The USAID/Government of Egypt's Schistosomiasis Research Project (SRP)

Schistosomiasis is the major public health problem in rural Egypt, with almost six million Egyptians infected as at mid-1996. In 1983, the prevalence of schistosomiasis in rural Egypt was greater than 50%, but a ten-year campaign of diagnosis and treatment has reduced the prevalence and intensity of infection. Parallel to this campaign, the government of the USA has funded a research project to examine all aspects of schistosomiasis with a view to improving the control strategy. As outlined here by Taha El Khoby, Nabil Galal and Alan Fenwick, after almost ten years, the project's achievements include: assisting WHO in its attempts to develop a vaccine against schistosomiasis, developing a suspension formulation of praziquantel suitable for young children, and establishing a unit to monitor reports of resistance to praziquantel. In addition, a large epidemiological study has established the extent of the problem in Egypt. Slow-release formulation of niclosamide, health education material for use on TV, dipstick diagnostic tests, and evaluation of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool have also been achieved. As the project closes, Egypt is left with an effective strategy for the control of schistosomiasis and several back-up tools for use in the event of development of resistance to praziquantel. The Ministry of Health and Population has the basis of a Geographical Information System (GIS) unit and the country has a trained and equipped scientific community capable of biomedical research, and almost 100 scientific papers published on their work.