A 55 year-old French man was admitted with acute retention of urine. T
hree days before admission he developed back pain, lower limb pain and
weakness. He had last been in Nigeria 2 years previously. Schistosoma
mansoni ova were identified on rectal mucosal biopsy. Our patient sho
wed spontaneous clinical improvement. He was treated with Praziquantel
and corticosteroids. The clinical manifestations of spinal schistosom
iasis can be diverse, and there should be a high index of suspicion fo
r all patients from endemic areas. Currently praziquantel and corticos
teroids are the drugs of choice for Schistosoma mansomi infection.