Field studies of a rapid, accurate means of quantifying Schistosoma haematobium eggs in urine samples

A new means of quantifying schistosome eggs has been adapted from the laboratory to the field. Urine from 510 individuals in areas of Kenya with a high prevalence of schistosomiasis haematobia was injected in aliquots of 10, 5 and 1 ml on to transparent Nuclepore filters, 13 mm in diameter. The filters were placed face down on glass slides and were read without staining at x40 magnification. The method has been shown to be accurate, sensitive, and reproducible, and also extremely rapid.