Seroconversion following empiric praziquantel treatment as confirmatory diagnostic tool for chronic schistosomiasis

Davide Marangoni; Tommaso Manciulli; Anna Barbiero; Antonia Mantella; Michele Spinicci; Alessandro Bartoloni; Lorenzo Zammarchi

doi:10.1093/jtm/taad091

Seroconversion following empiric praziquantel treatment as confirmatory diagnostic tool for chronic schistosomiasis

J Travel Med. 2023 Nov 18;30(7):taad091. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taad091.

Authors

Davide Marangoni¹, Tommaso Manciulli¹, Anna Barbiero¹, Antonia Mantella¹, Michele Spinicci^{1

2}, Alessandro Bartoloni^{1

2}, Lorenzo Zammarchi^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence 50121, Italy.
² Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, Florence 50134, Italy.

PMID: 37418150
DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taad091

Abstract

We report on six patients with suspected chronic schistosomiasis and negative microbiological findings at baseline. All patients were treated empirically with praziquantel and all seroconverted 20 days to two months after treatment. We suggest that seroconversion after praziquantel treatment may be used as a confirmatory diagnostic tool for chronic schistosomiasis.

Keywords: Praziquantel; diagnosis; schistosomiasis; seroconversion; serology; treatment.

MeSH terms

Humans
Praziquantel* / adverse effects
Schistosomiasis* / diagnosis
Schistosomiasis* / drug therapy
Seroconversion

Substances

Praziquantel