2026-04-17T20:28:51Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:11351/135552025-10-24T10:38:24Zcom_2072_378070com_2072_378040col_2072_378092

2025-10-24T10:38:24Z urn:hdl:11351/13555 Evaluation of molecular and serological testing for imported urogenital schistosomiasis screening in a referral tropical medicine centre in Barcelona, Spain Martínez-Vallejo, Patricia Mediavilla Pérez, Alejandro Silgado, Aroa Zarzuela Serrat, Francesc GOTERRIS, LIDIA Rubio Maturana, Carles Serre Delcor, Núria Oliveira Souto, Inés Salvador, Fernando JOSEPH, JOAN Aznar, María Luisa Pou Ciruelo, Diana Treviño Maruri, Begoña Molina Romero, Israel Sulleiro, Elena Cribatge (Medicina) Aparell urinari - Infeccions Esquistosomiasi - Serodiagnòstic Esquistosomiasi - Diagnòstic molecular ANALYTICAL, DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES, AND EQUIPMENT::Diagnosis::Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures::Mass Screening DISEASES::Bacterial Infections and Mycoses::Infection::Urinary Tract Infections::Schistosomiasis haematobia Other subheadings::Other subheadings::/diagnosis ORGANISMS::Eukaryota::Animals::Invertebrates::Helminths::Platyhelminths::Trematoda::Schistosomatidae::Schistosoma::Schistosoma haematobium ANALYTICAL, DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES, AND EQUIPMENT::Diagnosis::Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures::Clinical Laboratory Techniques::Immunologic Tests::Serologic Tests ANALYTICAL, DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES, AND EQUIPMENT::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Research Design::Sensitivity and Specificity TÉCNICAS Y EQUIPOS ANALÍTICOS, DIAGNÓSTICOS Y TERAPÉUTICOS::diagnóstico::técnicas y procedimientos diagnósticos::cribado sistemático ENFERMEDADES::infecciones bacterianas y micosis::infección::infecciones urinarias::esquistosomiasis urinaria Otros calificadores::Otros calificadores::/diagnóstico ORGANISMOS::Eukaryota::animales::invertebrados::helmintos::platelmintos::Trematoda::Schistosomatidae::Schistosoma::Schistosoma haematobium TÉCNICAS Y EQUIPOS ANALÍTICOS, DIAGNÓSTICOS Y TERAPÉUTICOS::diagnóstico::técnicas y procedimientos diagnósticos::técnicas de laboratorio clínico::pruebas inmunológicas::pruebas serológicas TÉCNICAS Y EQUIPOS ANALÍTICOS, DIAGNÓSTICOS Y TERAPÉUTICOS::técnicas de investigación::métodos epidemiológicos::diseño de la investigación epidemiológica::sensibilidad y especificidad Molecular diagnostics; Real-time PCR; Urogenital schistosomiasis Diagnóstico molecular; PCR en tiempo real; Esquistosomiasis urogenital Diagnòstic molecular; PCR en temps real; Esquistosomiasi urogenital Background Schistosomiasis, a major neglected tropical disease, is caused by Schistosoma spp. It is estimated that more than 200 million people are affected worldwide, mostly in Africa. The gold standard diagnosis of urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) is the microscopic visualisation of Schistosoma haematobium eggs in concentrated urine; however, its sensitivity is low. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of molecular and serological testing for imported UGS screening in asymptomatic sub-Saharan migrants in a non-endemic setting. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study between November 2021 and December 2022 was conducted by collecting demographic, clinical and laboratory data from the medical records of migrants from endemic areas screened for UGS at the International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes, Barcelona, Spain. Urine samples were analysed by real-time PCR for S. haematobium DNA and by microscopy for egg detection. Serum samples were tested using a serological assay based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). UGS was confirmed by a positive result in real-time PCR and/or microscopy, while possible UGS was defined as a case with only a positive serological result. Results A total of 604 patients were included in this study; 32 out of 604 (5.3%) urine samples were positive for S. haematobium by real-time PCR and/or microscopy examination (confirmed UGS cases). Schistosoma haematobium DNA was detected in 28/604 (4.6%) urine samples, while eggs were visualised in 24/604 (3.9%), with 12 discordant cases between both techniques. Real-time PCR demonstrated a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 98.6%, and a kappa value of 0.76. Serology was performed in 529/604 cases and exhibited lower specificity, 70.87% (kappa value 0.26). Other laboratory parameters such as leukocyturia, microhaematuria, eosinophilia and elevated IgE were significantly associated with UGS diagnosis. Conclusions Real-time PCR proved to be more sensitive than microscopy for diagnosing imported UGS in non-endemic settings, with minimal discordance between methods. The serological test exhibited very low specificity and high sensitivity rates, suggesting its usefulness as a screening test among high-risk populations in non-endemic settings. 2025-10-24T10:38:24Z 2025-10-24T10:38:24Z 2025-08-21T08:23:59Z 2025-08-21T08:23:59Z 2025-05-30 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/11351/13555 Parasites & Vectors;18 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06832-w Attribution 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess BMC Scientia