sixty pupils who have never been treated previously were enrolled (180 males/180 females, age 6-17 years [median 10 years]) in three different schools of the island. Double stool samples were collected from each pupil and egg excretion was classified according to WHO recommendations. Ultrasound investigations were performed in accordance with the WHO Niamey-Belo-Horizonte protocol. Male (112/180, 62.2%) and female (104/180; 57.7%) pupils were infected (difference, not significant [n.s.]). In the positive 216 cases, egg excretion varied from 1 to 2,440 eggs per gramme stool (epg) [median 165 epg]. There were 69/216 (31.9%) who had a low grade, 105/216 (53.2%) had a moderate and 42/216 (14.8%) had a heavy infection. There was no significant difference between male and female sex nor with regard to age groups. There were 354/360 children who underwent sonography: 321 (90.7%) had splenomegaly, 316 (89.3%) showed a left lobe and 109 (30.9%) had a right lobe hepatomegaly. Overt signs of portal fibrosis (PF) were present in 19 children (5.4%) out of whom 11 presented with echogenic thickening of peripheral portal and 8 with thickening of central portal branches. Non-specific portal wall changes were seen in 6 children (1.7%). Association of PF to quantitative egg excretion was not seen (median in PF, 172 epg vs. median in non PF, 168 epg; difference, n.s.). Portal vein dilatation was seen in 101/354 (28.5%) cases. In Ukerewe, the prevalence of S. mansoni infection and infection intensity in children is high, yet overt hepatic morbidity is low as compared to other endemic foci. Non-specific ultrasonographic abnormalities including hepatosplenomegaly and portal vein dilatation were seen frequently but the fraction attributable to schistosomiasis is difficult to assess. © Springer-Verlag 2011.
Authors & Co-Authors
Scheich, Tarik El
Germany, Dusseldorf
Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf
Hofer, L.
Netherlands, Amsterdam
Universiteit Van Amsterdam
Kaatano, Godfrey M.
Tanzania
National Institute for Medical Research Tanzania
Foya, J.
Tanzania
National Institute for Medical Research Tanzania
Odhiambo, David
Tanzania
National Institute for Medical Research Tanzania
Igogote, J.
Tanzania
National Institute for Medical Research Tanzania
Lwambo, Nicholas J.S.
Tanzania
National Institute for Medical Research Tanzania
Ekamp, H.
Germany, Witten
Universität Witten/herdecke
Karst, K.
Tanzania
Non-governmental Organization for Development of Free Education Services
Häussinger, Diéter
Germany, Dusseldorf
Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf
Richter, Joachim
Germany, Dusseldorf
Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf
Statistics
Citations: 25
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s00436-011-2793-6
ISSN:
09320113
e-ISSN:
14321955
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Multi-countries
Tanzania
Participants Gender
Male
Female