Proposed PZQ delivery strategies at different levels of care and the targeted age groups for each one.

<p>Proposed PZQ delivery strategies at different levels of care and the targeted age groups for each one.</p

Pediatric clinical staging for the different clinical manifestations of schistosomiasis in childhood.

<p>Pediatric clinical staging for the different clinical manifestations of schistosomiasis in childhood.</p

Image analysis of female genital schistosomiasis of the uterine cervix.

<p><b>A.</b> The original colour image. Note that there is a light reflection at 6 o'clock and parts of the speculum can be seen on the right hand side (artefacts). These were removed automatically in the image processing. <b>B.</b> The product of multiplying the inverted "green channel" (from the "Red-Green-Blue" (RGB) colour space with the "saturation channel" (from the "Hue-Saturation-Value" (HSV) colour space). <b>C.</b> The region of interest (ROI) of image B with all pixels below the mean grey value removed. <b>D.</b> The result of convolution of the circular template and image C. The darker areas represent higher degrees of roundness. <b>E.</b> The result of adaptive local thresholding of image B using a modified Niblack method. <b>F.</b> The final output image automatically generated by the image analysis. It shows the ectocervix with numerous abnormal blood vessels (black skeleton) and the centres of circular structures identified by template matching (yellow dots).</p

A multivariable regression model describing the association between abnormal blood vessels typical of FGS and morphological vessel characteristics.

<p>A multivariable regression model describing the association between abnormal blood vessels typical of FGS and morphological vessel characteristics.</p

Dot plot illustrating the amount (ng/ml) of ECP in genital lavage (a) and in urine (b) and of EPX in genital lavage (c)) and urine (d) classified by pathology category 1–5 (see table 1).

<p>The plus and minus following “NoFGS” in group 4 and 5 refer to the <i>S. haematobium</i> egg status. The median is indicated with a horizontal bar and interquartile ranges shown. Only significant p values are shown on the graphs. For ECP in urine two extreme outlies were excluded (b). Note that the ordinate axis is on logarithmic scale.</p

Receiver operating characteristics curve for the diagnosis of FGS by blood vessel analysis.

<p>The curve was generated using the regression model presented in <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004628#pntd.0004628.t003" target="_blank">Table 3</a>. Area under the curve = 0.872.</p

Scatterplots showing the co-variation of variables included in the regression model.

<p>The distribution of values of each of the variables included in the regression model differ between the women with FGS and the two other groups: The number of circular template matches is higher, the distance between vessels is lower and the mean local connected fractal dimension tends to be lower, although the latter is not significant.</p

<em>S. haematobium</em> as a Common Cause of Genital Morbidity in Girls: A Cross-sectional Study of Children in South Africa

<div><p>Background</p><p><i>Schistosoma (S.) haematobium</i> infection is a common cause of genital morbidity in adult women. Ova in the genital mucosal lining may cause lesions, bleeding, pain, discharge, and the damaged surfaces may pose a risk for HIV. In a heterogeneous schistosomiasis endemic area in South Africa, we sought to investigate if young girls had genital symptoms and if this was associated with urinary <i>S. haematobium</i>.</p> <p>Methodology</p><p>In a cross-sectional study of 18 randomly chosen primary schools, we included 1057 schoolgirls between the age of 10 and 12 years. We interviewed assenting girls, whose parents had consented to their participation and examined three urines from each of them for schistosome ova.</p> <p>Principal findings</p><p>One third of the girls reported to have a history of genital symptoms. Prior schistosomal infection was reported by 22% (226/1020), this was associated with current genital symptoms (p<0.001). In regression analysis the genital symptoms were significantly associated both with urinary schistosomiasis (p<0.001) and water contact (p<0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p><p>Even before sexually active age, a relatively large proportion of the participating girls had similar genital symptoms to those reported for adult genital schistosomiasis previously. Anti-schistosomal treatment should be considered at a young age in order to prevent chronic genital damage and secondary infections such as HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and other super-infections.</p> </div

Classification of images using the proposed regression model.

<p>Classification of images using the proposed regression model.</p

FGS diagnostic categories used for data analysis.

<p><b>√</b>: At least one manifestation of the pathology type in question.</p><p><b>?</b>: The pathology can be present.</p><p><b>-</b> : No manifestations of the given type.</p><p>Below the category number in brackets are the terms used in the text and on <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002974#pntd-0002974-g001" target="_blank">figure 1</a> for each grouping.</p