Schistosomiasis: digestive system lesions

Schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma mansoni: radiograph of digestive system lesions This is a double contrast barium enema of a patient infected with Schistosoma mansoni. He presented with diarrhoea and rectal bleeding. The right side of the transverse colon (left of image) has a normal smooth mucosal lining. The left transverse colon, splenic flexure and descending colon have a fine irregular granular mucosal surface. This is due to numerous small lesions caused by the deposition of schistosome eggs. The lesions result in inflammation and erosion of the mucosa. Note that the mucosal lining of the sigmoid colon and rectum (bottom of image) are normal. After therapy, a repeat barium enema showed a return to normal mucosa throughout the colon.