Clinical and laboratorial evaluation of urinary schistosomiasis in Brazilians after staying in Mozambique

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2006 May-Jun;39(3):272-4. doi: 10.1590/s0037-86822006000300009.

Abstract

We examined 87 Brazilian individuals of a group of 132 that, on July and November 1994, participated in a peace mission in Mozambique. They served in an endemic area for haematobic schistosomiasis, where they swam in Licungo river during leisure time. Their arithmetic mean age was 31 year and all of them were male. Their urine test showed that 30 (34.5%) eliminated S. haematobium eggs and 55 (63.2%) presented positive serology by the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot test with purified microsomal antigen of S. haematobium adult worms. Eosinophilia was found in 30 (34.5%), haematuria in 26 (29.9%), dysuria in 32 (36.8%) and lumbar pain in 36 (41.4%). All of those that eliminated eggs through urine had positive serology. Among the 25 patients with positive serology and without S. haematobium eggs in the urine test, 13 were symptomatic and 12 asymptomatic. The treatment with praziquantel for the 30 patients, with urine positive to S. haematobium eggs, presented 70% of parasitological cure.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
  • Antigens, Helminth / immunology*
  • Brazil
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Humans
  • International Cooperation
  • Male
  • Military Personnel
  • Mozambique
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use*
  • Schistosoma haematobium / immunology
  • Schistosoma haematobium / isolation & purification*
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / diagnosis*
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Praziquantel