• Michelle K Yong, Carolyn L Beckett, Karin Leder, Beverley A Biggs, Joseph Torresi, and Daniel P O'Brien.
• Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. michyong@yahoo.com
• J Travel Med. 2010 Mar 1; 17 (2): 89-93.

BackgroundWe undertook an observational follow-up study of schistosomiasis serology in both travelers and immigrants in a nonendemic country to determine the natural history of schistosomiasis antibody titer post-adequate treatment in those who have not been reexposed.MethodsLongitudinal study of all adult travelers and immigrants presenting to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia with positive schistosomiasis serology (titer >1: 64) between July 1995 and December 2005. All patients were treated with praziquantel and followed up clinically and serologically for a period up to 30 months.ResultsA total of 58 patients were included in the study including 26 travelers and 32 immigrants. Antibody titers often increased in the first 6 to 12 months post-treatment, especially in immigrants. After 30 months of post-treatment, 68% of travelers and 35% of immigrants (p < 0.01) achieved a fourfold antibody decline.ConclusionsSchistosomiasis antibody titers varied after adequate treatment. Therefore an increase in titer in the first 6 to 12 months or a failure to reduce after 3 years should not automatically justify re-treatment.

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