Efficacy of artesunate and praziquantel in Schistosoma haematobium infected schoolchildren.

Praziquantel is the current mainstay for morbidity control of schistosomiasis. Artemisinin and its derivatives, widely used for the treatment of malaria, also display antischistosomal properties. The present study is an effort to assess the therapeutic efficacy of artesunate, an artemisinin derivative, in Schistosoma haematobium infections in a human population. The efficacy of artesunate and praziquantel were comparatively studied in primary schoolchildren from two villages, Lampsar (n=180) and Makhana (n=108), located along the Lampsar river in the delta of the Senegal River Basin in Northern Senegal (West Africa). In each village, half of the infected children were treated with a single oral dose of 40 mg/kg praziquantel and half with artesunate following the recommended malaria monotherapy regimen. For both drugs, cure and egg count reduction rates were, without apparent explanation, higher in Makhana than in Lampsar. In both villages, high and nearly comparable egg count reduction rates were obtained with both drugs at each follow-up after treatment (5, 12 and 24 weeks) in the heavy infected group of children (>50 eggs/10 ml of urine). No major adverse effects were observed. The results demonstrate that artesunate is effective against S. haematobium, but the results obtained with praziquantel were consistently better.

[Maternal morbidity and qualification of health-care workers: comparison between two different populations in Senegal]. / Morbidité maternelle et qualification du personnel de santé: comparaison de deux populations différentes au Sénégal.

OBJECTIVE: High fertility rates and high maternal mortality ratios have led most cooperation agencies to place high priority on health of women and children. The objective of this study was to compare maternal morbidity and mortality tin two populations with widely contrasting availability of health care in order to test the hypothesis that differences in maternal outcome mainly result from the qualification of health carers. METHODS: This population-based study included a cohort of pregnant women which was part of a multicenter study of maternal morbidity in six countries in West Africa (MOMA). We compared health outcome in two different populations of Senegal (Saint-Louis and Kaolack).3,777 pregnant women were follow through pregnancy, delivery and pureperium. Maternal morbidity was assessed from the women's recall at each visit of the investigator and from obstetric complications diagnosed by the birth attendant within health facilities. RESULTS: Maternal mortality was higher in the Kaolack area where women gave birth mainly in district health care centers, most often assisted by traditional birth attendants, than in Saint-Louis where women giving birth in health facilities were principally referred to the regional hospital and were generally assisted by midwives (874 and 151 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births respectively, p<0.01). Diagnosed maternal morbidity, however, was higher in Saint-Louis than in the Kaolack area, especially for births in health facilities (9.50 and 4.84 episodes of obstetric complications per 100 lie births respectively, p<0.01). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that diagnosed morbidity was mainly associated with degree of training of the health attendant in facility deliveries and that antenatal care had no effect. DISCUSSION: Midwives in health facilities appear to detect more obstetric complications than traditional birth attendants. Immediate detection leads to immediate care and to a lower case-fatality rate. This could explain the differences in maternal outcome between two urban centers with contrasting health care availability. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that one of the strongest weapons in the fight against maternal mortality is the employment of the most qualified personnel possible for monitoring labor.

[Predictive ultrasonographic criteria for portal hypertension due to Schistosoma mansoni in a recently established endemiz zone]. / Critères echographiques prédictifs d'hypertension portale due à Schistosoma mansoni dans une zone d'endémie récente.

The first cases of Schistosoma mansoni infection were reported in the Senegal River Basin ten years ago. Today endemicity is so high that prevalence rates exceed 90 p. 100 in some areas. Schistosomiasis sometimes goes undiagnosed until the occurrence of portal hypertension with rupture of esophageal varices. Endoscopy is the gold standard for detection of esophageal varices but it is impractical in remote areas. Ultrasonography has been proposed as a non-invasive alternative. The purpose of this study is to describe the results of simultaneous endoscopic and ultrasonographic assessment in 101 subjects from the Richard-Toll area of the Senegal River Basin. Findings showed that severe forms of schistosomiasis complicated by portal hypertension were already present in the region less 10 years after description of the first case. This study also proposes a diagnostic score for portal hypertension based on ultrasonographic findings. The features included in this score are thickening of portal vessel walls, portal vessel diameter, and collapsed appearance of the splenic vein during inspiration. In our hands this score allowed reliable prediction of the development of esophageal varices. Ultrasonography is a good tool for identifying severe forms of schistosomiasis. It should be useful for routine screening in recently established endemic zones.

Maternal morbidity and mortality in two different populations of Senegal: a prospective study (MOMA survey).

OBJECTIVE: To compare maternal morbidity and mortality in two urban populations with contrasting availability of health care, and to test the hypothesis that differences in maternal outcome result mainly from the management of delivery in health facilities. DESIGN: A population-based study of a cohort of pregnant women which was part of a multicentre study of maternal morbidity in six countries of western Africa (MOMA). SETTING: Two different urban areas of Senegal (Saint-Louis and Kaolack). POPULATION: 3,777 pregnant women who were followed up throughout pregnancy, delivery and puerperium. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal morbidity and mortality: morbidity was assessed from women's recall at each visit by the investigator and from obstetric complications diagnosed by the birth attendant within health facilities. RESULTS: Maternal mortality was higher in the Kaolack area where women gave birth mainly in district health care centres, usually assisted by traditional birth attendants, than in Saint-Louis where women giving birth in health facilities went principally to the regional hospital and were usually assisted by midwives (874 and 151 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, respectively, P < 0 x 01). Maternal morbidity, however, was higher in Saint-Louis than in Kaolack area, especially for births in health facilities (9 x 50 and 4 x 84 episodes of obstetric complications per 100 live births, respectively, P < 0 x 01). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that morbidity was mainly associated with the training of the birth attendant in facility deliveries and that antenatal care had no effect. CONCLUSION: Midwives in health facilities appear to detect more obstetric complications than traditional birth attendants. Immediate detection leads to immediate care and to low fatality rates. This could explain differences in maternal outcome between two urban centres with contrasting health care availability. These results suggest that one of the strongest weapons in the fight against maternal mortality is the employment of the most qualified personnel possible for monitoring labour.

Malaria and anemia of pregnancy in an African savanna zone. Epidemiological, hematological, biological and immunological study of 2 villages of the Bamako region, Republic of Mali. / Paludisme et anémie de la grossesse en zone de savane africaine. Etude épidémiologique, hématologique, biologique et immunologique dans deux villages de la région de Bamako, République du Mali.

An haematological, biological, parasitological and immunological study about anaemia of pregnancy was carried out in two rural village of Mali Republic, where P. flaciparum malaria is hyper-endemic. The 25 pregnant women found in the villages were compared with 23 controls. One could observe that anaemia more often normochromic and regenerative usually appears during the second trimestre of pregnancy. Only a few cases with haemaglobin levels below 8 g. % are hypochromic. Serum transferrin levels were slightly higher among pregnant. None among 31 bone marrows examined showed megaloblastic changes. Haptoglobin levels below 10 mg. % were observed in 3/4 of the pregnant women versus 1/4 in controls. Like some others, this study confirms the primary responsability of malaria haemolysis in the aetiology of anaemia of pregnancy and the interest of systematic chemoprophylaxis, at least from the third month of pregnancy. Vitamin and iron therapy is to consider therafter in hyper-endemic areas of P. falciparum malaria when nutritional problems are not predominant.

Schistosomiasis co-infection in humans influences inflammatory markers in uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Malaria and schistosomiasis are the two major parasite diseases present in developing countries. The epidemiological co-infection with schistosomiasis could influence the development of the physiological reaction associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection in human. Most studies have demonstrated the association of circulating levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha), interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) and soluble Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptors (sTNF-RI and sTNF-RII) with the morbidity of malaria. In the present study, we showed that Schistosoma haematobium co-infection influences, in an age-dependent manner, the unbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory circulating cytokines that play a key role during malaria infection. Indeed, children co-infected by S. haematobium have higher levels of IFN-gamma and sTNF-RII than children infected only by P. falciparum. In contrast, co-infected adults presented a significant increase of IFN-gamma, IL-10, TGF-beta, sTNF-RI and sTNF-RII rates and IL-10/TNF-alpha ratio. Taken together, this study indicates that schistosomiasis co-infection can unbalance the regulation of inflammatory factors in uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. The possible consequences of the schistosomiasis co-infection for age-dependent malaria morbidity are discussed.