BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of acute schistosomiasis is often elusive in travelers. Serum schistosome DNA detection is a promising new diagnostic tool. Its performance is compared with current diagnostic procedures in a cluster of travelers recently infected in Rwanda. METHODS: Recent infection with schistosomiasis was suspected in 13 Belgian children and adults, within 2 months after swimming in the Muhazi Lake, Rwanda. All were subjected to clinical examination, eosinophil count, feces parasite detection, schistosome antibody tests [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and hemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI)], and schistosome DNA detection in serum by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: All 13 patients, between 6 and 29 years old, had a high eosinophil count (median 2,120 µL(-1) ; range 1,150-14,270). Seven of nine persons exposed for the first time developed symptoms compatible with acute schistosomiasis. Eggs of Schistosoma mansoni were found in a concentrated feces sample of 9/13 (69%), with low egg counts (median 20 eggs per gram; range 10-120). Antischistosome antibodies (ELISA and/or HAI) were present in serum of 10/13 (77%) patients. Combining schistosome antibody tests and fecal microscopy demonstrated schistosomiasis in 11/13 (85%) patients. Schistosome-specific DNA was isolated in all 13 (100%) serum samples. CONCLUSION: In this cluster of travelers with acute schistosomiasis, schistosome DNA detection in serum was able to confirm infection in all exposed persons. It clearly outperformed antibody tests and microscopic parasite detection methods as a qualitative diagnostic test.
BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of acute schistosomiasis is often elusive in travelers. Serum schistosome DNA detection is a promising new diagnostic tool. Its performance is compared with current diagnostic procedures in a cluster of travelers recently infected in Rwanda. METHODS: Recent infection with schistosomiasis was suspected in 13 Belgian children and adults, within 2 months after swimming in the Muhazi Lake, Rwanda. All were subjected to clinical examination, eosinophil count, feces parasite detection, schistosome antibody tests [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and hemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI)], and schistosome DNA detection in serum by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: All 13 patients, between 6 and 29 years old, had a high eosinophil count (median 2,120 µL(-1) ; range 1,150-14,270). Seven of nine persons exposed for the first time developed symptoms compatible with acute schistosomiasis. Eggs of Schistosoma mansoni were found in a concentrated feces sample of 9/13 (69%), with low egg counts (median 20 eggs per gram; range 10-120). Antischistosome antibodies (ELISA and/or HAI) were present in serum of 10/13 (77%) patients. Combining schistosome antibody tests and fecal microscopy demonstrated schistosomiasis in 11/13 (85%) patients. Schistosome-specific DNA was isolated in all 13 (100%) serum samples. CONCLUSION: In this cluster of travelers with acute schistosomiasis, schistosome DNA detection in serum was able to confirm infection in all exposed persons. It clearly outperformed antibody tests and microscopic parasite detection methods as a qualitative diagnostic test.
Authors: Sarah Logan; Margaret Armstrong; Elinor Moore; Gaia Nebbia; Joseph Jarvis; Muhiddin Suvari; John Bligh; Peter L Chiodini; Michael Brown; Tom Doherty Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2013-03-25 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Rebecca van Grootveld; Govert J van Dam; Claudia de Dood; Jutte J C de Vries; Leo G Visser; Paul L A M Corstjens; Lisette van Lieshout Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2018-07-04 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: Athena Mavridou; Olga Pappa; Olga Papatzitze; Chrysa Dioli; Anastasia Maria Kefala; Panagiotis Drossos; Apostolos Beloukas Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-12-03 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Dominic Wichmann; Sven Poppert; Heidrun Von Thien; Joannes Clerinx; Sebastian Dieckmann; Mogens Jensenius; Philippe Parola; Joachim Richter; Mirjam Schunk; August Stich; Philipp Zanger; Gerd D Burchard; Egbert Tannich Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2013-01-30 Impact factor: 3.090