GDF15 and infection: In addition to GDF15, when assessing the use of transrenal ECP as a biomarker for infection with S. haematobium, a positive correlation between expelled ECP and urine egg count was found, suggesting urinal ECP may too increase with infection intensity and may therefore potentially be used to assess disease severity and worm burden (Leutscher et al., 2008; Leutscher et al., 2000).