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. 2022 Mar 18:3:100245.
doi: 10.1016/j.puhip.2022.100245. eCollection 2022 Jun.

A simple new screening tool for diagnosing imported schistosomiasis

Silvia Roure  1   2 , Olga Pérez-Quílez  1 , Xavier Vallès  1   3 , Lluís Valerio  1 , Gemma Fernández-Rivas  4 , Belén Rivaya  4 , Israel López-Muñoz  1 , Laura Soldevila  1   2 , Xavier Villanova  1 , Roger Paredes  3   5   6   7 , Maria-Lluïsa Pedro-Botet  2 , Sebastián Videla  7   8 , Bonaventura Clotet  2   5   6   7
Affiliations

A simple new screening tool for diagnosing imported schistosomiasis

Silvia Roure et al. Public Health Pract (Oxf). .

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to test the sensitivity and feasibility of a Schistosoma infection screening process consisting of a scored patient consultation questionnaire and a serological diagnostic test.

Study design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: We collected from Schistosoma-exposed individuals a 14-point check list of clinical and laboratory data related to Schistosoma infection, alongside a serological test to detect Schistosoma spp infection. A check list score was created and compared with the risk of infection and clinical recovery through an agreement analysis.

Results: Two-hundred and fifty individuals were enrolled, of whom 220 (88%) were male and 30 (12%) female. The median age was 39 (range 18-78). One hundred-fifty (60%, 95% CI 54.9%-65.1%) had a check-list score ≥2. Serology test results were positive for 142 (56.8%, 95% CI 51.6%-62%). Chronic complications compatible with long-term Schistosoma infection were detected in 29 out of these 142 (20.4%, 95% CI 13.8%-27%).,. The median score value was 3, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve against serology results was 0.85 and the estimated intercept check-list questionnaire score value was 1.72 (95%, CI: 1.3-2.2). Participants with a positive serological test had a substantially higher check-list score (Cohen's kappa coefficient: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.54-0.70). Ninety four percent patients empirically treated showed a subsequent improvement in clinical and laboratory parameters.

Conclusions: A two-component process consisting of a scored patient consultation questionnaire followed by serological assay can be a suitable strategy for screening populations at high risk of schistosomiasis infection.

Keywords: Imported disease; Migrant population; Schistosomiasis; Screening.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors of this study have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow-chart of the screening and treatment procedure, showing number of participants ants at each step.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
ROC curve and estimated AUC of checklist score against serology test results.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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