Detectable urogenital schistosome DNA and cervical abnormalities 6 months after single-dose praziquantel in women with Schistosoma haematobium infection. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • 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.

publication date

  • September 1, 2013

Research

keywords

  • Cervix Uteri
  • HIV Infections
  • Praziquantel
  • Schistosoma haematobium
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC4014060

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84881622333

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1111/tmi.12154

PubMed ID

  • 23937701

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 18

issue

  • 9