1
|
Hong ST. Review of Recent Prevalence of Urogenital Schistosomiasis in Sub-Saharan Africa and Diagnostic Challenges in the Field Setting. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1670. [PMID: 37629527 PMCID: PMC10456001 DOI: 10.3390/life13081670] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Human schistosomiasis is one of neglected tropical diseases that remain highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Human schistosomiasis is mainly caused by two species, Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni, leading to urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis, respectively. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel as the primary method of global intervention. Currently, MDA with praziquantel covers over half of the target population in endemic SSA countries. However, an accurate diagnosis is crucial for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of MDA. The standard diagnosis of both urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis relies on the microscopic identification of eggs. However, the diagnostic sensitivity of this approach is low, especially for light or ultra-light infections. This is because Schistosoma eggs are laid inside of the venous plexus of the urinary bladder or mesenteric vein, where the adult flukes live. Approximately half of the eggs circulate in the blood vessels or are packed in neighboring tissues, while the remaining half are expelled into the lumen of the urinary bladder or intestine intermittently when the blood vessels are ruptured. In the field setting, the accuracy of any diagnostic method is critical for proper management of the intervention. The present article reviews the recent prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis in SSA and highlights the practical limitations of diagnostic methods such as urine microscopy, urine reagent strips, molecular diagnosis, and ultrasound scanning in the field setting. Despite continuous global efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis over the past 20 years, many areas still remain endemic in SSA. No single diagnostic approach achieves acceptable sensitivity and specificity in the field setting. Therefore, any field survey should employ a combination of these methods based on the purpose of the study to accurately monitor and evaluate urogenital schistosomiasis. Based on diagnostic values and a cost-benefit analysis, a urine reagent strip test can replace urine microscopy in the field setting. The WHO criteria by ultrasound diagnosis should be updated including the echogenic snow sign and contour distortion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Tae Hong
- Graduate School of International Development, Handong Global University, Pohang 37554, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Institute of Endemic Diseases Medical Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lo NC, Bezerra FSM, Colley DG, Fleming FM, Homeida M, Kabatereine N, Kabole FM, King CH, Mafe MA, Midzi N, Mutapi F, Mwanga JR, Ramzy RMR, Satrija F, Stothard JR, Traoré MS, Webster JP, Utzinger J, Zhou XN, Danso-Appiah A, Eusebi P, Loker ES, Obonyo CO, Quansah R, Liang S, Vaillant M, Murad MH, Hagan P, Garba A. Review of 2022 WHO guidelines on the control and elimination of schistosomiasis. Lancet Infect Dis 2022; 22:e327-e335. [PMID: 35594896 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(22)00221-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a helminthiasis infecting approximately 250 million people worldwide. In 2001, the World Health Assembly (WHA) 54.19 resolution defined a new global strategy for control of schistosomiasis through preventive chemotherapy programmes. This resolution culminated in the 2006 WHO guidelines that recommended empirical treatment by mass drug administration with praziquantel, predominately to school-aged children in endemic settings at regular intervals. Since then, school-based and community-based preventive chemotherapy programmes have been scaled-up, reducing schistosomiasis-associated morbidity. Over the past 15 years, new scientific evidence-combined with a more ambitious goal of eliminating schistosomiasis and an increase in the global donated supply of praziquantel-has highlighted the need to update public health guidance worldwide. In February, 2022, WHO published new guidelines with six recommendations to update the global public health strategy against schistosomiasis, including expansion of preventive chemotherapy eligibility from the predominant group of school-aged children to all age groups (2 years and older), lowering the prevalence threshold for annual preventive chemotherapy, and increasing the frequency of treatment. This Review, written by the 2018-2022 Schistosomiasis Guidelines Development Group and its international partners, presents a summary of the new WHO guideline recommendations for schistosomiasis along with their historical context, supporting evidence, implications for public health implementation, and future research needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan C Lo
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | | | - Daniel G Colley
- Department of Microbiology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Mamoun Homeida
- Academy of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Narcis Kabatereine
- Accelerating Resilient, Innovative, and Sustainable Elimination of NTDs, Vector Control Division, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Charles H King
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Nicholas Midzi
- National Institute of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Francisca Mutapi
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa Partnership, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Joseph R Mwanga
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Reda M R Ramzy
- National Nutrition Institute, General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Fadjar Satrija
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedicine, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - J Russell Stothard
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Joanne P Webster
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Science, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xiao-Nong Zhou
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China; School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Paolo Eusebi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Eric S Loker
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Charles O Obonyo
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - Song Liang
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Michel Vaillant
- Competence Centre for Methodology and Statistics, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - M Hassan Murad
- Evidence-based Practice Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Paul Hagan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - Amadou Garba
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kasambala M, Mduluza T, Vengesai A, Mduluza-Jokonya T, Jokonya L, Midzi H, Makota RB, Mutemeri A, Maziti E, Dube-Marimbe B, Chibanda D, Mutapi F, Mukaratirwa S. Effect of Schistosoma haematobium infection on the cognitive functions of preschool age children and benefits of treatment from an endemic area in Zimbabwe. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:809. [PMID: 36316647 PMCID: PMC9620666 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07784-7] [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: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis is known to affect the cognitive functions of children, however, but there is paucity of information on its impact on early childhood development in developing countries where the disease is endemic. This study aimed at determining the effects of schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma haematobium on early childhood development in children below 5 years old from Murewa District, Zimbabwe, including the benefits of treatment. Methods Preschool age children (PSAC) under the age of 5 years were screened at baseline and at 6 months post-treatment for S. haematobium infections diagnosed using the urine filtration method. Cognitive domains were assessed using the Griffith Mental Developmental Scales III on 136 PSAC. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the level of association between S. haematobium infection and performance in the cognitive domains adjusting for confounding factors (i.e. nutrition, hemoglobin levels, gender and age). Median Development Quotient scores of each cognitive domain at baseline and at 6 months post-treatment were compared and quantified. Results After adjusting for confounding factors, PSAC infected with S. haematobium had greater odds of having lower scores in the Foundation of Learning Domain (OR = 3.9, p = 0.008), Language and Communication Domain (OR = 3.2, p = 0.017), Eye-Hand Coordination Domains (OR = 10.7, p = 0.001), Personal-Social-Emotional Domain (19.3, p = 0.001) and in the Overall General Development Domain (7.2, p = 0.011). Improvement of cognitive performance was observed at 6 months post treatment in the following Domains; Language and Communication Domain (p = 0.003), Eye-Hand Coordination Domain (p = 0.02) and General Development Domain (p = 0.006). Conclusion The study showed that S. haematobium infection in PSAC is associated with lower cognitive scores in the Foundation of Learning, Language and Communication, Eye-Hand Coordination, Personal-Social-Emotional and in the Overall General Development domains. Our results strengthen the call for inclusion of PSAC in routine deworming programs for the control of urinary schistosomiasis and the need to develop locally validated tools to monitor early child development in endemic areas where resources are limited.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maritha Kasambala
- grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa ,grid.13001.330000 0004 0572 0760Department of Biological Sciences and Ecology, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, P.O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Takafira Mduluza
- grid.13001.330000 0004 0572 0760Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, P.O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe ,grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Arthur Vengesai
- grid.13001.330000 0004 0572 0760Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, P.O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe ,grid.442709.c0000 0000 9894 9740Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Midlands State University, Senga Road, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Tariro Mduluza-Jokonya
- grid.13001.330000 0004 0572 0760Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, P.O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Luxwell Jokonya
- grid.13001.330000 0004 0572 0760Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, P.O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Herald Midzi
- grid.13001.330000 0004 0572 0760Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, P.O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Rutendo Birri Makota
- grid.13001.330000 0004 0572 0760Department of Biological Sciences and Ecology, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, P.O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Arnold Mutemeri
- grid.13001.330000 0004 0572 0760Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, P.O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Emmanuel Maziti
- grid.13001.330000 0004 0572 0760Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, P.O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Bazondlile Dube-Marimbe
- grid.13001.330000 0004 0572 0760Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, P.O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Dixon Chibanda
- grid.13001.330000 0004 0572 0760Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, P.O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Francisca Mutapi
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Institute for Immunology and Infection Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King’s Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Rd, EH9 3JT Edinburgh, UK
| | - Samson Mukaratirwa
- grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa ,grid.412247.60000 0004 1776 0209One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies Saint Kitts And Nevis
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zaghloul MS, Zaghloul TM, Bishr MK, Baumann BC. Urinary schistosomiasis and the associated bladder cancer: update. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst 2020; 32:44. [DOI: 10.1186/s43046-020-00055-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Urinary schistosomiasis and its severe complications, mainly bladder cancer, are scarce in non-endemic areas. The deficiency in knowledge and clinical experience of schistosomiasis may lead to inadequate management. Highlighting these topics may be of value, especially with the increased immigration from endemic low-/middle-income countries (LMIC) to non-endemic high-income countries (HIC). Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection endemic in many low- and middle-income countries. It can affect various systems but is best known for its effect on the urinary system.
Main Body
PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for urinary schistosomiasis and its related bladder cancer published from 1980 till 2020.
Schistosoma haematobium (SH) infecting the urinary bladder was considered by the IARC as group 1 definitive biological carcinogenic agent. Several carcinogenic pathways have been postulated but the exact mechanism(s) are not defined yet. A more thorough understanding of the parasite life cycle was explored to help eradicate the infection especially for the immigrants from endemic areas. This may prevent or slow down the process of carcinogenesis that leads to Schistosoma-associated bladder cancer (SA-BC), which is usually, but not conclusively, squamous cell carcinoma. Treatment of SA-BC generally follows the same guidelines as urothelial Schistosoma-non-associated bladder cancer (SNA-BC) management; however, prospective trials to confirm and refine the treatment approach for SA-BC have been relatively limited.
Conclusion
The available data showed that despite some etiologic and carcinogenic differences, the oncologic outcomes are generally comparable for SA-BC and NSA-BC when adjusting for stage, risk status, and comorbidities.
Collapse
|
6
|
Mduluza-Jokonya TL, Naicker T, Jokonya L, Midzi H, Vengesai A, Kasambala M, Choto E, Rusakaniko S, Sibanda E, Mutapi F, Mduluza T. Association of Schistosoma haematobium infection morbidity and severity on co-infections in pre-school age children living in a rural endemic area in Zimbabwe. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1570. [PMID: 33076903 PMCID: PMC7574170 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09634-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Individuals living in Schistosoma haematobium endemic areas are often at risk of having other communicable diseases simultaneously. This usually creates diagnostic difficulties leading to misdiagnosis and overlooking of schistosomiasis infection. In this study we investigated the prevalence and severity of coinfections in pre-school age children and further investigated associations between S. haematobium prevalence and under 5 mortality. Methods A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Shamva District, Zimbabwe. Using random selection, 465 preschool age children (1–5 years of age) were enrolled through clinical examination by two independent clinicians for the following top morbidity causing conditions: respiratory tract infections, dermatophytosis, malaria and fever of unknown origin. The conditions and their severe sequels were diagnosed as per approved WHO standards. S. haematobium infection was diagnosed by urine filtration and the children were screened for conditions common in the study area which included HIV, tuberculosis, malnutrition and typhoid. Data was analysed using univariate and multinomial regression analysis and relative risk (RR) calculated. Results Prevalence of S. haematobium was 35% (145). The clinical conditions assessed had the following prevalence in the study population: upper respiratory tract infection 40% (229), fever of unknown origin 45% (189), dermatophytosis 18% and malaria 18% (75). The odds of co-infections observed with S. haematobium infection were: upper respiratory tract infection aOR = 1.22 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.87), dermatophytosis aOR = 4.79 (95% CI 2.78 to 8.25), fever of unknown origin aOR = 10.63 (95% CI 6.48–17.45) and malaria aOR = 0.91 (95% CI 0.51 to1.58). Effect of schistosomiasis coinfection on disease progression based on the odds of the diseases progressing to severe sequalae were: Severe pneumonia aOR = 8.41 (95% CI 3.09–22.93), p < 0.0001, complicated malaria aOR = 7.09 (95% CI 1.51–33.39), p = 0.02, severe dermatophytosis aOR = 20.3 (95% CI 4.78–83.20):p = 0.03, and fever of unknown origin aOR = 1.62 (95%CI 1.56–4.73), p = 0.02. Conclusion This study revealed an association between schistosomiasis and the comorbidity conditions of URTI, dermatophytosis, malaria and FUO in PSAC living in a schistosomiasis endemic area. A possible detrimental effect where coinfection led to severe sequels of the comorbidity conditions was demonstrated. Appropriate clinical diagnostic methods are required to identify associated infectious diseases and initiate early treatment of schistosomiasis and co-infections in PSAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tariro L Mduluza-Jokonya
- Optics & Imaging, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. .,Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
| | - Thajasvarie Naicker
- Optics & Imaging, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Luxwell Jokonya
- Optics & Imaging, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Herald Midzi
- Optics & Imaging, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Arthur Vengesai
- Optics & Imaging, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Maritha Kasambala
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Emilia Choto
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Simbarashe Rusakaniko
- Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Elopy Sibanda
- Twin Palms Medical Centre, 113 Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Francisca Mutapi
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Rd., Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Takafira Mduluza
- Optics & Imaging, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| |
Collapse
|