Detectable urogenital schistosome DNA and cervical abnormalities 6 months after single-dose praziquantel in women with Schistosoma haematobium infection.
We explored response to single-dose praziquantel therapy in a cohort of 33 women with Schistosoma haematobium infection in rural Mwanza, Tanzania. Women with S. haematobium infection confirmed both by eggs in urine and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) received single-dose praziquantel and treatment of concomitant sexually transmitted infections. Macroscopic cervical abnormalities were also quantified. After 6 months, microscopically detectable egg excretion was eliminated, but 8 of 33 women (24%) were persistently positive for S. haematobium by PCR, and 11 (33%) had cervical abnormalities potentially attributable to schistosomiasis. This suggests that praziquantel treatment more frequently than every 6 months may be necessary for complete elimination of the parasite and prevention of genital tissue pathology. This aggressive therapy may in turn play a key role decreasing HIV susceptibility in millions of people living in regions in which S. haematobium is endemic.
Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.|Department of Medicine, Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Jennifer A
JA
Downs
Department of Medicine, Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Rodrick
R
Kabangila
Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Jaco J
JJ
Verweij
Department of Medicine, Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Hyasinta
H
Jaka
Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.|Department of Medicine, Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Robert N
RN
Peck
Department of Medicine, Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Samuel E
SE
Kalluvya
National Institute for Medical Research - Mwanza Research Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
John M
JM
Changalucha
Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
Warren D
WD
Johnson
Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Lisette
L
van Lieshout
Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
Daniel W
DW
Fitzgerald
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013636:Tanzania; D013997:Time Factors; D014556:Urine / Q000469:parasitology; D055815:Young Adult
D011223:Praziquantel
Schistosoma haematobium; Tanzania; female urogenital schistosomiasis; polymerase chain reaction; praziquantel