Female genital schistosomiasis of the lower genital tract: Prevalence and disease-associated morbidity in northern Tanzania

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a neglected disease manifestation o f schistosomiasis. A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess in a s chistosomiasis-endemic area the proportion of women affected by FGS of the lower reproductive tract and to compare the frequency of symptoms and signs possibly associated with FGS between women with proven FGS (n = 234), ende mic referents (n = 225, women living in an endemic site), and referents (n = 75, women living in a nonendemic site). Urinary schistosomiasis was diagn osed in 36% (239/657) and FGS in 37% (134/359) of the women. Cervical lesio ns occurred in 75% of the FGS cases, in 48% of endemic referents, and in 36 % of nonendemic referents, The high prevalence of FGS in all age groups and the high levels of pathologic cervical alterations such as swollen and dis rupted epithelium support the hypothesis that FGS might be a risk factor fo r the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus.