Is Schistosoma mansoni replacing Schistosoma haematobium in the Fayoum?

Schistosoma mansoni is progressively replacing S. haematobium along the Nile River in Egypt. This change has occurred in the past 15-20 years following construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s.

Abdominal ultrasonography for assessing morbidity from schistosomiasis. 2. Hospital studies.

Abdominal ultrasound, which uses a pulse echo device to record reflected waves of a sound beam in 2 dimensions, has revolutionized the evaluation of schistosomal morbidity. It is relatively inexpensive, rapid, simple to perform and portable, causes no biological hazards to the subject and, because of its speed, is ideal for diagnosis and directing interventions, e.g.

Schistosoma haematobium infection in Egyptian schoolchildren: demonstration of both hepatic and urinary tract morbidity by ultrasonography.

Parasitological, clinical and ultrasonographical studies were performed upon 422 schoolchildren aged 12-16 years living in a village in the Fayoum where Schistosoma haematobium, but not S. mansoni, was transmitted. Over half of the children gave a history of receiving praziquantel therapy during the preceding 2 years.