Standardization of FIAXtm for schistosomiasis using crude cercarial and adult worm antigens

A fluoroimmunoassay (FIAXTM) has been developed for quantitating the antibody response to schistosomiasis by using cercarial and adult worm antigens of Schistosoma mansoni. The FIAXTM assay was calibrated by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) performed with the same antigens. Studies of reproducibility and preliminary data on a battery of sera from proven cases of schistosomiasis an uninfected control sera are presented.     

Diagnostic usefulness of the intradermal test with histoplamin in non-endemic areas of histoplasmosis

The histoplasmosis in Spain is an imported disease presenting in most of case diagnostic difficulties. In this paper, the intradermal skin test with Histoplasma capsulatum antigen as diagnostic method in immunocompetent patients with clinical and radiological signs compatible with histoplasmosis after being visited Central and South American endemic counties, in which this mycosis is endemic. Nine Spanish patients coming from different countries of Latin America with fever and acute respiratory symptoms compatible with histoplasmosis were studied. Other nine accompanying subjects and five controls were also evaluated. Patients underwent mycological cultures and and serological tests for H. capsulatum. Intradermal test with 1% histoplasmine were done in all patients. Serology and skin tests tests were also performed in accompanying people. Intradermal were done in healthy controls. Skin test with histoplasmine were positive in seven of the nine patients. Six of these showed precipitating antibodies against the same antigen. H. capsulatum was only isolated from bone marrow biopsy samples in one patient. The seven patients were given itraconazole by oral route and all symptoms improved after 2 and 4 weeks. In five accompanying subjects the skin test were also positive so that a subclinical histoplasmosis was diagnosed. In the remaining patients and healthy accompanying subjects histoplasmosis infection was excluded. In non endemic geographical areas of histoplasmosis intradermal skin test with histoplasmin when used in immunocompetent individuals is an easy and reliable method for the diagnosis of this mycosis as well as for epidemiological studies.     

Quantitative egg counts in schistosomiasis surveys

Methods for urine filtration and quantitative egg counts play a key role in schistosomiasis surveys, but recent WHO recommendations may be misleading. In this article, Reny Braun-Munzinger working in Madagascar discusses technical problems in the use of nytrel filters for schistosome egg counts.     

Clinical aspects of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis: a contrast with cirrhosis.

The clinical picture of liver disease in endemic areas of Schistosomiasis mansoni differs in many ways from that observed in alcoholic and other types of cirrhosis. In hepatosplenic schistosomiasis there is predominance of the clinical manifestations of portal hypertension, e.g., bleeding esophageal varices, while ascites, jaundice, and hepatic precoma or coma are much less common. Ammonia tolerance is usually normal and helps explain the low mortality rate during bleeding. Of special interest is the observation of a high incidence of persistent hepatitis B surface antigenemia among patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, suggesting increased susceptibility of such patients to the development of virus-induced chronic active hepatitis.     

E antigen (HBeAG) and surface antigen (HBsAg) in bladder schistosomiasis

The problem of the relationship between surface B antigen and schistosomiasis or other parasitic infections which are transmitted though the skin is not still resolved. Serum samples from 54 Somalian patients infected by Schistosoma haematobium were tested for the presence of the surface B antigen (HBsAg) and the e-antigen (HBeAg). The HbsAg was found in 14.8 per cent of these patients, while among controls (47 cases) the frequency was of 34.0 p]er cent; no e-antigen was found among the patients and controls, the prevalence of anti-HBs antibodies was of 57.4 per cent among the patients with urinary schistosomiasis and of 44.6 per cent among the controls; a low rate of anti-e antibodies was found in the patients (7.4%) and in the controls (10.6%). These observation seem to indicate that the problem of an increased frequency of hepatitis B virus markers among patients with urinary schistosomiasis needs for further investigation.