Liver ultrasound findings in a low prevalence area of S. japonicum in China: comparison with history, physical examination, parasitological and serological results.
The paper describes a study carried out in a community in Dongdian township, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China. Medical history and the results of a physical examination, ultrasound investigation, parasitological and serological tests for Schistosoma japonicum infection were compared in 661 persons of 169 households. A lack of correlation between parasitological and serological indicators of infection and morbidity was observed in this area of low (6.4%) prevalence and intensity of infection. The prevalence of abnormal ultrasound findings in the liver in this population was high (56%), and was significantly higher than the prevalence of S. japonicum infection. The abnormal ultrasound findings correlated with a history of schistosomiasis, and the correlation increased significantly according to the number of times treated and the time since the last treatment, which suggested that past parenteral treatment has a role in the high rate of abnormal liver ultrasound findings. The significant correlation between the qualitative and quantitative serological results and abnormal ultrasound parenchymal patterns suggests that cross-reactivity between the etiology of the parenchymal disease and these tests is occurring. The presence of HBsAg correlated with the composite presence of ultrasound abnormalities of the liver parenchyma: increased echogenicity, periportal fibrosis and/or nodules and irregular fibrosis, whereas a normal ultrasound pattern was associated with the absence of HBV antigenemia.
Division of Control of Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
K E
KE
Mott
M G
MG
Chen
F
F
Abdel-Wahab
A
A
Burki
H
H
Dixon
F N
FN
Xu
S H
SH
Yu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens