During the summer of 1980, acute Manson's
Schistosomiasis occurred in 28 pediatric patients, swimming in two ponds with no watershed connections between them, in the rural area of Juncos and Cidra, Puerto Rico. Clinical and immunological events were studied and
Oxamniquine (Vansil, Pfizer) was administered to all of them and followed closely for 3 years.
Fever and general malaise recorded in 93% of the patients,
diarrhea and
abdominal pain in 68% and
urticaria or facial
edema in 64%. Hepato and/or
splenomegaly was recorded in 71% of them. Twenty seven of the patients had evidence of immunoserological activity against adult schistosomal
antigens (GASP and PSAP). Two patients had intense immunologic activity, even before the recovering of fresh Schistosoma mansoni eggs in their stool. This was a response to GASP and PSAP
antigens. When they started passing fresh eggs of schistosoma and COP (Circumoval Precipitation Test) turned positive, their clinical status worsened and
antibodies to GASP
antigen increased two fold. The oviposition phase elicited a strong antibody and immunological reaction with significant
eosinophilia and cross reaction was observed between adult schistosomal and egg shell
antigens. Severe clinical manifestations were seen in spite of low egg excretion.
Oxamniquine was effective in obtaining a coprological cure and in altering the immunologic response as compared with other untreated groups in literature.