Rapid diagnosis of schistosomiasis in Yemen using a simple questionnaire and urine reagent strips

Schistosomiasis ranks second to malaria in terms of socioeconomic and public health importance in Yemen. This study assessed the validity of a morbidity questionnaire and urine reagent strips as a rapid tool for screening schoolchildren for urinary schistosomiasis as compared with the presence of eggs in urine as the gold-standard parasitological diagnosis. The study examined urine samples and interviewed 696 children [mean age 12.5 years] attending a primary-preparatory school in south Yemen. Urinary schistosomiasis was confirmed in 126 [18.1%] children. Diagnostic performance was poor for 2 items in the morbidity questionnaire [self-reported history of previous infection and self-reported history of antischistosomal treatment]. However, self-reported dysuria, self-reported haematuria in the questionnaire and microhaematuria by reagent strips [alone or with macrohaematuria] revealed good diagnostic performance. The results indicated that reagent strips are a valid method for detection of microhaematuria for identifying individuals and communities infected with Schistosoma haematobium

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections and associated factors among blood donors in Aden city, Yemen

This study determined the prevalence of hepatitis B virus [HBV] and hepatitis C virus [HCV] and associated risk factors among blood donors in Aden city, Yemen. A systematic sample of 469 male blood donors was selected from those attending the national blood bank service in Aden between June and October 2007. Data were collected by questionnaire and blood samples collected. Of the 469 participants, 24 [5.1%] were positive for HBsAg and 6 [1.3%] for anti-HCV. In multivariate analysis, history of: blood transfusion [OR = 22.8], dental treatment [OR = 3.6], cupping [OR = 3.9] and malaria infection [OR = 6.8] were significantly associated with being positive for HBsAg. Those with history of blood donation were less likely to be positive for HBsAg [OR = 0.17]. Those with a history of blood donation were significantly less likely to be positive for anti-HCV positivity [OR= 0.05], while those with history of blood transfusion were more likely to test positive [OR = 65.6]. The prevalence of HBV and HCV among blood donors in Yemen is still high compared to many other countries