Diagnosing low intensity Schistosoma japonicum infections.

Project leader(s)   Tore Lier (Microbiol. Dept.,UNN)

Co-workers / Project staff
Gunnar S Simonsen, Hanne H Haukland, Håkon Haaheim, Stig Ove Hjelmevoll.

Project outline
Human schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease of huge public health importance. The adults of the flatworm inhabit, in the case of intestinal schistosomiasis, the mesenteric venules from the intestine. Retained eggs lead to damage of the intestines, liver and spleen. One of the three major species, Schistosoma japonicum, will be emphasised in this project. It is endemic in China and parts of South East Asia.
In countries where the blood fluke is endemic, chemotherapy has been used on a large scale as a part of ongoing control programs. This leads to a lower intensity of infections as well as persistent antibodies from previous infections. Consequently, this lowers the diagnostic values of commonly used diagnostic tests like serology and stool microscopy.
We have designed a novel real-time PCR method for detection of S. japonicum in stool samples. Further, we have evaluated both inexpensive, non-commercial extraction methods as well as a commercial extraction kit for stool samples.
Recently we used pigs, which received low intensity, sub-clinical S. japonicum-infections. The model was used for comparison of different diagnostic methods (including the PCR method) in stool, serum and urine.
Currently, we are planning a clinical, human trial in Anhui Province, China, in October-November –05.

Collaborators / Partners
Collaborators:
Maria V Johansen and Birgitte J Vennervald, DBL- Instit. for Health Research and Development, Charlottenlund, Denmark.
André Deelder and Govert van Dam, Faculty of Medicine, Univ. of Leiden, Netherlands.
Zhu Yinchang, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
Wang Tianping, Anhui Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuhu, Anhui, China.

Funding
Salary for Tore Lier and operating expenses provided by Microbiology Dept., University Hospital of North-Norway (UNN).