Schistosomiasis Mansoni in Yemeni in California: Duration of Infection, Presence of Disease, Therapeutic Management

Kenneth S. Warren Departments of Medicine, Community Health, and Biometry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and University Hospitals, Rodrigo Terronez Memorial Clinic of the National Farm Workers Health Group, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio 44106

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Adel A. F. Mahmoud Departments of Medicine, Community Health, and Biometry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and University Hospitals, Rodrigo Terronez Memorial Clinic of the National Farm Workers Health Group, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio 44106

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Peter Cummings Departments of Medicine, Community Health, and Biometry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and University Hospitals, Rodrigo Terronez Memorial Clinic of the National Farm Workers Health Group, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio 44106

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Daniel J. Murphy Departments of Medicine, Community Health, and Biometry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and University Hospitals, Rodrigo Terronez Memorial Clinic of the National Farm Workers Health Group, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio 44106

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Harold B. Houser Departments of Medicine, Community Health, and Biometry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and University Hospitals, Rodrigo Terronez Memorial Clinic of the National Farm Workers Health Group, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio 44106

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1974.23.902
Volume/Issue:
Volume 23: Issue 5
Page(s):
902–909
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Investigations of schistosomiasis mansoni in 218 Yemeni agricultural workers in the San Joaquin Valley of California revealed a prevalence of 56%. In those infected, quantitative egg counts performed by the Kato thick smear method revealed that 57% had light infections (1–100 eggs/g), 27% moderate infections (101–400 eggs/g), and 16% heavy infections (>400 eggs/g; mean—918 eggs/g). The Yemeni had been migrating to the USA for the past 20 years, a period in which the prevalence of schistosomiasis had remained constant in the Yemen. The prevalence of schistosomiasis in those who had been away from Yemen for less than 5 years (up to 20 years) it was 32% with a mean egg output of 75 eggs/g. This is in spite of the fact that 75% of the latter had returned to Yemen for short visits. Statistical analysis by the Fisher's exact probability test revealed a significantly lower egg output in those away from Yemen more than 5 years. On the basis of these findings the mean life span of the Yemeni strain of Schistosoma mansoni in man was estimated to be between 5 and 10 years. The presence of disease was assessed in this population by traditional medical means without prior knowledge of the status of the infection in the individuals examined. Under these circumstances, there were no differences in symptoms such as weakness, diarrhea and abdominal pain among the uninfected proportion of the population, total infected group and a small subgroup of those most heavily infected. None of the patients had hepatomegaly and only two had splenomegaly—one lightly and the other heavily infected. Because of the toxicity of antischistosomal drugs and the lack of treatment facilities only the 22 most heavily infected (>200 eggs/g) of the 122 individuals with schistosomiasis mansoni were treated with niridazole. In addition, the two individuals with splenomegaly were treated with antimony dimercaptosuccinate. Side effects, though common, were not severe. Although follow-up in this migrant population was poor, the nine patients examined 3 to 7 months after treatment showed a mean decrease in egg output of 97%.

Author Notes

Copyright:
Copyright © 1974 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1974
Accepted:
02 Feb 1974
|
Published Online:
Sep 1974
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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