Detectable Urogenital Schistosome DNA and Cervical Abnormalities 6 months After Single-dose Praziquantel in Women with Schistosoma Haematobium Infection

Overview

Journal Trop Med Int Health

Specialties Public Health
Tropical Medicine

Date 2013 Aug 14

PMID 23937701

Citations 23

Authors

Jennifer A Downs

Rodrick Kabangila

Jaco J Verweij

Hyasinta Jaka

Robert N Peck

Samuel E Kalluvya

John M Changalucha

Warren D Johnson

Lisette van Lieshout

Daniel W Fitzgerald

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We explored response to single-dose praziquantel therapy in a cohort of 33 women with Schistosoma haematobium infection in rural Mwanza, Tanzania. Women with S. haematobium infection confirmed both by eggs in urine and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) received single-dose praziquantel and treatment of concomitant sexually transmitted infections. Macroscopic cervical abnormalities were also quantified. After 6 months, microscopically detectable egg excretion was eliminated, but 8 of 33 women (24%) were persistently positive for S. haematobium by PCR, and 11 (33%) had cervical abnormalities potentially attributable to schistosomiasis. This suggests that praziquantel treatment more frequently than every 6 months may be necessary for complete elimination of the parasite and prevention of genital tissue pathology. This aggressive therapy may in turn play a key role decreasing HIV susceptibility in millions of people living in regions in which S. haematobium is endemic.

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