XML : Web Service Integer Field comes in as String

I am working with a developer of a web service. He has added a new field to a request of type Integer. However when I consume the service in VB2010 that field gets defined as a string. Is this they way it's supposed to work or are we missing something?

If I look at the WSDL it looks like this

  - <!--  New field  -->   - <xsd:element name="dayInterval" type="xsd:integer">  - <xsd:annotation>    <xsd:documentation>The interval in days to look for items.</xsd:documentation>     </xsd:annotation>    </xsd:element>    

When I update the service the defintion looks like this:

  Partial Public Class SearchItemsRequest        Private dayIntervalField As String        '''<remarks/>      <System.Xml.Serialization.XmlElementAttribute(DataType:="integer")>  _      Public Property dayInterval() As String          Get              Return Me.dayIntervalField          End Get          Set              Me.dayIntervalField = value          End Set      End Property  End Class    

The XML attribute says integer but the definition is a string. I'm not sure what causes this so reaching out for tips.