The epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Egypt: Ismailia governorate.

A multi-stage stratified sample of 12,515 individuals from 1,941 households in 42 villages in the Ismailia governorate of Egypt were surveyed for schistosomal infection. A subset of 2,390 subjects were surveyed for morbidity by physical and ultrasonographic examination. The prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection in rural Ismailia was 42.9% and the geometric mean egg count (GMEC) was 93.3 eggs/gram of stool, with considerable variability between communities. Prevalence and intensity peaked in the 20-30-year-old age group and was higher in males than in females. Prevalence and intensity of S. haematobium was very low: 1.8% and 3.5 ova/10 ml of urine GMEC, respectively. Canal water exposure risk factors for S. mansoni infection were males bathing (odds ratio [OR] = 2.2), females washing clothes (OR = 1.9), and children playing or swimming (OR = 2.3). Presence of in-house piped water supply and latrine lowered infection rates (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Histories of S. mansoni infection (OR = 1.6) or treatment (OR = 1.5) and blood in feces (OR = 3.5) were associated with infection. Hepatomegaly (16.0%) was more frequently detected than splenomegaly (3.6%) by physical examination, with both being more frequent in older age groups. Splenomegaly, but not hepatomegaly, was associated with presence of S. mansoni ova in stools (OR = 1.4) and the community burden of infection (P = 0.02). Ultrasonographically detected hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and periportal fibrosis (PPF) were detected in 43.0%, 17.4%, and 39.7% of the subjects, respectively. The higher grades of PPF were rare. Ultrasonographically detected splenomegaly, not hepatomegaly, was associated with S. mansoni infection, community burden of infection, and PPF. Risk factors for PPF were the same as for S. mansoni infection. There was a marginal association of PPF with infection and none (P = 0.33) with the intensity of infection in individuals or in the community. We conclude that in rural Ismailia, S. haematobium infection is rare but the prevalence and intensity of infection with S. mansoni is high. The risk of infection is associated with environmentally detected factors and behaviors. Hepatosplenic morbidity attributable to S. mansoni infection is low, presumably because of the favorable effect of wide application of praziquantel therapy.

The use and limitations of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of liver morbidity attributable to Schistosoma mansoni infection in community-based surveys

The objective of this population-based study was to estimate the liver morbidity attributable to Schistosoma mansoni infection by ultrasonography adopting the proposed standard protocols of the Cairo Meeting on Ultrasonography, 1991. We examined 2384 individuals representing 20 of the households of the rural population of the Ismailia Governorate, East of Delta, Egypt. Prevalence of S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections were 40.3 and 1.7 respectively. Portal tract thickening (PTT) grade 1, 2 and 3 considered diagnostic of schistosomal liver morbidity was detected in 35.1, 1.3 and 0.2 individuals respectively. Generally, ultrasonographically-detected pathological changes increased with age, but correlated with intensity of infection only in age group 20-59 years. Comparing individuals with and without S. mansoni infections in an endemic and a non-endemic community indicated no significant difference between the former and the latter in either case. IN CONCLUSION: ultrasonography had a limited value in estimating schistosomal liver morbidity in our population-based study where early grades of liver morbidly were prevalent. The criteria of diagnosing grade I portal fibrosis need to be revised as well as the staging system proposed by the Cairo Meeting on ultrasonography in schistosomiasis.

The use and limitations of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of liver morbidity attributable to Schistosoma mansoni infection in community-based surveys.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this population-based study was to estimate the liver morbidity attributable to Schistosoma mansoni infection by ultrasonography adopting the proposed standard protocols of the Cairo Meeting on Ultrasonography, 1991. We examined 2384 individuals representing 20% of the households of the rural population of the Ismailia Governorate, East of Delta, Egypt. Prevalence of S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections were 40.3% and 1.7% respectively. Portal tract thickening (PTT) grade 1, 2 and 3 considered diagnostic of schistosomal liver morbidity was detected in 35.1%, 1.3 and 0.2 individuals respectively. Generally, ultrasonographically-detected pathological changes increased with age, but correlated with intensity of infection only in age group 20-59 years. Comparing individuals with and without S. mansoni infections in an endemic and a non-endemic community indicated no significant difference between the former and the latter in either case. IN CONCLUSION: ultrasonography had a limited value in estimating schistosomal liver morbidity in our population-based study where early grades of liver morbidly were prevalent. The criteria of diagnosing grade I portal fibrosis need to be revised as well as the staging system proposed by the Cairo Meeting on ultrasonography in schistosomiasis.

A collaboration between two innovative medical education programmes in Egypt and the United States.

In 1984, the Center for Educational Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago began to offer its Master of Health Professions Education leadership programme to 13 medical teachers on-site at Suez Canal University in Ismailia, Egypt. The central issue in this project was whether two institutions on different continents and representing different cultures could collaboratively develop and implement a relevant graduate programme. Of equal concern was whether the degree programme could be adapted to meet the needs of the teachers of a new innovative medical school in a developing country. The 13 doctors have now graduated. This paper describes the rationale for the enterprise, the planning phase of the project, the curriculum, problems that had to be overcome, and some indices of success.

Primary care medicine using a pathways model.

The Faculty of Medicine, University of Suez Canal, Ismailia, Egypt is the newest medical school in Egypt and a member of the network of community orientated medical schools, with an emphasis on primary care medicine. The faculty is engaged in innovative approaches to curriculum content and design and to teaching methods and sites. The model presented here is an attempt to teach primary care medicine in a logical manner.