Evaluation of dipsticks in Schistosoma haematobium infections in four villages in the middle valley of the Senegal River Basin, Senegal
Shaw, D.J.; Picquet, M.; Ly, A.; Sambou, B.; Vercruysse, J.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 92(6): 634-635
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-9203 PMID: 10326107 DOI: 10.1016/s0035-9203(98)90791-xDocument Number: 532746
Urine samples were collected from individuals from 4 villages in the middle valley of the Senegal River Basin, Senegal, in early November 1995, late January 1996 and mid-March 1997. In November 1995, the mean prevalence of infection in the study population as determined by the presence of Schistosoma haematobium eggs and haematuria reagent strips was 39 and 38%, respectively. The mean specificity and sensitivity of the haematuria dipstick was 80 and 64%, respectively. In January 1996, 6 weeks after treatment of the villagers with praziquantel (40 mg/kg), the mean prevalence of infection as determined by egg count and dipstick had dropped to 15%. The specificity of the dipstick increased to >85% but the sensitivity decreased to a mean of <37%. The results were similar in March 1997. It is concluded that reagent strips could be used in this area of Senegal for community-based mass diagnosis programmes.