exudates and Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical parasitic disease caused by the trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, affects approximately 207 million people worldwide. Among the five main species infecting humans, Schistosoma mansoni and S. japonicum are responsible for the majority of hepatointestinal schistosomiasis. Human settlements near fresh water sites that lack proper sanitary systems often contribute to the transmission of disease. This risk particularly impacts on travellers or immigrants who come into contact with larvae-contaminated water. This review discusses the central features of schistosomiasis; including clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatments, and the preventive measures available for the control of this disease. The description of the Malaysian schistosome species Schistosoma malayensis and the current status of schistosomiasis in Malaysia including the compilation of cases diagnosed from 1904 to 2015 are also discussed in this paper.

Topics: Animals; Humans; Malaysia; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis

The present study was conducted to determine the occurrence of Schistosoma spindale ova and its associated risk factors in Malaysian cattle through a coprological survey. A total of 266 rectal fecal samples were collected from six farms in Peninsular Malaysia. The overall infection rate of S. spindale was 6% (16 of 266). Schistosoma spindale infection was observed in two farms, with a prevalence of 5.4% and 51.9%, respectively. This trematode was more likely to co-occur with other gastro-intestinal parasites (i.e., Dicrocoelium spp., Paramphistomum spp., strongyle, Eimeria spp. and Entamoeba spp.). Chi-square analysis revealed that female cattle are less likely to get S. spindale infection as compared to male cattle (OR = 0.3; 95% CI = 0.08-1.06; p < 0.05), and cattle weighing lower than 200 kg, were significantly at higher risk than those higher than 200 kg (OR = 5; 95% CI = 1.07-24.79; p < 0.05) to the infection. Multivariate analysis confirmed that among the cattle in Malaysia, the age (cattle with two year old and higher: OR = 21; 95% CI = 2.48-179.44; p < 0.05) and weight (weighing 200 kg and lower: OR = 17; 95% CI = 3.38-87.19; p < 0.05) were risk factors for S. spindale infection among Malaysian cattle.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Feces; Female; Malaysia; Male; Ovum; Parasite Egg Count; Risk Factors; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis

Topics: Adult; Animals; Fatal Outcome; Granuloma; Humans; Liver; Malaysia; Male; Rural Population; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis

Data from the WHO state that up to 85% of cases of human schistosomiasis are from Africa. The common sites of this parasitic infection are the intestine and bladder. Testicular schistosomiasis is extremely rare but the number of reported cases worldwide has doubled over the past decade. The authors report a case of testicular schistosomiasis of a Myanmar immigrant in Malaysia who presented with a 6-month history of progressively enlarging left testicular swelling. His biochemical markers and cultures were not suggestive of an ongoing infection. Hence, a testicular malignancy was strongly suspected, for which, he underwent a left orchidectomy. Our clinical suspicion was proven wrong when the histopathology of the removed left testis revealed schistosomal eggs with granulamatous tissue formation. Subsequently, the patient was treated with praziquantel.

Topics: Adult; Anthelmintics; Diagnosis, Differential; Emigration and Immigration; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Orchiectomy; Praziquantel; Schistosomiasis; Testicular Neoplasms; Testis

A serosurvey of various indigenous interior tribes (Orang Ulu) in upper Rejang River Basin Sarawak Malaysia, the site of a multibillion Ringgit hydroelectric power project, found 6.8% of the individual surveyed were seropositive for schistosomiasis, as determined by ELISA method using the soluble egg antigen of Schistosoma malayensis Baling strain. In all age group, the seroprevalence rate is higher (9.5%) in males than in females (4.5%) except for the 31-40 age group. Seroprevalence of schistosomiasis was found to increase with age with the above 60 age group having the highest rate followed by the 31-40 age group. Seroprevalence rate among the tribes ranges from 4.1% among the Penan to 11.6% among the Kajang. There was no seroevidence of schistosomiasis among the Ukits. A snail survey found four snail species including Brotia species, the intermediate host of the lung fluke Paragonimus westermani, however no schistosome snail host was identified. Although schistosomiasis malayensis-like infection may be endemic in the area, its public health significance remains undetermined.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Child; Disease Vectors; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Parasite Egg Count; Racial Groups; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Snails; Species Specificity

Surveillance studies on cercarial dermatitis were carried out in paddy growing areas in Peninsular Malaysia. It was observed that dermatitis in paddy planters occurred in paddy fields which were cultivated using animals such as bafflos or fields where domestic animals were allowed to graze during the off planting season as these animals harbored the parasite. The causative agent of cercarial dermatitis was Schistosoma spindale. A total of 215 small mammals trapped from Alor Setar and 126 trapped from Labu were examined for the schistosome. In Alor Setar Bandicota indica, Rattus argentiventer and Rattus rattus diardii were the only wild mammals found to be infected with the parasite, while in the Labu areas only Rattus tiomanicus jalorensis was positive for the schistosome. The occurrence of S. spindale in R. argentiventer and R.r. diardii in Alor Setar and in R.t. jalorensis in Labu constitute new host and geographic distribution records of the schistosome.

Topics: Agricultural Workers' Diseases; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Cattle; Dermatitis; Disease Reservoirs; Humans; Malaysia; Rats; Rodentia; Schistosomiasis; Skin Diseases, Parasitic

A total of 1131 Police Field Force personnel were screened serologically for schistosomiasis in Malaysia. A total of 150 (13.3%) were tested positive or borderline. Stool samples from 75 of these cases were however all negative for schistosome eggs. This survey suggests that Police Field Force personnel may be agents for propagating the schistosome life cycle in Malaysia.

Topics: Animals; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Feces; Humans; Malaysia; Police; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis; Serologic Tests

Schistosoma malayensis Sp N is a putative new species of schistosome discovered in Peninsular Malaysia in 1973. This paper comprises the first report on the detailed gastrointestinal pathology present in rabbits infected with strains of the parasite. Two different strains of schistosome--the Baling and Koyan strains--from two different ecosystems were used to infect inbred rabbits and the resulting pathophysiology was studied. Our results showed that the Baling strain of S. malayensis was more virulent than the Koyan strain and produced nodular, segmental circumferential lesions and large bilharziomas measuring 1-7 cm in diameter in the distal jejunum, ileum and the ileo-caecal junction. The findings indicate that the Baling strain of S. malayensis was more pathogenic for rabbits as compared with the Koyan strain--in relation to the gross pathology of the gut and the tissue egg load. Earlier reports have shown that rabbits infected with S. japonicum induces significant intestinal lesions in rabbits (Cheever et al, 1980 a,b) but these animals are refractory to infection with S. mekongi (Byram and Lichtenberg, 1980). Our studies show that the two strains of S. malayensis adapted well in rabbits. It is also established that in rabbits, the virulence of the Baling strain of S. malayensis is greater than that of S. mekongi and approximates that of S. japonicum.

Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Hematocrit; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Liver; Malaysia; Organ Size; Parasite Egg Count; Rabbits; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis; Spleen

A stable population at risk of Malaysian schistosomiasis was studied. Census results indicated that approximately one-fourth of the inhabitants used a stream where Schistosoma malayensis-infected snails were present as their principal source of water for bathing, drinking, and household tasks. The general population also contacted this stream when fording it or while fishing. Serological surveys using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the circumoval precipitin (COP) test revealed six (9%) and three (4%) positives, respectively, among 67 persons examined. No schistosome ova were found in a general survey of 56 persons which included five ELISA positive and two COP test positive patients. ELISA and COP test prevalences among those dependent on the foci of transmission for water, 13 and 7% respectively, were only slightly higher than prevalences among the remainder of the population, 8 and 4% respectively. These results indicate that even among a stable population at risk of Malaysian schistosomiasis the prevalence is low. Our findings support the hypothesis that S. malayensis is a zoonotic infection in man and that it is unlikely to become a significant public health problem.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Child; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Feces; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Precipitin Tests; Predictive Value of Tests; Rural Population; Schistosomiasis; Snails; Water Supply; Zoonoses

Studies on the bionomics and host-parasite relationship of Robertsiella kaporensis and Malaysian Schistosoma were investigated. The study was divided into 4 parts: cultivation of snails, R. kaporensis, and maintenance of Malaysian Schistosoma life cycle, daily cercarial shedding cycle in R. kaporensis, miracidial load and cercarial shedding pattern and the infectivity of Malaysian Schistosoma cercariae. R. kaporensis were cultured in the laboratory with the use of plastic container provided with fine sand. The snails were fed with diatoms and Saraca leaves. The development period for the snail eggs was about 20-30 days, the young grew to maturity in 14-15 weeks, and the average growth rate of snails was 0.23 mm per week. The daily cercarial shedding cycle of snails had shown that the peak emergence of cercariae of Malaysian Schistosoma occurred at night, between 6-10 pm. The miracidial load which yielded the best results in terms of percentage infection rates of snails and cercarial output was the miracidial concentration of 8 miracidia per snail. The study on infectivity of Malaysian Schistosoma cercariae has shown that there was a decrease in infectivity of the cercariae to mammalian hosts as the cercariae increased in age. The percentage infection rate of mice and numbers of worms recovered were highest in mice infected with cercariae of 0-1/2 hr. old. Infection of cercariae fell rapidly after the cercariae were 16 hr. old.

Topics: Animals; Host-Parasite Interactions; Larva; Malaysia; Mice; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis; Snails

Topics: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Malaysia; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosomiasis

Using ELISA and COPT diagnostic tests, serological evidence of Malaysian schistosomiasis was discovered among Orang Asli populations from three areas in Peninsular Malaysia. Serum samples collected in 1975 indicated an ELISA-positive prevalence of 25% and a COPT prevalence of 11% from Pos Iskandar, Pahang and an ELISA prevalence of 13% and a COPT of 4% from Bukit Lanjan, Selangor. Resurveys at these site in 1982-1984 showed a continued presence of serological positive individuals but prevalence rates were markedly lower: 7% and 1% for ELISA and 4% and 2% for COPT at Pos Iskandar and Bukit Lanjan respectively. Snail hosts were not found at either site. The source of infection for persons living in these lowland areas remains unknown. In a third area, Kuala Tahan, Pahang, located in the foothills of the central mountain range, foci of transmission have been found near to Orang Asli settlements. The serological prevalence rate among Negrito Orang Asli in that study area was 9% for ELISA and 4% for COPT. Thirty-three of 36 COPT-positive sera produced vacuolated bleb precipates and in 31 these were the only reactions seen. The high percentage of positives producing only these precipates suggests that among Orang Asli schistosomiasis patients such reactions are not an indication of recently acquired infection as has been reported for schistosomiasis patients in the Philippines.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Antibodies; Asian People; Child; Child, Preschool; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Feces; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Parasite Egg Count; Precipitin Tests; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis; Snails

Schistosomiasis in Southeast Asia, caused by Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma mekongi and Schistosoma japonicum-like, have been reported from six different countries. The S. japonicum infections are highly prevalent in the Philippines with Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi as the vector snail, and in localized areas in Indonesia with O.h. lindoensis as the snail vector. The S. mekongi infections are recent discovery in the Lower Mekong Basin in Laos and Kampuchea, with Tricula aperta as the vector snail. The S. japonicum-like infections are found as isolated cases diagnosed by the finding of S. japonicum-like eggs in the faeces, rectal biopsy, tissue biopsy or at necropsy in Thailand and Malaysia. The control measures of schistosomiasis have been implemented in the Philippines and Indonesia, while further research studies are being conducted in Thailand and Malaysia.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Cambodia; Child; Disease Vectors; Female; Humans; Indonesia; Laos; Malaysia; Male; Philippines; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosomiasis; Snails; Thailand

Topics: Adult; Animals; Asia, Southeastern; Cambodia; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Reservoirs; Disease Vectors; Female; Humans; Indonesia; Infant; Laos; Malaysia; Male; Molluscacides; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosomiasis; Snails; Thailand; Water

Topics: Animals; Disease Reservoirs; Fresh Water; Humans; Malaysia; Schistosoma; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosomiasis; Snails; Species Specificity

Topics: Animals; Disease Vectors; Malaysia; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosomiasis; Snails

Three cases of schistosomiasis in 2 Filipinos and one Chinese in Sabah are reported. Diagnosis was based on incidental histological findings of Schistosoma japonicum-like ova in the liver and rectal biopsies. As these 3 patients are immigrants to Sabah, it is assumed that they are imported cases, and that Sabah has been free of the disease from 1970 to 1977.

Topics: Adult; Biopsy; Female; Granuloma, Giant Cell; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Liver; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Ovum; Rectum; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosomiasis

The first living patient with a Schistosoma japonicum-type infection who presented with the nephrotic syndrome is reported in detail. It is not clear whether the nephrotic syndrome was due to the schistosome infection or to the deposition of hepatitis B antigen and antibody complexes. This is the tenth case of schistosomiasis reported from aborigines in Malaysia and a sylvatic source of infection is suggested.

Topics: Adult; Hepatitis B; Humans; Liver; Malaysia; Male; Nephrotic Syndrome; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosomiasis

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Geography; Humans; Infant; Laos; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Schistosomiasis; Thailand

Topics: Animals; Columbidae; Disease Vectors; Ducks; Echinostoma; Eggs; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Humans; Lymnaea; Malaysia; Parasite Egg Count; Pest Control, Biological; Schistosomiasis; Snails; Water

Topics: Adult; Brain; Fallopian Tubes; Female; Humans; Intestine, Small; Liver; Lung; Malaysia; Mesentery; Ovary; Pancreas; Parasite Egg Count; Schistosomiasis; Spleen; Urinary Bladder

Topics: Adult; Autopsy; Female; Humans; Liver; Malaysia; Mesentery; Pancreas; Schistosomiasis

Topics: Animals; Echinostoma; Fasciola; Female; Lymnaea; Malaysia; Ovum; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis; Snails; Trematoda

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ancylostomatoidea; Child; Child, Preschool; Cholera; Colombia; Congresses as Topic; Costa Rica; Deficiency Diseases; Female; Humans; India; Infant; Infections; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; National Institutes of Health (U.S.); Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Pakistan; Schistosomiasis; United States

Topics: Agricultural Workers' Diseases; Animals; Disease Vectors; Ducks; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Malaysia; Schistosomiasis; Snails