Urine heme dipsticks are useful in monitoring the impact of Praziquantel treatment on Schistosoma haematobium in sentinel communities of Delta State, Nigeria

• Authors: Emmanuel Emukah, The Carter Center (Imo State, Nigeria); Julie R. Gutman, Emory University; John Eguagie, The Carter Center (Jos, Nigeria); Emmanuel S Miri, The Carter Center (Jos, Nigeria); Paul Yinkore, Ministry of Health, Nigeria; Ndudi Okocha, Ministry of Health, Nigeria; Victoria Jibunor, Ministry of Health, Nigeria; Nebe Obiageli, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria; Nwoye Augustine Ikenna, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria; Frank O. Richards, Emory University
• Journal Title: Acta Tropica
• Volume: Volume 122, Number 1
• Publisher: Elsevier: 12 months | 2012-04, Pages 126-131
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2012.01.002
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Schistosomiasis; Praziquantel; Mass Treatment; hematuria; monitoring; Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is highly endemic for infection with Schistosoma haematobium, which most commonly manifests itself with blood in urine. To monitor the impact of annual mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel for S. haematobium in Delta State, Nigeria, cross-sectional hematuria surveys of school children were conducted in 8 sentinel villages (SVs) at baseline (n=240) and after two annual doses (n=402). We assessed the comparability of three assessments of hematuria (child’s reported history, nurse visual diagnosis (NVD) and dipstick) to determine the need for mass treatment. Dipstick was considered to be the gold standard. Prior to treatment, history and NVD each identified only the 3 most highly prevalent SVs, and overall this represented just 37.5% of the 8 SVs in need of treatment. Following treatment, after dipstick prevalence decreased by 88.5% (p<0.001), and history and NVD identified only one of two villages still needing treatment. The study suggests that dipsticks should be the recommended method for launching and monitoring mass treatment for S. haematobium.