Age-Dependent Reduction of Schistosome Fecundity in Schistosoma haematobium But Not Schistosoma Mansoni Infections in Humans

Alison Agnew Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, University of Leiden, Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, London, United Kingdom

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Anthony J. C. Fulford Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, University of Leiden, Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, London, United Kingdom

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Mariam T. Mwanje Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, University of Leiden, Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, London, United Kingdom

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Kimani Gachuhi Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, University of Leiden, Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, London, United Kingdom

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Volker Gutsmann Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, University of Leiden, Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, London, United Kingdom

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Frederik W. Krijger Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, University of Leiden, Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, London, United Kingdom

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Robert F. Sturrock Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, University of Leiden, Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, London, United Kingdom

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Birgitte J. Vennervald Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, University of Leiden, Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, London, United Kingdom

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John H. Ouma Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, University of Leiden, Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, London, United Kingdom

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Anthony E. Butterworth Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, University of Leiden, Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, London, United Kingdom

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Andre M. Deelder Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, University of Leiden, Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, London, United Kingdom

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1996.55.338
Volume/Issue:
Volume 55: Issue 3
Page(s):
338–343
Restricted access
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Understanding the dynamics of schistosome infections is problematic because direct measurements of worm burden are not possible. Hitherto, the relative intensity of infection has been estimated by the number of parasite eggs excreted. Egg excretion is assumed to have a consistent relationship with worm burden with duration of infection. We have tested this assumption in Schistosoma mansoni- and S. haematobium-infected populations by looking at the relationships between a circulating parasite antigen, egg excretion level, host age, and parasite density. The study was carried out in two populations because experimental models suggested that S. haematobium but not S. mansoni suffers immune-mediated reduction of fecundity. The results were consistent with this observation, showing that S. mansoni egg output remains stable irrespective of host age or infection intensity while S. haematobium has a substantially reduced egg production with host age. This information is fundamental to understanding the immunology and epidemiology of human schistosomiasis and thus practical approaches to disease control.

Author Notes

Copyright:
Copyright © 1996 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1996
Published Online:
Sep 1996
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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