Parasitic Hematuria: Six Cases in a Row in a Single Centre in Spain

Abstract

Most cases of urogenital parasitosis are registered in Africa. However, migration movements and travellers moving from developed to developing countries are responsible for leading to an increased incidence of genitourinary infections caused by parasites in the western world including Spain having serious economic and health implications. The importance of its early detection and treatment also results from its potential risk for infertility, susceptibility for HIV infection and the development of bladder cancer. The most common presentation symptom is terminal haematuria, and when diagnosed, praziquantel is the treatment of choice. We report a series of 6 cases of urinary schistosomiasis that happened in a single centre in Spain and reminds the importance of having the infection in mind in certain cases of haematuria study.

Schistosomiasis with a Focus on Africa

“…However, Bulinus snails are known to be present in the South of Portugal, where the patient had previously travelled, and Planorbarius metidjensis occurs in Spain (which can transmit S. bovis) where the patient had swum in local watercourses, which may point to more recent infection within Europe. Another recent study identified six cases of S. haematobium in African migrants in the Canary Islands [369]. These infections were likely acquired in their endemic communities before migrating to Europe, although show a reasonable cause for transmission to non-endemic areas where viable intermediate hosts are present, such as has occurred in France [369,375].…”

“…Forced displacement, rural-urban migration and refugee settlements are good examples of such migration. Studies among refugees and asylum seekers from sub-Saharan Africa reported a high number of urogenital schistosomiasis cases among migrant groups, which were mostly from West Africa [ 141 , 369 ]. Infected migrants most likely acquired the infection during childhood while resident in Africa [ 141 , 369 ].…”

“…Studies among refugees and asylum seekers from sub-Saharan Africa reported a high number of urogenital schistosomiasis cases among migrant groups, which were mostly from West Africa [ 141 , 369 ]. Infected migrants most likely acquired the infection during childhood while resident in Africa [ 141 , 369 ]. Schistosomiasis has also been reported in seasonal migratory of workers who travel from uninfected areas to and from endemic areas, have frequent water contact and are faced with poor sanitary conditions [ 370 ].…”

Esquistosomiasis vesical urinaria. Caso anatomoclínico diagnosticado en Chile

“…Para prevenir esta parasitosis hay que evitar el contacto con aguas contaminadas, controlar o erradicar el hospedero intermediario (caracoles), tratar oportunamente los casos, y divulgar una educación sanitaria adecuada 30 . Además, se están desarrollando vacunas con la finalidad de limitar la expansión de la enfermedad a nuevas zonas geográficas, rebajar la tasa de reinfección, evitar o retrasar la aparición de resistencia al tratamiento farmacológico y disminuir la incidencia de carcinoma del tracto urinario en la zonas endémicas 2,31,32 .…”

“…La manifestaciones clínicas generales más visibles son la aparición de masas, con sus efectos secundarios deletéreos, y las alteraciones de la orina: hematuria, hemoglobinuria y quiluria 1 . La hematuria macroscópica de origen parasitario está ligada particularmente al tremátode Schistoma haematobium 2 .…”