title: Plasmodium falciparum and Schistosoma mansoni coinfection and the side benefit of artemether-lumefantrine in malaria patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The distribution of both malaria and schistosomiasis exhibits a large geographical overlap in tropical environments, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This part of the world currently harbours more than 85% of the estimated global burden of these diseases. Studies showed that artemisinin derivatives used for the treatment of malaria also have an antischistosomal effect. This study aimed to investigate the extent of malaria-schistosomiasis co-infection and the antischistosomal effect of artemether-lumefantrine when administered to treat falciparum malaria in Kemise, Northeast Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stool samples were collected from 152 microscopically confirmed malaria patients and diagnosed for schistosomiasis using the Kato-Katz technique before treatment. The schistosomiasis cure rate and egg reduction were determined in co-infected patients, who were treated with artemether-lumefantrine,.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight out of 152 malaria patients were co-infected (18.4%, n = 152) with schistosomiasis. All 28 co-infected patients were found stool-negative for Schistosoma mansoni eggs four weeks after treatment. The extent of co-infection was associated with age, sex and educational level. Cure rate and egg reduction rate following the treatment of artemether-lumefantrine were 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The co-infection rate was associated with patient characteristics. Artemether-lumefantrine was effective against S. mansoni in co-infected patient. Multicenter and randomized trials, however, are needed for a better understanding of the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine against schistosome infection with ranges of intensity.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. solomonabay@gmail.com
authors.forename: Solomon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Abay
authors.forename: Mulugeta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tilahun
authors.forename: Nigus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fikrie
authors.forename: Abiy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Habtewold
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000962:Antimalarials; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005449:Fluorenes