Assessment of morbidity in Schistosoma haematobium infection: current methods and future tools

Recently, new potential tools for assessment of Schistosoma haematobium rel ated morbidity have emerged. The tools are based on detection of S. haemato bium egg antigens in urine or detection or eosinophil cationic protein (ECP ) in urine, which may reflect the inflammatory response in the urinary trac t. So far two markers have been assessed in long-term post treatment follow -up studies, allowing for an evaluation both before treatment and during re gression and reappearance of infection and urinary tract morbidity. The res ults from these studies and the usefulness of the markers as morbidity asse ssment tools are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.