Boakye Alahaman Nana, Hatsu Neuwell, Akwetey Samuel Addo, Karikari Akosua Bonsu, Atta Simon Kwaku, Addae Mark Michael
Department of Health and Allied Sciences Baldwin University College Accra Ghana.
Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine University for Development Studies Tamale Ghana.
Health Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 29;8(2):e70404. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.70404. eCollection 2025 Feb.
Schistosomiasis is a chronic neglected tropical disease and Ghana's second most prevalent helminth infection. The annual mass drug administration of praziquantel to school children is aimed at reducing disease morbidity as a public health problem.
The study aimed to assess the prevalence and hematological profile of urinary schistosomiasis in Sempoa after over a decade of consecutive Mass Drug Administration (MDA) of praziquantel.
A community-based cross-sectional study involving 126 participants was conducted. eggs were identified and quantified using the urine filtration-microscopy technique. The hematological profile was analyzed using a fully automated 5-part Sysmex XN-350 (Sysmex Co, Germany) analyzer.
The study recorded a prevalence of 21.6% that was significantly related to water contact activities. Schistosomiasis was significantly associated with lower levels of Red Blood Cell (RBC) indices; MCV ( < 0.001), MCHC ( < 0.001), and MCH ( = 0.01) with higher platelet, lymphocytes, and basophil counts compared to the uninfected. Heavy infection was significantly associated with lower hemoglobin levels. The study further reported microhaematuria as a sensitive and specific proxy diagnostic tool for field surveillance in endemic communities.
Urinary schistosomiasis accompanied by an altered hematological profile persists in Sempoa under preventive praziquantel. Future control interventions must consider an integrated approach of marrying behavioral change, with preventive chemotherapy and vector control.
血吸虫病是一种慢性被忽视的热带病，是加纳第二常见的蠕虫感染。每年对学童进行吡喹酮群体化疗旨在减少作为公共卫生问题的疾病发病率。
本研究旨在评估连续十多年进行吡喹酮群体化疗后，森波阿地区泌尿血吸虫病的患病率和血液学特征。
开展了一项基于社区的横断面研究，涉及126名参与者。使用尿液过滤显微镜技术识别并定量虫卵。使用全自动五分类Sysmex XN - 350（德国Sysmex公司）分析仪分析血液学特征。
该研究记录的患病率为21.6%，与接触水的活动显著相关。血吸虫病与较低水平的红细胞指数显著相关；平均红细胞体积（MCV，<0.001）、平均红细胞血红蛋白浓度（MCHC，<0.001）和平均红细胞血红蛋白含量（MCH，=0.01），与未感染者相比，血小板、淋巴细胞和嗜碱性粒细胞计数更高。重度感染与较低的血红蛋白水平显著相关。该研究进一步报告，微量血尿是流行社区现场监测的一种敏感且特异的替代诊断工具。
在预防性使用吡喹酮的情况下，森波阿地区仍存在伴有血液学特征改变的泌尿血吸虫病。未来的控制干预措施必须考虑将行为改变、预防性化疗和病媒控制相结合的综合方法。
