BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of @entity697 is often elusive in travelers. Serum schistosome DNA detection is a promising new diagnostic tool. Its performance is compared with current diagnostic procedures in a cluster of travelers recently infected in Rwanda. METHODS: @entity281 with @entity2040 was suspected in 13 Belgian @entity1 and adults, within 2 months after swimming in the Muhazi Lake, Rwanda. All were subjected to clinical examination, eosinophil count, feces parasite detection, schistosome antibody tests [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and hemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI)], and schistosome DNA detection in serum by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: All 13 @entity1 , between 6 and 29 years old, had a high eosinophil count (median 2,120   L(-1) ; range 1,150-14,270). Seven of nine @entity1 exposed for the first time developed symptoms compatible with @entity697 . Eggs of @entity380 were found in a concentrated feces sample of 9/13 (69%), with low egg counts (median 20 eggs per gram; range 10-120). Antischistosome antibodies (ELISA and/or HAI) were present in serum of 10/13 (77%) @entity1 . Combining schistosome antibody tests and fecal microscopy demonstrated @entity2040 in 11/13 (85%) @entity1 . Schistosome-specific DNA was isolated in all 13 (100%) serum samples. CONCLUSION: In this cluster of travelers with @entity697 , schistosome DNA detection in serum was able to confirm infection in all exposed @entity1 . It clearly outperformed antibody tests and microscopic parasite detection methods as a qualitative diagnostic test.

XXXX in a cluster of travelers from Rwanda: diagnostic contribution of schistosome DNA detection in serum compared to parasitology and serology.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'patients', 'persons'] @entity697 :: ('MESH:D000208', 'Disease') :: ['acute schistosomiasis'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['Recent infection'] @entity380 :: ('6183', 'Species') :: ['Schistosoma mansoni'] @entity2040 :: ('MESH:D012552', 'Disease') :: ['schistosomiasis']
@entity697 :: (MESH:D000208,Disease) :: ['Acute schistosomiasis']
