TY - JOUR

T1 - Anemia and growth retardation associated with Schistosoma haematobium infection in Mali

T2 - a possible subtle impact of a neglected tropical disease

AU - Stecher, Chalotte Willemann

AU - Sacko, Moussa

AU - Madsen, Henry

AU - Wilson, Shona

AU - Wejse, Christian

AU - Keita, Adama D.

AU - Landouré, Aly

AU - Traoré, Mamadou S.

AU - Kallestrup, Per

AU - Petersen, Eskild

AU - Vennervald, Birgitte

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - BackgroundThe aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate a possible association of Schistosoma haematobium with child growth development and describe a plausible schistosomiasis-related anemia in children and adults in a highly schistosomiasis endemic area of Mali.MethodsUrine, feces and blood samples from 399 participants of both sexes (2–40 years of age) were analyzed and supplemented by anthropometric measurements.ResultsS. haematobium prevalence was 79.8%, S. mansoni 13.2% and Plasmodium falciparum 80.2%. S. haematobium infection intensity as five categories was significantly associated with anemia; i.e., odds of having anemia in the highest and the next highest category was 3.25 (95% CL 1.61–6.55; p<0.01) and 2.45 (95% CL 1.28–4.70; p<0.01), respectively, of that in the three lower categories combined after adjusting for age group and gender and the interaction between the two factors. Anemia was most pronounced in the 2–5 year olds males (55.5%, n=98). P. falciparum infection was not significantly associated with anemia. Stunting (body mass index [BMI] for age z-score<−2.00) was observed in 2.6% (2/78) of the 2–5 years olds and in 7.7% (14/182) in the 6–19 years age group. Lower BMI-z-scores (as continuous variable) were associated with anemia (p<0.05) while high intensity of S. haematobium infection was not significant when adjusting for age group and anemia. Participants with malaria infection had lower z-scores (as continuous variables) of weight and height for age. Lower height for age z-scores were also associated with anemia.ConclusionsS. haematobium infection is likely to impact on child growth and possibly also anemia in all age groups and advocates for inclusion of whole populations into future control programes.

AB - BackgroundThe aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate a possible association of Schistosoma haematobium with child growth development and describe a plausible schistosomiasis-related anemia in children and adults in a highly schistosomiasis endemic area of Mali.MethodsUrine, feces and blood samples from 399 participants of both sexes (2–40 years of age) were analyzed and supplemented by anthropometric measurements.ResultsS. haematobium prevalence was 79.8%, S. mansoni 13.2% and Plasmodium falciparum 80.2%. S. haematobium infection intensity as five categories was significantly associated with anemia; i.e., odds of having anemia in the highest and the next highest category was 3.25 (95% CL 1.61–6.55; p<0.01) and 2.45 (95% CL 1.28–4.70; p<0.01), respectively, of that in the three lower categories combined after adjusting for age group and gender and the interaction between the two factors. Anemia was most pronounced in the 2–5 year olds males (55.5%, n=98). P. falciparum infection was not significantly associated with anemia. Stunting (body mass index [BMI] for age z-score<−2.00) was observed in 2.6% (2/78) of the 2–5 years olds and in 7.7% (14/182) in the 6–19 years age group. Lower BMI-z-scores (as continuous variable) were associated with anemia (p<0.05) while high intensity of S. haematobium infection was not significant when adjusting for age group and anemia. Participants with malaria infection had lower z-scores (as continuous variables) of weight and height for age. Lower height for age z-scores were also associated with anemia.ConclusionsS. haematobium infection is likely to impact on child growth and possibly also anemia in all age groups and advocates for inclusion of whole populations into future control programes.

KW - Anemia

KW - Growth

KW - Morbidity

KW - NTD

KW - Schistosomiasis

KW - Sub-Saharan Africa

U2 - 10.1093/trstmh/trx037

DO - 10.1093/trstmh/trx037

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28673023

VL - 111

SP - 144

EP - 153

JO - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

JF - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

SN - 0035-9203

IS - 4

ER -