Ngethe D. Muhoho

Cercariometry for detection of transmission sites for schistosomiasis.

Cercariometry provided information on diurnal fluctuation, seasonal and spatial distribution of cercariae in the suitable natural water bodies. There was an apparent mismatch between the results of cercariometry and snail sampling. Water, which cercariometry showed to contain cercariae was potentially infective, although the resultant worm load of sentinel rodents may not bear a linear relationship with cercarial density. Cercariometry has some weakness in practices and analysis of data, however, it provides the valuable information on the active transmission sites of schistosomiasis.

Assessment of Voiding Function in Inhabitants Infected with Schistosoma haematobium

Voiding function of Schistosoma haematobium infected students was evaluated in 45 schoolboys in Kwale district, Coast province, Kenya, using a questionnaire and uroflowmetry. Sixty-eight schoolboys who were S. haematobium negative were also examined. Symptoms related to the lower urinary tract were qualitatively assessed using the International Prostate Symptoms Score (I-PSS) questionnaire. The I-PSS showed that S. haematobium infected boys felt the need to strain to urinate and post voiding some urine still remained. To examine the disturbances revealed by I-PSS quantitatively, voiding was assessed by a portable uroflowmeter and a bladder scanner. Unexpectedly, no significant residual urine post voiding and no decline in urine flow rates were found in S. haematobium infected boys. However, volume-corrected maximum and average flow rates in S. haematobium infected boys were higher than in those not infected. These results suggest that cystitis associated with S. haematobium infection causes irritation and hypercontraction of the bladder.