Wouter F W Bierman1, José C F M Wetsteyn, Tom van Gool. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Subdepartment of Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine and AIDS, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In nonendemic countries a steady rise in cases of imported schistosomiasis has been observed. The objective of this study was to describe the presentation of patients diagnosed with schistosomiasis in the Outpatient Department (OPD) for Tropical Diseases in the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. METHODS: In a retrospective study, patients with schistosomiasis from our OPD (1997-1999), including a subgroup of persons asking for screening for schistosomiasis and found positive, were analyzed. Diagnosis was based on freshwater exposure in an endemic area and positive serology for schistosomal antibodies. The following data were recorded: age, gender, country of birth, travel destination, symptoms, eosinophil count, and results of serology and stool and urine microscopy. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients (42 travelers, 16 expatriates, and 20 immigrants) were diagnosed with schistosomiasis; 47% were infected in southern Africa. Twenty-four percent had specific symptoms, 57% had eosinophilia, and in 17 patients (22%) Schistosoma ova were found. Eleven travelers suffered from Katayama syndrome. Of the subgroup of 42 persons screened for schistosomiasis, 15 (36%) had schistosomal antibodies; the majority of these persons (10/15 [67%]) were infected in southern Africa. CONCLUSION: In our OPD schistosomiasis was diagnosed in about 26 patients per year, 3% of all new presentations. Infections were almost exclusively acquired in Africa. In travelers high eosinophilia was due to acute schistosomiasis; in immigrants it was due to concomitant helminthic infections. One of three people asking to be screened for schistosomiasis had schistosomal antibodies. Eosinophilia was indicative but an insufficient screening tool, and stool and urine microscopy for ova were not sensitive. Screening by serology is easy and reliable and the method of choice in asymptomatic persons with a history of freshwater exposure in a high-risk area.
BACKGROUND: In nonendemic countries a steady rise in cases of imported schistosomiasis has been observed. The objective of this study was to describe the presentation of patients diagnosed with schistosomiasis in the Outpatient Department (OPD) for Tropical Diseases in the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. METHODS: In a retrospective study, patients with schistosomiasis from our OPD (1997-1999), including a subgroup of persons asking for screening for schistosomiasis and found positive, were analyzed. Diagnosis was based on freshwater exposure in an endemic area and positive serology for schistosomal antibodies. The following data were recorded: age, gender, country of birth, travel destination, symptoms, eosinophil count, and results of serology and stool and urine microscopy. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients (42 travelers, 16 expatriates, and 20 immigrants) were diagnosed with schistosomiasis; 47% were infected in southern Africa. Twenty-four percent had specific symptoms, 57% had eosinophilia, and in 17 patients (22%) Schistosoma ova were found. Eleven travelers suffered from Katayama syndrome. Of the subgroup of 42 persons screened for schistosomiasis, 15 (36%) had schistosomal antibodies; the majority of these persons (10/15 [67%]) were infected in southern Africa. CONCLUSION: In our OPD schistosomiasis was diagnosed in about 26 patients per year, 3% of all new presentations. Infections were almost exclusively acquired in Africa. In travelers high eosinophilia was due to acute schistosomiasis; in immigrants it was due to concomitant helminthic infections. One of three people asking to be screened for schistosomiasis had schistosomal antibodies. Eosinophilia was indicative but an insufficient screening tool, and stool and urine microscopy for ova were not sensitive. Screening by serology is easy and reliable and the method of choice in asymptomatic persons with a history of freshwater exposure in a high-risk area.
Authors: Paul L A M Corstjens; Lisette van Lieshout; Michel Zuiderwijk; Dieuwke Kornelis; Hans J Tanke; Andre M Deelder; Govert J van Dam Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2007-10-17 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Karin van Dijk; Markus V Starink; Aldert Bart; Erik W P Nijhuis; Allard C van der Wal; Pieter P A M van Thiel; Henry J C de Vries; Tom van Gool Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2010-10 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Jean T Coulibaly; Jason R Andrews; Nathan C Lo; Eliézer K N'Goran; Jürg Utzinger; Jennifer Keiser; Isaac I Bogoch Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2017-12-14 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Tilman Lingscheid; Florian Kurth; Jan Clerinx; Stefania Marocco; Begoña Trevino; Mirjam Schunk; José Muñoz; Ida E Gjørup; Tomas Jelinek; Michel Develoux; Graham Fry; Thomas Jänisch; Matthias L Schmid; Olivier Bouchaud; Sabino Puente; Lorenzo Zammarchi; Kristine Mørch; Anders Björkman; Heli Siikamäki; Andreas Neumayr; Henrik Nielsen; Urban Hellgren; Malgorzata Paul; Guido Calleri; Pavel Kosina; Bjørn Myrvang; José M Ramos; Gudrun Just-Nübling; Anna Beltrame; José Saraiva da Cunha; Peter Kern; Laurence Rochat; August Stich; Peter Pongratz; Martin P Grobusch; Norbert Suttorp; Martin Witzenrath; Christoph Hatz; Thomas Zoller Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2017-07-19 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Z Dakić; A Nikolić; L Lavadinović; M Pelemiš; I Klun; O Dulović; B Milošević; G Stevanović; I Ofori-Belić; J Poluga; O Djurković-Djaković2; M Pavlović Journal: Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) Date: 2011-03