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Perera DJ, Koger-Pease C, Paulini K, Daoudi M, Ndao M. Beyond schistosomiasis: unraveling co-infections and altered immunity. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0009823. [PMID: 38319102 PMCID: PMC10938899 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00098-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the helminth Schistosoma spp. and has the second highest global impact of all parasites. Schistosoma are transmitted through contact with contaminated fresh water predominantly in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Due to the widespread prevalence of Schistosoma, co-infection with other infectious agents is common but often poorly described. Herein, we review recent literature describing the impact of Schistosoma co-infection between species and Schistosoma co-infection with blood-borne protozoa, soil-transmitted helminths, various intestinal protozoa, Mycobacterium, Salmonella, various urinary tract infection-causing agents, and viral pathogens. In each case, disease severity and, of particular interest, the immune landscape, are altered as a consequence of co-infection. Understanding the impact of schistosomiasis co-infections will be important when considering treatment strategies and vaccine development moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilhan J. Perera
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Cal Koger-Pease
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Kayla Paulini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mohamed Daoudi
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Momar Ndao
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
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Díaz AV, Walker M, Webster JP. Reaching the World Health Organization elimination targets for schistosomiasis: the importance of a One Health perspective. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220274. [PMID: 37598697 PMCID: PMC10440173 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The past three years has seen the launch of a new World Health Organization (WHO) neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) roadmap, together with revised control and elimination guidelines. Across all, there is now a clear emphasis on the need to incorporate a One Health approach, recognizing the critical links between human and animal health and the environment. Schistosomiasis, caused by Schistosoma spp. trematodes, is a NTD of global medical and veterinary importance, with over 220 million people and untold millions of livestock currently infected. Its burden remains extremely high in certain regions, particularly within sub-Saharan Africa, despite over two decades of mass preventive chemotherapy (mass drug administration), predominantly to school-aged children. In Africa, in contrast to Asia, any zoonotic component of schistosomiasis transmission and its implications for disease control has, until recently, been largely ignored. Here, we review recent epidemiological, clinical, molecular, and modelling work across both Asia and Africa. We outline the evolutionary history and transmission dynamics of Schistosoma species, and emphasize the emerging risk raised by both wildlife reservoirs and viable hybridization between human and animal schistosomes. To achieve the 2030 WHO roadmap elimination targets, a truly multi-disciplinary One Health perspective must be implemented. This article is part of the theme issue 'Challenges and opportunities in the fight against neglected tropical diseases: a decade from the London Declaration on NTDs'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana V. Díaz
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Martin Walker
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Joanne P. Webster
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W2 1PG, UK
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Reed AL, O'Ferrall AM, Kayuni SA, Baxter H, Stanton MC, Stothard JR, Jewell C. Modelling the age-prevalence relationship in schistosomiasis: A secondary data analysis of school-aged-children in Mangochi District, Lake Malawi. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2023; 22:e00303. [PMID: 37234267 PMCID: PMC10205779 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is an aquatic snail borne parasitic disease, with intestinal schistosomiasis (IS) and urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) caused by Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium infections, respectively. School-aged-children (SAC) are a known vulnerable group and can also suffer from co-infections. Along the shoreline of Lake Malawi a newly emerging outbreak of IS is occurring with increasing UGS co-infection rates. Age-prevalence (co)infection profiles are not fully understood. To shed light on these (co)infection trends by Schistosoma species and by age of child, we conducted a secondary data analysis of primary epidemiological data collected from SAC in Mangochi District, Lake Malawi, as published previously. Available diagnostic data by child, were converted into binary response infection profiles for 520 children, aged 6-15, across 12 sampled schools. Generalised additive models were then fitted to mono- and dual-infections. These were used to identify consistent population trends, finding the prevalence of IS significantly increased [p = 8.45e-4] up to 11 years of age then decreasing thereafter. A similar age-prevalence association was observed for co-infection [p = 7.81e-3]. By contrast, no clear age-infection pattern for UGS was found [p = 0.114]. Peak prevalence of Schistosoma infection typically occurs around adolescence; however, in this newly established IS outbreak with rising prevalence of UGS co-infections, the peak appears to occur earlier, around the age of 11 years. As the outbreak of IS fulminates, further temporal analysis of the age-relationship with Schistosoma infection is justified. This should refer to age-prevalence models which could better reveal newly emerging transmission trends and Schistosoma species dynamics. Dynamical modelling of infections, alongside malacological niche mapping, should be considered to guide future primary data collection and intervention programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber L. Reed
- Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, Bailrigg House, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YE, UK
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke PI, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Angus M. O'Ferrall
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke PI, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Sekeleghe A. Kayuni
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke PI, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
- MASM Medi Clinics Limited, Medical Aid Society of Malawi (MASM), P.O. Box 31659, Lilongwe 3. Malawi
| | - Hamish Baxter
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke PI, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Michelle C. Stanton
- Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Pl, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - J. Russell Stothard
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke PI, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Christopher Jewell
- Mathematics and Statistics, Lancaster University, Bailrigg House, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YE, UK
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Isaiah PM, Sólveig Palmeirim M, Steinmann P. Epidemiology of pediatric schistosomiasis in hard-to-reach areas and populations: a scoping review. Infect Dis Poverty 2023; 12:37. [PMID: 37069632 PMCID: PMC10108517 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01088-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis affects over 250 million people worldwide. Despite children and the poor being key risk groups, limited research and control activities target pre-school aged children (PSAC) and hard-to-reach populations. As endemic countries shift the goals of their schistosomiasis programs from morbidity control to disease elimination, there is a need for inclusive planning to cover all affected age groups from all geographical areas and populations to achieve sustainable impact and health equity. METHODS We conducted searches in MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase (Ovid), and LILACS per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Quality assessment of identified articles was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool. Relevant study data were extracted from the articles and entered into Microsoft Excel 2016 for descriptive analysis. RESULTS From the 17,179 screened articles, we identified 13 eligible studies on schistosomiasis in PSAC living in hard-to-reach areas and populations. All identified studies were from sub-Saharan Africa. The mean sample size of the retained studies was 572, with a balanced sex distribution among the young children sampled in each study. Ten studies investigated Schistosoma mansoni, one investigated Schistosoma haematobium, while two covered both S. mansoni and S. haematobium in the target population. The prevalence of S. mansoni among PSAC in the included studies was estimated at 12.9% in Ghana, 80.3-90.5% in Kenya, 35.0% in Madagascar, 9.6-78.0% in Senegal, 11.2-35.4% in Sierra Leone, 44.4-54.9% in Tanzania and 39.3-74.9% in Uganda. Out of the three studies that investigated S. haematobium, the presence of the infection was reported in only one study carried out in Nigeria. Schistosome infections reported in nearly all studies included in this review were of light intensity. Only one study conducted in Nigeria documented visible hematuria in 17.7% of the PSAC studied. CONCLUSIONS The findings document the high prevalence of schistosomiasis among PSAC in hard-to-reach populations and underscore the need to consider this population subgroup when designing the expansion of preventive chemotherapy and schistosomiasis control activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis Munyiva Isaiah
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123, Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marta Sólveig Palmeirim
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter Steinmann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Orish VN, Morhe EKS, Azanu W, Alhassan RK, Gyapong M. The parasitology of female genital schistosomiasis. Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases 2022; 2:100093. [PMID: 35719849 PMCID: PMC9198370 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2022.100093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is the gynaecological presentation of Schistosoma haematobium infection, resulting from egg deposition in the female genital tract. Despite the fact that this condition has been reported in the early days of the discovery of S. haematobium in Egypt, its existence has been grossly neglected, causing many women in schistosomiasis-endemic areas to go through a preventable, debilitating, and stigmatizing presentation of FGS. To prevent this, increasing awareness of FGS is necessary for all, especially healthcare providers, to improve the diagnosis, management, and treatment. As proposed by the FAST package project, several healthcare professionals with different specializations are expected to be involved in the management of FGS. It is therefore important that basic updated knowledge on the parasitology of the disease be acquired by healthcare professionals. This review provides basic information necessary to improve the knowledge of FGS among healthcare professionals in areas endemic to schistosomiasis. Armed with these basic details, healthcare professionals can improve their confidence in the management and treatment of FGS, contributing significantly to the control and prevention of FGS in endemic areas. A review of female genital schistosomiasis. Data on the life-cycle of Schistosoma haematobium, and pathogenesis and clinical features of female genital schistosomiasis. Summary of diagnostic methods and treatment, control and prevention of female genital schistosomiasis. Increasing awareness among healthcare workers is key to the management, control, and prevention of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verner N. Orish
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
- Corresponding author.
| | - Emmanuel Komla Senanu Morhe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Wisdom Azanu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Robert K. Alhassan
- Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
| | - Margaret Gyapong
- Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
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Fall CB, Lambert S, Léger E, Yasenev L, Garba AD, Diop SD, Borlase A, Catalano S, Faye B, Walker M, Sene M, Webster JP. Hybridized Zoonotic Schistosoma Infections Result in Hybridized Morbidity Profiles: A Clinical Morbidity Study amongst Co-Infected Human Populations of Senegal. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1776. [PMID: 34442855 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybridization of infectious agents is a major emerging public and veterinary health concern at the interface of evolution, epidemiology, and control. Whilst evidence of the extent of hybridization amongst parasites is increasing, their impact on morbidity remains largely unknown. This may be predicted to be particularly pertinent where parasites of animals with contrasting pathogenicity viably hybridize with human parasites. Recent research has revealed that viable zoonotic hybrids between human urogenital Schistosoma haematobium with intestinal Schistosoma species of livestock, notably Schistosoma bovis, can be highly prevalent across Africa and beyond. Examining human populations in Senegal, we found increased hepatic but decreased urogenital morbidity, and reduced improvement following treatment with praziquantel, in those infected with zoonotic hybrids compared to non-hybrids. Our results have implications for effective monitoring and evaluation of control programmes, and demonstrate for the first time the potential impact of parasite hybridizations on host morbidity.
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Mawa PA, Kincaid-Smith J, Tukahebwa EM, Webster JP, Wilson S. Schistosomiasis Morbidity Hotspots: Roles of the Human Host, the Parasite and Their Interface in the Development of Severe Morbidity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:635869. [PMID: 33790908 PMCID: PMC8005546 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.635869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is the second most important human parasitic disease in terms of socioeconomic impact, causing great morbidity and mortality, predominantly across the African continent. For intestinal schistosomiasis, severe morbidity manifests as periportal fibrosis (PPF) in which large tracts of macro-fibrosis of the liver, visible by ultrasound, can occlude the main portal vein leading to portal hypertension (PHT), sequelae such as ascites and collateral vasculature, and ultimately fatalities. For urogenital schistosomiasis, severe morbidity manifests as pathology throughout the urinary system and genitals, and is a definitive cause of squamous cell bladder carcinoma. Preventative chemotherapy (PC) programmes, delivered through mass drug administration (MDA) of praziquantel (PZQ), have been at the forefront of schistosomiasis control programmes in sub-Saharan Africa since their commencement in Uganda in 2003. However, despite many successes, 'biological hotspots' (as distinct from 'operational hotspots') of both persistent high transmission and morbidity remain. In some areas, this failure to gain control of schistosomiasis has devastating consequences, with not only persistently high infection intensities, but both "subtle" and severe morbidity remaining prevalent. These hotspots highlight the requirement to revisit research into severe morbidity and its mechanisms, a topic that has been out of favor during times of PC implementation. Indeed, the focality and spatially-structured epidemiology of schistosomiasis, its transmission persistence and the morbidity induced, has long suggested that gene-environmental-interactions playing out at the host-parasite interface are crucial. Here we review evidence of potential unique parasite factors, host factors, and their gene-environmental interactions in terms of explaining differential morbidity profiles in the human host. We then take the situation of schistosomiasis mansoni within the Albertine region of Uganda as a case study in terms of elucidating the factors behind the severe morbidity observed and the avenues and directions for future research currently underway within a new research and clinical trial programme (FibroScHot).
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrice A. Mawa
- Immunomodulation and Vaccines Programme, Medical Research Council-Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Immunology, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julien Kincaid-Smith
- Centre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases (CEEED), Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences (PPS), Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Herts, United Kingdom
| | | | - Joanne P. Webster
- Centre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases (CEEED), Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences (PPS), Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Herts, United Kingdom
| | - Shona Wilson
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Rey O, Webster BL, Huyse T, Rollinson D, Van den Broeck F, Kincaid-Smith J, Onyekwere A, Boissier J. Population genetics of African Schistosoma species. Infect Genet Evol 2021; 89:104727. [PMID: 33486128 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Blood flukes within the genus Schistosoma (schistosomes) are responsible for the major disease, schistosomiasis, in tropical and sub-tropical areas. This disease is predominantly present on the African continent with more than 85% of the human cases. Schistosomes are also parasites of veterinary importance infecting livestock and wildlife. Schistosoma population genetic structure and diversity are important characteristics that may reflect variations in selection pressures such as those induced by host (mammalian and snail) environments, habitat change, migration and also treatment/control interventions, all of which also shape speciation and evolution of the whole Schistosoma genus. Investigations into schistosome population genetic structure, diversity and evolution has been an area of important debate and research. Supported by advances in molecular techniques with capabilities for multi-locus genetic analyses for single larvae schistosome genetic investigations have greatly progressed in the last decade. This paper aims to review the genetic studies of both animal and human infecting schistosome. Population genetic structures are reviewed at different spatial scales: local, regional or continental (i.e. phylogeography). Within species genetic diversities are discussed compared and the compounding factors discussed, including the effect of mass drug administration. Finally, the ability for intra-species hybridisation questions species integrities and poses many questions in relation to the natural epidemiology of co-endemic species. Here we review molecularly confirmed hybridisation events (in relation to human disease) and discuss the possible impact for ongoing and future control and elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Rey
- Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, UPVD, IHPE, F-66000 Perpignan, France
| | - B L Webster
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom; London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Imperial College London School of Public Health, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - T Huyse
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium; Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Ch. Deberiotstraat 32, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - D Rollinson
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom; London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Imperial College London School of Public Health, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - F Van den Broeck
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - J Kincaid-Smith
- Centre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases (CEEED), Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences (PPS), Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Campus, Herts AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
| | - A Onyekwere
- Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, UPVD, IHPE, F-66000 Perpignan, France
| | - J Boissier
- Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, UPVD, IHPE, F-66000 Perpignan, France.
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Njenga SM, Kanyi HM, Arnold BF, Matendechero SH, Onsongo JK, Won KY, Priest JW. Integrated Cross-Sectional Multiplex Serosurveillance of IgG Antibody Responses to Parasitic Diseases and Vaccines in Coastal Kenya. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 102:164-176. [PMID: 31769388 PMCID: PMC6947807 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate and cost-effective identification of areas where co-endemic infections occur would enable public health managers to identify opportunities for implementation of integrated control programs. Dried blood spots collected during cross-sectional lymphatic filariasis surveys in coastal Kenya were used for exploratory integrated detection of IgG antibodies against antigens from several parasitic infections (Wuchereria bancrofti, Schistosoma mansoni, Plasmodium spp., Ascaris lumbricoides, and Strongyloides stercoralis) as well as for detection of responses to immunizing agents used against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) (measles, diphtheria, and tetanus) using a multiplex bead assay (MBA) platform. High heterogeneity was observed in antibody responses by pathogen and antigen across the sentinel sites. Antibody seroprevalence against filarial antigens were generally higher in Ndau Island (P < 0.0001), which also had the highest prevalence of filarial antigenemia compared with other communities. Antibody responses to the Plasmodium species antigens circumsporozoite protein (CSP) and merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1)19 were higher in Kilifi and Kwale counties, with Jaribuni community showing higher overall mean seroprevalence (P < 0.0001). Kimorigo community in Taita–Taveta County was the only area where antibody responses against S. mansoni Sm25 recombinant antigen were detected. Seroprevalence rates to Strongyloides antigen NIE ranged between 3% and 26%, and there was high heterogeneity in immune responses against an Ascaris antigen among the study communities. Differences were observed between communities in terms of seroprevalence to VPDs. Seroprotection to tetanus was generally lower in Kwale County than in other counties. This study has demonstrated that MBA holds promise for rapid integrated monitoring of trends of infections of public health importance in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sammy M Njenga
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Henry M Kanyi
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Benjamin F Arnold
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Sultani H Matendechero
- Department of Preventive and Promotive Services, Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Kimberly Y Won
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jeffrey W Priest
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Araújo HDA, Santos VHB, Brayner FA, Alves LC, Silva NH, Albuquerque MCPA, Aires AL, Lima VLM. In vitro activity of usnic acid potassium salt against different developmental stages of Schistosoma mansoni: An ultrastructural study. Acta Trop 2020; 201:105159. [PMID: 31491401 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the control of schistosomiasis is based on a single drug, praziquantel, which is effective against all species of Schistosoma but only in the adult stage, presenting a schistosomicidal deficit at the other developmental stages of the parasites. Recently our research group has demonstrated that the potassium salt of usnic acid (PS-UA) presented schistosomicidal property against couples of adult worms of S. mansoni. Thus, the present study seeks to report for the first time the in vitro activity of PS-UA against different developmental stages of S. mansoni (schistosomules and young worms). As schistosomicide parameters, we evaluated motility, mortality, cell viability of the worms and tegument changes by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After 3 h exposure, PS-UA was lethal to schistosomules at concentrations of 100 and 50 μM, whereas for concentrations 25 and 12.5 μM, 38 and 18% of mortality and 62 and 24% changes in motility, respectively, were reached. Yet for schistosomules, concentration of 25 μM caused 90 and 100% of death after 6 and 12 h, respectively. In the concentration of 12.5 μM at intervals of 12 and 24 h mortality was 68 and 100%, respectively. For young worms, after 3 h of exposure at concentrations of 200 and 100 μM caused 57 and 27% mortality, respectively. After 12 and 24 h, these concentrations caused mortality of 90 and 100% and 47 and 60% respectively. After 24 h, concentrations of 50 and 25 μM caused 80 and 30% change in motility, respectively. However, at the 12.5 μM concentration no change was observed. In addition, PS-UA reduced the cellular viability of young worms by 50.98% and 85.87% at concentrations of 100 and 200 μM, respectively. In both stages of worms and at different exposure intervals, PS-UA caused alterations such as: dorsoventral contraction, peeling, swelling, blisters, erosion, exposure of subtegumental tissue and disintegration of tegument. According to the results, changes in motility and mortality caused by PS-UA against schistosomules and young worms were concentration and time-dependents, also PS-UA even at low concentration, was able to cause profound ultrastructural changes in the integument of the worms. PS-UA is a promising candidate as prophylactic agent in the control of schistosomiasis mansoni.
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Anyan WK, Abonie SD, Aboagye-Antwi F, Tettey MD, Nartey LK, Hanington PC, Anang AK, Muench SB. Concurrent Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium infections in a peri-urban community along the Weija dam in Ghana: A wake up call for effective National Control Programme. Acta Trop 2019; 199:105116. [PMID: 31356786 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Globally over 200 million people are infected with schistosomiasis, and approximately 80% are caused by just two of five species, Schistosoma haematobium and Schitosoma mansoni that are broadly distributed, and often overlap across sub-Saharan Africa. Like most neglected tropical diseases, mortality is low (an estimated 200,000 deaths annually) and morbidity is considerably high and probably underestimated. Surprisingly, little attention has been given to co-infection with these two species. We have studied co-infection with S. mansoni and S. haematobium in a peri-urban community in Ghana, one of the most highly endemic countries for schistosomiasis. We collected and examined snails of the two intermediate host species from the reservoir adjacent to the community. We also used microscopical examination of stool and urine samples to determine the level of concurrent S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections in school and administered questionnaires to assess water contact activities that predispose pupils to infections Examination of the snail hosts revealed that 0.7% (7/896) of Bulinus truncatus and 1.7% (14/780) of Biomphalaria pfeifferi snails were found to be hosting cercariae morphologically consistent with that of S. haematobium and S. mansoni respectively. The overall prevalence values for urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis were 66.8% (135/202) and 90.1% (163/181) respectively. Only 50 of 181 schistosome-infected pupils had single-species infections and the remaining 131 pupils presented concurrent infections. Among the 131 infected with both species were 50 individuals having only S. mansoni eggs in stool and S. haematobium eggs in urine (conventional presentation). Eighty-one children (81) had eggs of both species in either urine and/or stool (ectopic presentation). From these 81, 63 had eggs of both species in urine, 6 had both species in stool, and 12 had eggs of both species present in both urine and stool. A comparatively large number of individuals from the concurrent infected group presented high and moderate infection intensities than the single infected groups. The overwhelmingly high prevalence of concurrent infections indicates further study of co-infection is needed, and points to a need call for a holistic disease control plan so Ghana can be part of nations to achieve the WHO roadmap target for schistosomiasis control by 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- William K Anyan
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | - Severin D Abonie
- Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Fred Aboagye-Antwi
- Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Mabel D Tettey
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Linda K Nartey
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | | | - Abraham K Anang
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Susan B Muench
- Biology Department, State University of New York at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY, USA
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12
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Mutombo N, Landouré A, Man WY, Fenwick A, Dembélé R, Sacko M, Keita AD, Traoré MS, Webster JP, McLaws ML. The association between child Schistosoma spp. infections and morbidity in an irrigated rice region in Mali: A localized study. Acta Trop 2019; 199:105115. [PMID: 31356787 PMCID: PMC6995995 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases endemic to Mali. There has been insufficient investigation of the morbidity burden in highly endemic irrigated rice areas with the ongoing mass drug administration with praziquantel. In February 2005, a year after an initial mass drug administration in 2004, we performed the first cross-sectional survey of schistosomiasis in the Kokry-Bozo village in the Office du Niger rice irrigation region. In the fourteen years since this survey, there has been almost no research into schistosomiasis morbidity in Mali due to lack of funding. Therefore, the 2005 survey supplies near-baseline data for any future research into the treatment impacts in the area. Methods One hundred and ninety-four children aged 6–14 years from two schools were assessed for bladder pathology by ultrasound, and for anaemia and micro-haematuria by laboratory tests. Schistosoma eggs were examined microscopically in fresh stool and urine samples. Multivariate logistic regression analysis quantified the association of Schistosoma infections with anaemia, bladder pathology and micro-haematuria. Akaike’s information criterion was used to test the assumption of linear effects of infection intensity classes and used to compare across models. Results The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis in 189 school children was 97%; 17% (33/189) had a single infection (S. mansoni,13%, or S. haematobium, 4%) and 80% (156/189) were co-infected with S. mansoni and S. haematobium. The overall prevalence of S. mansoni with light infection was 27% (53/194), moderate infection was 24% (47/194) and heavy infection was 42% (81/194). Of the 194 of children investigated for S. haematobium 59% (114/194) had light infection and 26% (50/194) had heavy infection. No hookworm eggs were detected. The level of abnormal bladder pathology was 18% (35/189) with the highest found in 10–14 year old children. The prevalence of anaemia was 91% (172/189) and was twice as likely to be associated (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.9) with S. mansoni infections than in children without infection. As infection intensity with S. mansoni increased the risk of anaemia (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.9) also increased. As infection intensity with S. haematobium increased bladder pathology (OR 2.4, 95%CI 1.3–4.5), haematuria (OR 6.7, 95%CI 3.3–13.6) and micro-haematuria increased (OR 2.4, 95%CI 1.3–4.5). Conclusion Our research contributes an important micro-geographical assessment of the heavy burden of schistosomiasis and associated morbidity in children who live in the rice irrigation regions. Our literature review found that there has been very limited research conducted on the impact of the treatment to control morbidity in the ON. Therefore, there is a need to do a comparable, but more extensive, study to identify any changes in morbidity and to indicate current requirements for the control programme. Our results from 2005 called for routine integration of iron supplementation, food fortification and diet diversification into the deworming program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoy Mutombo
- Epidemiology and Hospital Infection Prevention and Control, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Australia
| | - Aly Landouré
- Institut National de Recherche en Santé Publique (INRSP), National Schistosomiasis Control Program, Bamako, Mali
| | - Wing Young Man
- Epidemiology and Hospital Infection Prevention and Control, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | - Alan Fenwick
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Dembélé
- Programme National de Lutte Contre la Schistosomiase, Ministère de la Santé, Bamako, Mali
| | - Moussa Sacko
- Institut National de Recherche en Santé Publique (INRSP), National Schistosomiasis Control Program, Bamako, Mali
| | - Adama D Keita
- Service de la Radiologie, Hôpital National du Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Mamadou S Traoré
- Institut National de Recherche en Santé Publique (INRSP), National Schistosomiasis Control Program, Bamako, Mali
| | - Joanne P Webster
- Centre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases, Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Mary-Louise McLaws
- Epidemiology and Hospital Infection Prevention and Control, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Australia.
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13
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Depaquit J, Akhoundi M, Haouchine D, Mantelet S, Izri A. No limit in interspecific hybridization in schistosomes: observation from a case report. Parasite 2019; 26:10. [PMID: 30821247 PMCID: PMC6396650 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2019010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is one of the most significant parasitic diseases of humans. The hybridization of closely related Schistosoma species has already been documented. However, hybridization between phylogenetically distant species is unusual. In the present study, we characterized the causative agent of schistosomiasis in a 14-year-old patient with hematuria from Côte d'Ivoire, using morphological and molecular approaches. A 24-hour parasitological examination of urine showed the presence of numerous eggs (150 μm long × 62 μm wide) with a lateral spine (25 μm), identified morphologically as Schistosoma mansoni. Examination of stools performed on the same day found no parasites. The urine and stool examinations of the patient's family members performed two weeks later showed neither parasites nor hematuria; but in contrast, many S. mansoni eggs were found again in the patient's urine, but never in his stools. Conventional PCRs were performed, using two primer pairs targeting 28S-rDNA and COI mtDNA. The 28S-rDNA sequence of these eggs, compared with two reference sequences from GenBank demonstrated a hybrid with 25 double peaks, indicating clearly hybrid positions (5.37%) between S. mansoni and S. haematobium. Similarly, we identified a unique S. mansoni COI sequence for the two eggs, with 99.1% homology with the S. mansoni reference sequence. Consequently, this case was the result of hybridization between an S. haematobium male and an S. mansoni female. This should be taken into consideration to explore the elimination of ectopic schistosome eggs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Depaquit
- EA7510 ESCAPE, USC ANSES “VECPAR”, UFR Pharmacie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne France
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital Maison Blanche Reims France
| | - Mohammad Akhoundi
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital Avicenne AP-HP Bobigny France
| | - Djamel Haouchine
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital Avicenne AP-HP Bobigny France
| | - Stéphane Mantelet
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital Avicenne AP-HP Bobigny France
| | - Arezki Izri
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital Avicenne AP-HP Bobigny France
- Unité des Virus Emergents (Université Aix-Marseille– IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée infection) Marseille France
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14
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Stecher CW, Madsen H, Wilson S, Sacko M, Wejse C, Keita AD, Landouré A, Traoré MS, Kallestrup P, Petersen E, Vennervald B. Organomegaly in Mali before and after praziquantel treatment. A possible association with Schistosoma haematobium. Heliyon 2017; 3:e00440. [PMID: 29264407 PMCID: PMC5727379 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Continuous exposure to schistosome-infested water results in acute and chronic morbidity in all ages. We analysed occurence of organomegaly via ultrasonography and investigated a possible additive effect of dual-dose drug administration in 401 Schistosoma haematobium infected individuals from a highly endemic area in Mali. Mean intensity of infection at baseline (22.0 eggs per 10 ml) was reduced to 0.22 eggs per 10 ml 9 weeks after treatment (both treatments combined). Odds of persistent infection among those given dual-dose treatment was 41% of that in people given single dose (b = 0.41; p = 0.05; 95% CI 0.17-1.00), but after two years, 70.7% of the 157 participants, who completed the survey, were re-infected with no significant difference in prevalence and intensity of infection between treatment groups. Resolution of organomegaly occurred in all age groups after treatment. A novel association between Schistosoma haematobium infection and moderate portal vein enlargement was found in 35% (n: 55). Severe portal vein diameter enlargement was found in 3.2%. After two years, moderate hepatomegaly was present in 50.6%, moderate splenomegaly in 45.6% and moderate portal vein diameter enlargement in 19%. A subsequent dose of PZQ did not provide any additional long-term advantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chalotte Willemann Stecher
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
- Center for Global Health (GloHAU), Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Henry Madsen
- Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, SUND, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shona Wilson
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Moussa Sacko
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institut National de Recerche en Sante Publique, Bamako, Mali
| | - Christian Wejse
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
- Center for Global Health (GloHAU), Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Adama D. Keita
- University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology, Bamako, Mali
| | - Aly Landouré
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institut National de Recerche en Sante Publique, Bamako, Mali
| | - Mamadou S. Traoré
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institut National de Recerche en Sante Publique, Bamako, Mali
| | - Per Kallestrup
- Center for Global Health (GloHAU), Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Eskild Petersen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Royal Hospital, P.O. Box 1331, Muscat, Oman
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Vennervald
- Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, SUND, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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15
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Abstract
Hybridization of parasites is an emerging public health concern in our changing world. Hybridization and introgression in parasites and pathogens can have major impacts on the host and the epidemiology and evolution of disease. Schistosomiasis is a Neglected Tropical Disease of profound medical and veterinary importance across many parts of the world, with the greatest human burden within sub-Saharan Africa. Here we review how early phenotypic identification and recent confirmation through molecular studies on naturally occurring infections, combined with experimental manipulations, have revealed evidence of viable hybridization and introgressions within and between human and animal schistosome species. Environmental and anthropogenic changes in selective pressures following, for instance, new dam constructions, altered agricultural practices, together with mass drug administration programmes, may all be predicted to further impact the availability of suitable definitive and intermediate hosts for schistosomes. It is therefore imperative to understand the distribution and role of such novel zoonotic hybrid schistosomes on host range, drug efficacy, and hence ultimately transmission potential, if we are to achieve and maintain sustainable control.
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16
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Webster JP, Gower CM, Knowles SCL, Molyneux DH, Fenton A. One health - an ecological and evolutionary framework for tackling Neglected Zoonotic Diseases. Evol Appl 2016; 9:313-33. [PMID: 26834828 PMCID: PMC4721077 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the complex population biology and transmission ecology of multihost parasites has been declared as one of the major challenges of biomedical sciences for the 21st century and the Neglected Zoonotic Diseases (NZDs) are perhaps the most neglected of all the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Here we consider how multihost parasite transmission and evolutionary dynamics may affect the success of human and animal disease control programmes, particularly neglected diseases of the developing world. We review the different types of zoonotic interactions that occur, both ecological and evolutionary, their potential relevance for current human control activities, and make suggestions for the development of an empirical evidence base and theoretical framework to better understand and predict the outcome of such interactions. In particular, we consider whether preventive chemotherapy, the current mainstay of NTD control, can be successful without a One Health approach. Transmission within and between animal reservoirs and humans can have important ecological and evolutionary consequences, driving the evolution and establishment of drug resistance, as well as providing selective pressures for spill-over, host switching, hybridizations and introgressions between animal and human parasites. Our aim here is to highlight the importance of both elucidating disease ecology, including identifying key hosts and tailoring control effort accordingly, and understanding parasite evolution, such as precisely how infectious agents may respond and adapt to anthropogenic change. Both elements are essential if we are to alleviate disease risks from NZDs in humans, domestic animals and wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne P. Webster
- Department of Pathology and Pathogen BiologyCentre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases (CEEED)Royal Veterinary CollegeUniversity of LondonHertfordshireUK
| | - Charlotte M. Gower
- Department of Pathology and Pathogen BiologyCentre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases (CEEED)Royal Veterinary CollegeUniversity of LondonHertfordshireUK
| | | | - David H. Molyneux
- Department of ParasitologyLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Andy Fenton
- Institute of Integrative BiologyUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
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17
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French MD, Churcher TS, Webster JP, Fleming FM, Fenwick A, Kabatereine NB, Sacko M, Garba A, Toure S, Nyandindi U, Mwansa J, Blair L, Bosqué-Oliva E, Basáñez MG. Estimation of changes in the force of infection for intestinal and urogenital schistosomiasis in countries with schistosomiasis control initiative-assisted programmes. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:558. [PMID: 26499981 PMCID: PMC4619997 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1138-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The last decade has seen an expansion of national schistosomiasis control programmes in Africa based on large-scale preventative chemotherapy. In many areas this has resulted in considerable reductions in infection and morbidity levels in treated individuals. In this paper, we quantify changes in the force of infection (FOI), defined here as the per (human) host parasite establishment rate, to ascertain the impact on transmission of some of these programmes under the umbrella of the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI). Methods A previous model for the transmission dynamics of Schistosoma mansoni was adapted here to S. haematobium. These models were fitted to longitudinal cohort (infection intensity) monitoring and evaluation data. Changes in the FOI following up to three annual rounds of praziquantel were estimated for Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) according to country, baseline endemicity and schistosome species. Since schistosomiasis transmission is known to be highly focal, changes in the FOI at a finer geographical scale (that of sentinel site) were also estimated for S. mansoni in Uganda. Results Substantial and statistically significant reductions in the FOI relative to baseline were recorded in the majority of, but not all, combinations of country, parasite species, and endemicity areas. At the finer geographical scale assessed within Uganda, marked heterogeneity in the magnitude and direction of the relative changes in FOI was observed that would not have been appreciated by a coarser-scale analysis. Conclusions Reductions in the rate at which humans acquire schistosomes have been achieved in many areas of SSA countries assisted by the SCI, while challenges in effectively reducing transmission persist in others. Understanding the underlying heterogeneity in the impact and performance of the control intervention at the level of the transmission site will become increasingly important for programmes transitioning from morbidity reduction to elimination of infection. Such analyses will require a fine-scale approach. The lack of association found between programmatic variables, such as therapeutic treatment coverage (recorded at district level) and changes in FOI (at sentinel site level) is discussed and recommendations are made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D French
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Thomas S Churcher
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Joanne P Webster
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK. .,Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK. .,Present address: Department of Pathology and Pathogen Biology, Centre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases (CEEED), Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Campus, Herts, AL97TA, London, UK.
| | - Fiona M Fleming
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Alan Fenwick
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
| | | | | | - Amadou Garba
- Ministère de la Santé Publique (now WHO), Niamey, Niger. .,Present address: World Health Organization, 20, avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland.
| | | | | | - James Mwansa
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Zambia School of Medicine, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.
| | - Lynsey Blair
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Elisa Bosqué-Oliva
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK. .,Present address: The END FUND, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Maria-Gloria Basáñez
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
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18
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Knowles SC, Webster BL, Garba A, Sacko M, Diaw OT, Fenwick A, Rollinson D, Webster JP. Epidemiological Interactions between Urogenital and Intestinal Human Schistosomiasis in the Context of Praziquantel Treatment across Three West African Countries. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0004019. [PMID: 26469347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis co-occur, and mixed species infections containing both Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni can be common. During co-infection, interactions between these two species are possible, yet the extent to which such interactions influence disease dynamics or the outcome of control efforts remains poorly understood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here we analyse epidemiological data from three West African countries co-endemic for urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis (Senegal, Niger and Mali) to test whether the impact of praziquantel (PZQ) treatment, subsequent levels of re-infection or long-term infection dynamics are altered by co-infection. In all countries, positive associations between the two species prevailed at baseline: infection by one species tended to predict infection intensity for the other, with the strength of association varying across sites. Encouragingly, we found little evidence that co-infection influenced PZQ efficacy: species-specific egg reduction rates (ERR) and cure rates (CR) did not differ significantly with co-infection, and variation in treatment success was largely geographical. In Senegal, despite positive associations at baseline, children with S. mansoni co-infection at the time of treatment were less intensely re-infected by S. haematobium than those with single infections, suggesting competition between the species may occur post-treatment. Furthermore, the proportion of schistosome infections attributable to S. mansoni increased over time in all three countries examined. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE These findings suggest that while co-infection between urinary and intestinal schistosomes may not directly affect PZQ treatment efficacy, competitive interspecific interactions may influence epidemiological patterns of re-infection post-treatment. While re-infection patterns differed most strongly according to geographic location, interspecific interactions also seem to play a role, and could cause the community composition in mixed species settings to shift as disease control efforts intensify, a situation with implications for future disease management in this multi-species system.
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19
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Davis SM, Wiegand RE, Mulama F, Kareko EI, Harris R, Ochola E, Samuels AM, Rawago F, Mwinzi PM, Fox LM, Odiere MR, Won KY. Morbidity associated with schistosomiasis before and after treatment in young children in Rusinga Island, western Kenya. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 92:952-8. [PMID: 25758651 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni infection is a major cause of organomegaly and ultimately liver fibrosis in adults. Morbidity in pre-school-aged children is less defined, and they are currently not included in mass drug administration (MDA) programs for schistosomiasis control. We report results of a study of the association of schistosomiasis with organomegaly in a convenience sample of 201 children under 7 years old in Rusinga, Kenya on two cross-sectional visits, before and after praziquantel treatment. Data included stool examination and serology for schistosomiasis, the Niamey ultrasound protocol to stage hepatosplenic morbidity including organomegaly, and potential confounders including malaria. Unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regressions were performed. The baseline prevalence of schistosomiasis by antibody and/or stool was 80.3%. Schistomiasis was associated with hepatomegaly (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-2.1) and splenomegaly (aPR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2-3.7). The association with hepatomegaly persisted posttreatment (aPR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.6). Schistosomiasis was associated with morbidity in this cohort. Efforts to include young children in mass treatment campaigns should intensify.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Davis
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Ryan E Wiegand
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Fridah Mulama
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Edmund Ireri Kareko
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Robert Harris
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Elizabeth Ochola
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Aaron M Samuels
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Fredrick Rawago
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Pauline M Mwinzi
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - LeAnne M Fox
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Maurice R Odiere
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Kimberly Y Won
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Data Management Activity, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Kisumu, Kenya; Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire
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Akpata R, Neumayr A, Holtfreter MC, Krantz I, Singh DD, Mota R, Walter S, Hatz C, Richter J. The WHO ultrasonography protocol for assessing morbidity due to Schistosoma haematobium. Acceptance and evolution over 14 years. Systematic review. Parasitol Res 2015; 114:1279-89. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4389-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Meurs L, Mbow M, Boon N, Vereecken K, Amoah AS, Labuda LA, Dièye TN, Mboup S, Yazdanbakhsh M, Polman K. Cytokine responses to Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium in relation to infection in a co-endemic focus in northern Senegal. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3080. [PMID: 25101661 PMCID: PMC4125161 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Africa, many areas are co-endemic for the two major Schistosoma species, S. mansoni and S. haematobium. Epidemiological studies have suggested that host immunological factors may play an important role in co-endemic areas. As yet, little is known about differences in host immune responses and possible immunological interactions between S. mansoni and S. haematobium in humans. The aim of this study was to analyze host cytokine responses to antigens from either species in a population from a co-endemic focus, and relate these to S. mansoni and S. haematobium infection. Methodology Whole blood cytokine responses were investigated in a population in the north of Senegal (n = 200). Blood was stimulated for 72 h with schistosomal egg and adult worm antigens of either Schistosoma species. IL-10, IL-5, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 production was determined in culture supernatants. A multivariate (i.e. multi-response) approach was used to allow a joint analysis of all cytokines in relation to Schistosoma infection. Principal Findings Schistosoma haematobium egg and worm antigens induced higher cytokine production, suggesting that S. haematobium may be more immunogenic than S. mansoni. However, both infections were strongly associated with similar, modified Th2 cytokine profiles. Conclusions/Significance This study is the first to compare S. mansoni and S. haematobium cytokine responses in one population residing in a co-endemic area. These findings are in line with previous epidemiological studies that also suggested S. haematobium egg and worm stages to be more immunogenic than those of S. mansoni. In the developing world, over 207 million people are infected with blood-dwelling parasitic Schistosoma worms. Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni are the most widespread species. In Africa, they often occur together in the same area, with many people carrying both species. Yet, little is known about the differences in immune response that the human host develops against these two species. It is also unknown whether the presence of one species may affect the immune response to the other. We here investigated 200 people from an area in the north of Senegal where both species occur. They were examined for Schistosoma infections, as well as for immune responses to the two species. We observed that both infections were characterized by very similar cytokine responses. However, S. haematobium antigens induced higher levels of cytokines than S. mansoni. This suggests that S. haematobium may give rise to stronger immune responses, and may help to explain differences between the two most important Schistosoma species regarding the occurrence of infection and morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn Meurs
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Moustapha Mbow
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Bacteriology and Virology, Aristide Le Dantec Teaching Hospital, Dakar, Senegal
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nele Boon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kim Vereecken
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Abena Serwaa Amoah
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Lucja A. Labuda
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tandakha Ndiaye Dièye
- Laboratory of Bacteriology and Virology, Aristide Le Dantec Teaching Hospital, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Souleymane Mboup
- Laboratory of Bacteriology and Virology, Aristide Le Dantec Teaching Hospital, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Maria Yazdanbakhsh
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Katja Polman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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Garba A, Lamine MS, Barkiré N, Djibo A, Sofo B, Gouvras AN, Labbo R, Sebangou H, Webster JP, Fenwick A, Utzinger J. Efficacy and safety of two closely spaced doses of praziquantel against Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni and re-infection patterns in school-aged children in Niger. Acta Trop 2013; 128:334-44. [PMID: 22940014 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2012.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2011] [Revised: 08/07/2012] [Accepted: 08/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of two closely spaced doses of praziquantel (PZQ) against Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni infection in school-aged children, and to characterise re-infection patterns over a 12-month period. The study was carried out in five villages in western Niger: Falmado, Seberi and Libore (single S. haematobium infection foci), and Diambala and Namarigoungou (mixed S. haematobium-S. mansoni infection foci). Parasitological examinations consisted of triplicate urine filtrations and triplicate Kato-Katz thick smears at each visit. Two 40mg/kg oral doses of PZQ were administered 3 weeks apart. Adverse events were monitored within 4h after dosing by the survey team and 24h after treatment using a questionnaire. Our final study cohort comprised 877 children who were infected with either S. haematobium, or S. mansoni, or both species concurrently and received both doses of PZQ. Follow-up visits were conducted 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after the first dose of PZQ. At baseline, the geometric mean (GM) infection intensity of S. haematobium ranged from 3.6 (Diambala) to 30.3eggs/10ml of urine (Falmado). The GM infection intensity of S. mansoni ranged from 86.7 (Diambala) to 151.4eggs/g of stool (Namarigoungou). Adverse events were reported by 33.0% and 1.5% of the children after the first and second doses of PZQ, respectively. We found cure rates (CRs) in S. haematobium-infected children 3 weeks after the second dose of PZQ ranging between 49.2% (Falmado) and 98.4% (Namarigoungou) and moderate-to-high egg reduction rates (ERRs) (71.4-100%). Regarding S. mansoni, only moderate CRs and ERRs were found (51.7-58.8% in Diambala, 55.2-60.2% in Namarigoungou). Twelve months post-treatment, prevalence rates approached pre-treatment levels, but infection intensities remained low. In conclusion, PZQ, given in two closely spaced doses, is efficacious against S. haematobium, but the low ERR observed against S. mansoni raises concern about mounting PZQ tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amadou Garba
- Réseau International Schistosomoses, Environnement, Aménagement et Lutte (RISEAL-Niger), 1448, Bd de l'Indépendance, B.P. 13724, Niamey, Niger; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
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Abstract
In May 2012, the World Health Assembly passed resolution WHA 65.21, calling upon member states to intensify schistosomiasis control and, wherever possible, to attempt transmission interruption and initiate interventions towards local elimination. It is now clear that CONTRAST--a multidisciplinary alliance to optimize schistosomiasis control and transmission surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa--was ahead of the game. Indeed, launched in October 2006, this 4-year project funded by the European Commission made important contributions for sustainable schistosomiasis control in the selected African countries through innovation, validation and application of new tools and locally adapted intervention strategies complementary to preventive chemotherapy. Moreover, CONTRAST articulated a research agenda for schistosomiasis elimination, framed by 10 key questions. Here, we provide a rationale for CONTRAST and discuss its overarching goal, the interrelated objectives, establishment and running of a research node network across Africa, partnership configuration and modus operandi of the project. A collection of 25 articles is presented that are grouped into five main themes: molecular, biological, spatial, social and cross-cutting issues pertaining to the epidemiology and control of schistosomiasis. We summarize key achievements made by CONTRAST, many of which are featured in this special issue of Acta Tropica. Together with an independent view put forth by an eminent schistosomiasis researcher, the current piece provides an umbrella for the 25-article collection, including current gaps and remaining research needs. Finally, post-CONTRAST initiatives are discussed and a speculative viewpoint is given on how schistosomiasis control/elimination will have evolved over the next several years.
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