Control Of Schistosomiasis In Africa Research Articles

Challenges of schistosomiasis control in Africa: The path ahead

AbstractSchistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that is endemic in sub‐Saharan Africa, with over 90% of global cases occurring in the region. Poverty, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and limited access to water and sanitation contribute to the high prevalence of the disease. Despite efforts to control and prevent the transmission of schistosomiasis, a reduction in the transmission rates has not been realized owing to several challenges. This article highlights the challenges of schistosomiasis control in Africa and recommends strategies for successful interventions. These strategies include prioritizing government backing, investing in academic partnerships, strengthening integrated health programs, targeting communities through the primary healthcare system, and adopting home‐grown solutions. Additionally, it is essential to address the knowledge gap hindering effective control of the disease and the risk of reinfection after treatment. By implementing these strategies, it is possible to achieve the World Health Organization's 2021–2030 goal of eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem and reducing its prevalence of heavy infection to less than 1%.

Exploring the potential of host-environment relationships in the control of schistosomiasis in Africa

A number of human disease prevalences are supported by host-parasite-environment interactions. One such disease is schistosomiasis. Schistosoma parasites are transmitted between the snail intermediate hosts and mammalian definitive hosts in an aquatic environment. This host-environment link determines the parasite transmission dynamics and is a route through which control of transmission can be achieved. Transmission control methods based on manipulating the host-environment link were reviewed, the limitations of each method were highlighted and conditions in which they may be used in small-scale control programmes in sub-Saharan Africa were suggested. Chemical control may be ideal in poor rural communities, where health education strategies have little impact and where fishing is not an important livelihood strategy, because human contact with contaminated water is necessary for parasite survival. In aquaculture and other water development project areas, biocontrol may yield positive results due to reduced predation on snail predators and competitors as a result of restricted access. Environmental modification may be ideal in man-made systems, where the planning phase includes appropriate engineering works. Control strategies must be based as much on the ecology of host snails as on social aspects of the affected community, and be implemented on a case-by-case basis.

Closing in on ‘perhaps the most dreadful of the remaining plagues’: an independent view of the multidisciplinary alliance to optimize schistosomiasis control in Africa

The 4-year (2006–2010) alliance to optimize schistosomiasis control and transmission surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa (CONTRAST), funded by the European Commission, stands out as a ‘game-changer’ by successfully harnessing and combining new as well as previously available capabilities for schistosomiasis control in selected African countries. By establishing an African research network and promoting an interactive agenda that operates simultaneously at the molecular, biological, spatial and social levels, a navigable avenue for validation and application of tools complementary to preventive chemotherapy has been opened.

Schistosomiasis control in Africa: 8 years after World Health Assembly Resolution 54·19

Schistosomiasis control in Africa: 8 years after World Health Assembly Resolution 54·19

Remote sensing, geographical information system and spatial analysis for schistosomiasis epidemiology and ecology in Africa.

Beginning in 1970, the potential of remote sensing (RS) techniques, coupled with geographical information systems (GIS), to improve our understanding of the epidemiology and control of schistosomiasis in Africa, has steadily grown. In our current review, working definitions of RS, GIS and spatial analysis are given, and applications made to date with RS and GIS for the epidemiology and ecology of schistosomiasis in Africa are summarised. Progress has been made in mapping the prevalence of infection in humans and the distribution of intermediate host snails. More recently, Bayesian geostatistical modelling approaches have been utilized for predicting the prevalence and intensity of infection at different scales. However, a number of challenges remain; hence new research is needed to overcome these limitations. First, greater spatial and temporal resolution seems important to improve risk mapping and understanding of transmission dynamics at the local scale. Second, more realistic risk profiling can be achieved by taking into account information on people's socio-economic status; furthermore, future efforts should incorporate data on domestic access to clean water and adequate sanitation, as well as behavioural and educational issues. Third, high-quality data on intermediate host snail distribution should facilitate validation of infection risk maps and modelling transmission dynamics. Finally, more emphasis should be placed on risk mapping and prediction of multiple species parasitic infections in an effort to integrate disease risk mapping and to enhance the cost-effectiveness of their control.

Social science perspectives on schistosomiasis control in Africa: past trends and future directions

New ways of integrating and scaling up control of neglected tropical diseases (including schistosomiasis) are presently underway. In this context consideration of social science perspectives is essential. In this article, we review social science publications of relevance to sustained control of schistosomiasis in Africa including diagnosis and screening, treatment, supply of clean water and improved sanitation, as well as health communication. Studies of community involvement and links between schistosomiasis control programmes and broader health care systems are also explored. Directions for future social science of relevance to sustainable schistosomiasis control are outlined, including ways of ensuring equitable access to health services as well as involvement of endemic communities and local health care systems based on equal partnership.

An In Vivo Assay of the Mutagenic Potential of Praziquantel (PZQ) Using Sperm Head Abnormality Test

The mutagenic potential of praziquantel (PZQ) 2-(Cyclohexylcarbonyl) - 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11b-hexahydro- 4H-pyrazino-(2,1-a) isoquinolin-4-one, an antihelmintic was evaluated in vivo using sperm head abnormality assay of about 15 weeks-old isogenic mice. For 3, 5, 7 weeks of drug exposure period, three different dose levels 0.02; 0.04; and 0.08 (mg/gbwt) of PZQ (the calculated equivalence of human therapeutic dose-HTD) were intraperitoneally administered. Observations revealed that PZQ had no significant effect on the body weights of the tested animals. Seven types of sperm head morphological abnormalities in varying degrees were observed. Sperm head abnormality was 5.14%, 5.13% and 5.03% in the control mice and 5.62%, 6.56% and 6.72% in the experimental models for the 3, 5 and 7 weeks exposure period respectively. The abnormality was lower in the control as compared to the experimental mice and this represents a difference of 0.48% (3 weeks); 1.43% (5 weeks) and 1.69% (7 weeks). The difference in the abnormal sperm heads between the control and experimental model is statistically insignificant (P<0.05). The induction was slightly dose-dependent with 0.08mg which was the highest dose used inducing the highest number of sperm head abnormalities for each exposure period. PZQ is probably not mutagenic because the values of aberrant sperm heads that were present in the lower dose levels are close to those of the control. PZQ, therefore, may be a mutagenically safe drug for mass therapy and the control of schistosomiasis in Africa.