title: Eosinophil granule proteins ECP and EPX as markers for a potential early-stage inflammatory lesion in female genital schistosomiasis (FGS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genital granulomas induced by Schistosoma haematobium eggs can manifest as different lesion types visible by colposcopy; rubbery papules (RP), homogenous sandy patches (HSP) and grainy sandy patches (GSP). Pronounced tissue eosinophilia is a candidate marker for active S. haematobium pathology, as viable schistosome egg granulomas often are eosinophil rich. Here it was investigated whether eosinophil granule proteins ECP (eosinophil cationic protein) and EPX (eosinophil protein-X) in urine and genital lavage can be used as markers for active FGS lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Uro-genital samples from 118 Malagasy women were analysed for ECP and EPX by standard sandwich avidin/biotin amplified ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The women with RP lesions had significantly higher levels of ECP and EPX in both lavage and urine. Furthermore, women with RP lesions were significantly younger than those with GSP. This could indicate that RP lesions might be more recently established and thus represent an earlier inflammatory lesion stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ECP in genital lavage might be a future tool aiding the identification of FGS pathology at a stage where reversibility remains a possibility following praziquantel treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Charles Emile
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ramarokoto
authors.affiliation: Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Faculty for Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anna Overgaard
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Kildemoes
authors.affiliation: Helminthiasis Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Bodo Sahondra
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Randrianasolo
authors.affiliation: Helminthiasis Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar; Ministry of Public Health, Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Pascaline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravoniarimbinina
authors.affiliation: Helminthiasis Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Vololomboahangy Elisabeth
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Ravaoalimalala
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leutscher
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital Ulleval, Oslo, Norway; School of Public Health Medicine, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: Eyrun Floerecke
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Kjetland
authors.affiliation: Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Faculty for Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Birgitte Jyding
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Vennervald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008270:Madagascar; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins