Hematological and Biochemical changes in Schistosoma mansoni infected patients at Haik Primary Hospital, North-East Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Schistosomes are blood dwelling parasites that affect more than 260 million people globally, and over 800 million people are at risk of infection in 74 countries. It causes acute and chronic debilitating diseases. The parasite is reported to alter the hematological and biochemical parameters in humans. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the hematological and biochemical changes in S. mansoni infected adult patients compared to apparently healthy controls. Methods A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Haik Primary Hospital from February to April 2021. One hundred and eighty study participants consisting of 90 S. mansoni infected patients and 90 apparently healthy controls were recruited using systematic random sampling method. Socio-demographic characteristics and other variables were collected using questionnaires. Stool sample was examined microscopically to detect S. mansoni infection using direct wet mount and Kato Katz technique. In apparently healthy controls, S. mansoni infection was rule out using direct wet mount and Kato Katz technique. Moreover, the intensity of S. mansoni infection was assessed using Kato Katz technique. Blood sample was collected from each study participant to determine the hematological and biochemical profiles. Data were entered in to Epi Data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 software. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro Wilk normality tests were done to assess the distribution of continuous variables. The Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis H test was done to compare the differences among nonnormally distributed variables between S. mansoni infected patients and healthy controls. P-values <0.05 at 95%CI were considered as statistically significant. Result The mean age (SD) of S. mansoni infected patients and apparently healthy controls was 30.33 (±12.26) and 31.2 (±12.85) years old, respectively. The prevalence of anemia, and thrombocytopenia among S. mansoni infected patients were23.3% and 26.7%, respectively. Erythrocytic sedimentation rate (ESR) was significantly elevated among S. mansoni infected patients than apparently healthy controls. The median white blood cell count, red blood cell count, red blood cell indices, and platelet indices were significantly lower among S. mansoni infected patients compared to apparently healthy controls (P<0.05). On the other hand, the median eosinophil count was significantly elevated among S. mansoni infected patients compared to apparently healthy controls (P<0.05). This study also showed significantly elevated values of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and direct bilirubin and lower albumin, total cholesterol and triglycerides among S. mansoni infected patients compared to apparently healthy controls. Kruskal Wallis H test showed a significant difference in the median of most hematological and biochemical parameters between moderate and heavy intensity of infection with light intensity of infection and apparently healthy controls. Conclusion The findings of this study showed significantly altered hematological values and liver function tests among S. mansoni infected patients compared to apparently healthy controls. Therefore, screening of S. mansoni infected patients for various hematological and biochemical parameters and providing treatment to the underlying abnormalities is very crucial to avoid schistosomiasis associated morbidity and mortality.

Effect of Malaria and Schistosoma mansoni Coinfection on Selected Biochemical Profiles among Patients Attending Selected Health Institutions at Dembiya, Northwest Ethiopia

“…Correspondingly, the median value of total bilirubin was significantly elevated in heavy S. mansoni infection intensity compared with those with moderate S. mansoni infection intensity in malaria and S. mansoni coinfection. This finding was comparable with a study conducted in Ethiopia [ 39 ]. This imbalance in biochemical profiles might be due to the impairment of organs like the liver and kidney as a result of the progression and increment of S. mansoni intensity.…”

“…Conversely, participants who were coinfected with S. mansoni and malaria had mean glucose levels and median total protein levels that were considerably lower than those of healthy control participants. This finding was similar to studies conducted in Ethiopia that found significantly higher values of ALT, AST, direct bilirubin, and lower values of glucose and total protein in the S. mansoni monoinfected participants as compared to healthy participants [ 39 , 40 ]. In addition, this finding was similar with a study conducted in Western Kenya that found significantly higher median value of ALT in the malaria and S. mansoni -coinfected participants as compared to healthy participants [ 23 ].…”

Platelet, Neutrophil and Lymphocyte Quantitative Abnormalities in Patients with Heart Failure: A Retrospective Study

“…20 Besides, biochemical parameters including serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and creatinine level were defined based on their reference range. 21…”

Urinogenital schistosomiasis knowledge, attitude, practices, and its clinical correlates among communities along water bodies in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District, Ghana

“…Van Voorhis and Morgan’s general rule of thumb [ 14 ] which has been employed in similar studies [ 15 ] states that 30 individuals per group are needed to identify meaningful differences, which might result in 80% power. To improve the study’s reliability, 182 participants were included in this study.…”