Impact of species hybridization on the clinical management of schistosomiasis: A prospective study

• Published in: Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
• Main Authors: Joaquín Salas-Coronas, M. Dolores Bargues, Pedro Fernández-Soto, Manuel J. Soriano-Pérez, Patricio Artigas, José Vázquez-Villegas, Antonio Villarejo-Ordoñez, José C. Sánchez-Sánchez, María I. Cabeza-Barrera, Begoña Febrer-Sendra, Alejandra De Elías-Escribano, Beatriz Crego-Vicente, María C. Fantozzi, Juan García-Bernalt Diego, Nerea Castillo-Fernández, Jaime Borrego-Jiménez, Antonio Muro, María P. Luzón-García
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2024
• Subjects: Schistosomiasis; Schistosoma; Hybrids; Migrants; Ultrasound; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2024.102744; https://doaj.org/article/541d07807b3a454289095b6e691f2f9f

Background: Species hybridization represents a real concern in terms of parasite transmission, epidemiology and morbidity of schistosomiasis. It is greatly important to better understand the impact of species hybridization for the clinical management. Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out in sub-Saharan migrants who were diagnosed with confirmed genitourinary schistosomiasis. A tailored protocol was applied, including Schistosoma serology, a specific urine LAMP tests for schistosomiasis and an ultrasound examination before treatment with praziquantel. A scheduled follow-up was performed at 3, 6 and 12 months to monitor treatment response, comparing patients carriers of Schistosoma hybrids with carriers of only genetically pure forms. Results: A total of 31 male patients from West Africa were included in the study with a mean age of 26.5 years. Twelve (38.7 %) of the patients were carriers of Schistosoma hybrids. As compared with patients infected with S. haematobium alone, hybrid carriers had lower haemoglobin levels (13.8 g/dL [SD 1.8] vs 14.8 g/dL [SD 1.4], p = 0.04), a greater frequency of hematuria (100 % vs 52.6 %, p = 0.005), a higher ultrasound score (2.64, SD 2.20 vs 0.89, SD 0.99; p = 0.02). However, the presence of hybrids did not result in differences in clinical and analytical responses after treatment. Conclusions: The presence of Schistosoma hybrids seems to cause increased morbidity in infected individuals. However, it does not appear to result in differences in diagnostic tests or in clinical and analytical responses after treatment.