Efficacy of praziquantel drug against Schistosoma haematobium and performance of urine reagent strips among pre-and-school aged children during the high transmission season in North-Western Tanzania

The World Health Organization calls for schistosomiasis endemic countries to regularly monitor the efficacy of Praziquantel (PZQ) drug, the only antischistosomal drug used for four decades in Tanzania. In response to that call, the current study investigated the efficacy of single dose of PZQ against Schistosoma haematobium during the high transmission season and further assessed, the sensitivity and specificity of urine reagent strips before and after treatment. The study recruited a total of 2,498 -children aged (4 -17 years old) who provided a single urine sample that was visually examined for macro-haematuria, then using urine dipstick and urine filtration technique for microhaematuria and the presence of S. haematobium eggs. The baseline prevalence of S. haematobium eggs positive based on urine filtration test was 29.2%(95%CI:27.5-31.0) and that of microhaematuria was 43.1% (95%CI:41.1-45.0). Of the infected participants, 40.9%(95%CI:37.4-44.6) had a heavy intensity of infection and the geometrical mean intensity (GMI) of infection was 33.7 eggs/10mls of urine. A single dose of PZQ reduced the prevalence of infection to 16.2%, the GMI of infection to 18.8eggs/10mls of urine and that of microhaematuria to 27.9%. Cure rate and egg reduction rates (ERR) were 83.8% and 44.3% respectively. At baseline, the sensitivity and specificity of the urine reagent strips were 59.7% and 93.8%, whereas at post-treatment they were 16.7% and 93.6%. When PZQ drug is administered during the high transmission season, its efficacy in term of ERR is poor. The urine reagent strips had low sensitivity but high specificity at pre-and-post PZQ treatment.