Human urogenital schistosomiasis in West and Sub-Saharan Africa migrants in Sardinia, Italy: A retrospective monocentric study
Introduction: Schistosoma (S.) haematobium is the aetiological agent of urogenital schistosomiasis endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Microhaematuria is strongly associated with schistosomiasis diagnosis. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the treatment of choice. Methodology: We conducted a...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/15492 |
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| Summary: | Introduction: Schistosoma (S.) haematobium is the aetiological agent of urogenital schistosomiasis endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Microhaematuria is strongly associated with schistosomiasis diagnosis. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the treatment of choice.
Methodology: We conducted a monocentric survey among African migrants from January 2017 to December 2018. The diagnosis of S. haematobium was performed by direct microscopic examination of urine. The treatment was PZQ 40 mg/Kg/die for three days.
Results: We enrolled 91 male patients with a median age of 20.2 years (IQR 18.9-23.4)]. Forty-five (49.5%) described a history of haematuria. Sixteen (17.6%) evidenced the presence of red blood cells (RBCs) during urine microscopy. Eighteen (19.8%) had urogenital schistosomiasis. Their median white blood count (WBC) was 5.15 x 109/L (IQR 4.45-6.08) and it was 6.37 x 109 /L (IQR 5.14-8.27), p = 0.009, after 15 days from treatment. Baseline eosinophil count was 0.5 x 109/L (IQR 0.3-0.6) and 0.7 x 109/L (IQR 0.2-1.9; p = 0.032). According to the univariate analysis, origin from Mali [odds ratio (OR) 3.6 (CI 1.2-10.9), p = 0.022] and microscopic evidence of RBCs [OR of 10.7 (CI 2.5-45.1), p = 0.001] were main predictors of urogenital schistosomiasis diagnosis. One (5.6%) treatment failure was registered. Three (16.7%) patients had bladder cancer.
Conclusions: Detection of RBCs was a significant predictor of S. haematobium infection and could be used as a screening method in migrants coming from endemic areas. Early urogenital schistosomiasis diagnosis and ultrasound diagnostic tools are crucial for reducing the risk of potential neoplastic evolution.
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| ISSN: | 1972-2680 |