Size and Shape Analysis of Schistosome Egg-Counts in Egyptian Autopsy Data

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Abstract
Egg-counts were studied from a series of Egyptian autopsy cases with active schistosomiasis at death (Kamel, Cheever, Elwi, Mosimann and Danner 1977). The data were unique and enabled the proportional distribution of eggs among various organs to be studied in relation to infection intensity for 2 spp. of schistosome worms. A model was developed for distribution of eggs in 3 organs of the mesenteric circulation. Under a lognormal distribution assumption, several statistical procedures were used to examine model consistency as well as isometry with respect to geometric means. Mesenteric egg counts for Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium behaved consistently with the model, and showed little or no departure from isometry in cases without Symmers'' fibrosis of the liver. Cases with Symmers'' fibrosis had relatively more S. mansoni eggs in the small, as opposed to large, intestine. The proportion of S. haematobium eggs in the bladder was high for low-intensity infections. This was consistent with the conclusion of Smith, et al, (1975), based on egg/gram data, that such infections could be initiated in the bladder. The correspondingly high proportion of eggs in the ureters with high-intensity infections indicated that increased intensity could have a disproportionately large patholical effect on the infected individual.

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