[Epidemiologic study of 2 foci of Schistosoma mansoni bilharziasis in Togo (Lama Kara and Kpalimé). Comparative efficacy of oltipraz (RP 35972)].

The authors note a very high prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni in the two foci studied in Togo (Lama Kara in the North and Kpalimé in the South-West); however, the prevalence is significantly higher in Lama Kara (79.5%) than in Klonou (54.7%); this was calculated on both coprological and serological basis. The parasite burden is identical in the two foci; but, the GMRT is higher in Lama Kara than in Klonou (31.7 and 8) which might be explained by a different immunogenicity of the two strains. It is noticed schistosomiasis mansoni might be responsible for hepatosplenomegaly found in the two foci, especially in Lama Kara, which might be explained by a higher virulence in this location. The treatment by oltipraz (RP 35972) had a 91.9% success rate in Klonou (similar to our results in Paris). However, in Lama Kara, even though the drug was taken with some food--increasing its biodisponibility--, the treatment was less effective at day 180 (76.5%). The authors wonder whether the difference of oltipraz efficiency between the two foci is based on a difference of biology between the two strains of Schistosoma mansoni in Lama Kara and in Klonou.