Schistosomiasis: The Detection of the Eggs of Schistosoma mansoni in Urine While Investigating Schistosoma haematobium Infection, Is Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, Katsina State, a Hybrid Zone?

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is an age-long neglected tropical disease of poverty, which ranks second to malaria in public health significance. Cases of schistosome hybridization are unknown in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area. Therefore, this short communication was aimed at reporting the detection of S. mansoni egg morphotype in the study area. Terminal urine samples were centrifuged, microscopically examined, and schistosome eggs identified using standard protocols. The result showed an overall prevalence of 0.36% and a mean intensity of 0.04±1.03 eggs /10 ml of urine. The detection of S. mansoni eggs in the urine samples of study participants was an indication of a possible hybridization between S. mansoni and male S. haematobium worms. This underscores the need for molecular diagnostic tools for effective diagnosis in endemic resource-constrained settings.