Impact of Praziquantel Mass Drug Administration Campaign on Prevalence and Intensity of Schistosoma haemamtobium Check for this Species in other Resources among Schoolchildren in Bahi District; Tanzania

As part of the Tanzania National Schistosomiasis Control Programme; Bahi district in central Tanzania; received two annual rounds of praziquantel mass drug administration (MDA) to control urinary schistosomiasis in schoolchildren. The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of the two rounds of MDA on prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haemamtobium and the impact of MDA campaigns on knowledge of urinary schistosomiasis; safe water use and contact with potentially unsafe water bodies. A quantitative crosssectional study was carried out among schoolchildren in March and April; 2013. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on MDA uptake; knowledge of schistosomiasis; sources of water for domestic and other uses. Urine samples were collected from each pupil to examine prevalence and intensity of S. haematobium. Transmission of schistosomiasis was assessed by sampling Bulinus spp snails for cercarial shedding. Uptake of MDA was 39.5 in 2011 and 43.6 in 2012. Prevalence of S. haematobium significantly dropped by 50.0 from 26 in 2011 to 15 in 2012 (p = 0.000). Prevalence of S. haematobium was significantly low in MDA participating (3.1) than non-participating (28.5) schoolchildren (p = 0.000). MDA campaigns had significant impact on knowledge of the disease (p = 0.02) and borderline impact on safe water use (p = 0.04) but had no impact on avoidance of contact with unsafe water bodies (p = 0.06). Bulinus spp. snails were found shedding schistosome cercariae indicating environmental contamination with viable S. haematobium eggs. In conclusion; though MDA significantly reduced prevalence of S. haematobium; uptake was below 50.0 and below the World Health Assembly resolution 54.19 target of 75.0 for 2010. Non-participation in MDA was the likely source of S. haematobium eggs in the environment hence the observed 15.0 prevalence of S. haematobium infection; and cercarial shedding Bulinus spp. snails indicating continuity of transmission hence the need for further health promotion campaigns

Evidence of Long Term Benefit of Praziquantel Treatment Against Schistosoma mansoni in Kigungu Fishing Village of Entebbe, Uganda

Praziquantel (PZQ) is efficacious against all species of schistosome: Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosoma japonicum and other parasites like the Taenia species. This cross-sectional cohorts study was carried out in Kigungu fishing village along Lake Victoria shore in Entebbe Uganda. Our analysis was based on examining microscopically three slides from a single stool specimen from each of base line cohorts 945.These included children and adults; participants from both sexes in Kigungu fishing village in Entebbe Uganda. Nine hundred and one (901) of the cohorts were re-examined after six months and 625 of the same cohorts who were examined at the baseline and after six months were re-examined 18 months later. The slides were prepared using modified Kato/Katz (Odongo-Aginya) method. The infection proportion with Schistosoma mansoni at baseline was 448 (47.5) but this was reduced to 244 (25.8) 18 months after treatment with a single oral dose of praziquantel at 40mg/kg. However 495 (52.5) were negative at the baseline study. The cure proportion after six was significant ///{(P=0.00); (OR4.63) CI at 95(3.53-6.06)///}. Similarly the cure proportion after 18 months was significant ///{(P=0.00); (OR2.2) CI at 95(1.87-3.34)///}. The force of re-infection after six months was significant ///{(P=0.0001); (OR 0.47) CI at 95(0.31-0.71)///}. Nevertheless the force of re-infection was not significant after 18 months ///{(P=0.766); (OR 0.95) CI at 95(0.68-1.34)///} eggs excretion did not reach the level of the pre-treatment intensity. The egg reduction was 69.3. This was associated with age and pre-treatment intensity 400 eggs per gram (epg) of faeces and age groups ? 30 years. The egg reduction also resulted in marked decrease in clinical symptoms in the participants. Our study suggests evidence of long-term benefit of praziquantel in Kigungu and that the re-infection occurred more commonly in younger age group than in the older patients

Evidence of long term benefit of morbidity reduction due to praziquantel treatment against schistosoma mansoni in Kigungu fishing village in Entebbe, Uganda

Praziquantel (PZQ) is efficacious against Schistosoma mansoni. This was prospective cohort study. This study was carried out at Kigungu fishing village, Entebbe, Uganda. The goal of the study was to establish cost effective regiment for mass drug administration (MDA) of Praziquentel in the morbidity reduction of S.mansoni infection. In January 2004, nine hundred and forty five (945) participants were registered in this study. Our analysis was based on examining microscopically three slides prepared from each of 945 stool specimens delivered by each of the participant using modified Kato/Katz method. These included male and female, children and adults living in Kigungu fishing village in Entebbe Uganda. In total 901, cohorts were re-examined for infections clearance six months later in July 2004 and 18 months later in June 2005, 625 cohorts were again re-evaluated for S.mansoni infections after the baseline study. At baseline, (448) of 945 (47.5%) cohorts were S. mansoni positive. All these participants were treatment with a single oral dose of praziquantel at 40mg/kg. At the same time, 495 (52.5%) were S. mansoni negative. Of the 625 (66.3%) cohorts who came back for final review, 80 (12.8%) were still positive for S. mansoni while 210 (33.6%) remained negative after the base line treatment with praziquantel. On the other hand 103 (16.3%) of cohorts who were initially negative at the base line became S.mansoni positive after 18 months and 213(34.1%) remained negative for S.mansoni. The force of re-infection after six months was significant {(P=0.0001),(OR 0.47) CI at 95% (0.31-0.71)}. Nevertheless the force of reinfection was not significant after 18 months {(P=0.766), (OR 0.95) CI at 95% (0.68-1.34)}.The geometric mean eggs excretion of the 80 cohorts who were S.mansoni positive at 18 months was 151.967.This did not reach the geometric mean egg excreted by the same cohorts at baseline which was 285.05. The egg excretion was reduced by 46.8%. Similarly there was marked decrease in clinical symptoms amongst the cohorts. Our study suggests evidence of long-term benefit of praziquantel in Kigungu and that a yearly administration of praziquantel to the community could be a regiment for mass drug administration (MAD) for this community to control schistosomiasis morbidity

Height as a Surrogate for Bodyweight for Estimating the Dosage of Praziquantel and Artesunate in theTreatment of Urinary Schistosomiasis in School-Age Children

World Health Organization recommends mass treatment of all school children in areas where the prevalence of schistosomiasis is greater than 50. Praziquantel and artesunate are reported to display broad-spectrum antischistosomal activities. Since the susceptibilities of the different stages of schistosomes to the two drugs are distinctively different; it has been established that the use of these two drugs in combination will be beneficial for the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis. Dosage is determined by weight; which can be difficult to determine in field conditions. The use of calibrated height meter with height-based dosage calibration will make the work less cumbersome in field settings. Data on age; weight; and height from 264 school children who were screened and found to be infected with Schistosoma haematobium; diagnosed by the presence of the ova in their urine; were used to predict an alternative to bodyweight and thus the dosage of praziquantel and artesunate required to treat this disease. A very strong positive correlation (r = 0.8) was obtained for the height of treated children measured against weight while a moderately positive correlation coefficient (r = 0.6) was obtained for weight against age measurements; depicting that height can be used in lieu of weight for correct dose determination. A height meter calibrated with the equivalent number of tablets of praziquantel and artesunate could thus be used as a simple measurement to determine the dosage of praziquantel and artesunate needed to treat children in the field. This calibrated height will expedite treating large population of children in mass treatment campaigns in an endemic community

Taux de couverture et satisfaction des populations apres traitement de masse au praziquantel et a l'albendazole au Mali

Au Mali; les schistosomes demeurent toujours un probleme majeur de sante. En 2005; des campagnes de traitement de masse au praziquantel et a l'albendazole ont ete organisees dans toutes les regions endemiques du pays. La presente etude avait pour but d'evaluer les taux de couverture et de satisfaction de ces campagnes de traitement dans deux regions d'endemie (Segou et Mopti). Nous avons procede a une etude transversale a un seul passage qui s'etalait de fevrier a mars 2006. L'enquete a porte sur les responsables politiques (n=142); administratifs (n=70) et sanitaires (n=36); les distributeurs communautaires (n=33); les eleves (n=2480) et les membres de la communaute (n=2170). Nous avons utilise la technique de controle de la qualite des lots (LQAS) pour determiner la couverture de traitement et de satisfaction. Deux types de lots ont ete considere; les villages et les ecoles. La technique d'entretien par questionnaires a permis de mesurer le taux de satisfaction. Dans la region de Segou; les taux de couverture variaient de 100en milieu scolaire et dans la communaute (cercle de Bla) a 97;2a Segou-ville. Dans la region de Mopti; des taux de couverture therapeutique de 100etaient observes a Bankass et a Douentza a la fois en milieu scolaire et dans la communaute. La proportion d'individus satisfaits (se sentir bien) apres traitement etait de 72;3et 76;6respectivement parmi les eleves et dans la communaute. Les resultats de cette etude montrent les taux de couverture eleves au cours de ces campagnes de traitement pourraient etre soutenus par une strategie de traitement annuelle precedee par des programmes d'education pour la sante

Community-based chemotherapy for schistosomiasis using a pyrazinoisoquinoline (PZQ) in Southern Sierra Leone

The object of the study was the efficacy of Pyrazimoquinoline (Praziquantel) as an antischistosomicidal drug on the prevalence of schistosomiasis in a community-based chemotherapy trial. The study; which for the first time in Sierra Leone evaluated the efficcacy of Praziquantel; was undertaken in five (5) chiefdoms in Moyamba district. Parasitological surveys were conducted on 483 individuals; randomly selected by stratified sampling. Individuals found positive for S. haematobium and S. mansoni infection were treated with Praziquantel orally; at the recommended dose of 40mg/kg two weeks after parasitological examination. A follow-up parasitological survey to assess the impact of therapy was performed 10 weeks after the administration of the drug

Effect of praziquantel on polymorphonculear lymphocyte activity

The paper explains the pharmacological effects of the drug which include vacuolation and degeneration of the worm. The degeneration of parasite surface as well as migration into the worm is a critical event in the action of PZQ

The impact of Schistosoma haematobium infection and of praziquantel treatment on the growth of primary school children in Bertoua, Cameroon

The association between urinary schistosomiasis and anaemia among infected children remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of schistosoma haematobium infection and treatment with praziquantel on hemoglobin levels among male children aged 6-15 years in Bertoua. Urine examination of 2665 children revealed an infection rate of 23.9 per cent. Children with moderate infection were randomly selected into treatment (238) and placebo (198) groups. Among uninfected children; 174 were randomly selected to serve as controls. Malaria; geohelminth infections and hemoglobin levels were determined before and six months after praziquantel/placebo intervention

Community based schistosomiasis control in Zimbabwe

The project was established to investigate the feasibility of a national schistosomiasis control programme in Zimbabwe based upon an intergrated approach. The project involved community self help sanitation and water programmes; health education; chemotherapy of school children with praziquantel; and focal mollusciciding. The project was carried out in two rural areas of Zimbabwe with a combined population of over 40;000 people. Madziwa (32;00 people) had all of the above interventions; and Bushu (8.000 people) had only the chemotherapy intervention. Infection with schistosomiasis was determined by the use of reagent strip examination for haematuria. This low cost method of diagnosis was found to be very appropriate and feasible for the examination of large numbers of children and the method was recommended for use in a national control programme. Pretreatment infection levels with schistosomiasis generally exceeded 60in both areas although there was considerable heterogenity in distribution