Epidemiologic study of 2 foci of Schistosoma mansoni bilharziasis in Togo (Lama Kara and Kpalimé) . Comparative efficacy of oltipraz (RP 35972)
Lapierre, J.; Amedome, A.; Tourte-Schaefer, C.; Agbo, K.; Kotor, T.; Faurant, C.; Ancelle, T.; Heyer, F.; Dupouy-Camet, J.
Medecine Tropicale Revue du Corps de Sante Colonial 44(2): 113-119
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-682X PMID: 6482725 Document Number: 238698
The authors note a very high prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni in the two foci studied in Togo (Lama Kara in the North and Kpalimé in the South-West); however, the prevalence is significantly higher in Lama Kara (79.5%) than in Klonou (54.7%); this was calculated on both coprological and serological basis. The parasite burden is identical in the two foci; but, the GMRT is higher in Lama Kara than in Klonou (31.7 and 8) which might be explained by a different immunogenicity of the two strains. It is noticed schistosomiasis mansoni might be responsible for hepatosplenomegaly found in the two foci, especially in Lama Kara, which might be explained by a higher virulence in this location. The treatment by oltipraz (RP 35972) had a 91.9% success rate in Klonou (similar to our results in Paris). However, in Lama Kara, even though the drug was taken with some food--increasing its biodisponibility--, the treatment was less effective at day 180 (76.5%). The authors wonder whether the difference of oltipraz efficiency between the two foci is based on a difference of biology between the two strains of Schistosoma mansoni in Lama Kara and in Klonou.