Prevalence Of Schistosomiasis Infection Research Articles

Schistosoma Infection Burden and Risk Factors among School-Aged Children in a Rural Area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Despite continuous efforts to control schistosomiasis (SCH) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it still poses a significant challenge. In order to enhance control measures, additional research is necessary. This study documents the burden of SCH infection and its predictors in a rural area of the DRC. We conducted a household cross-sectional study from June to August 2021 among 480 school-aged children (SAC) aged 5-15 years living in a rural area of Kisangi, in the southwest DRC. We collected and examined stool, urine, and blood samples of each child. Additionally, we obtained data on anthropometry, socio-demographics, household information, and individual water contact behaviors. The overall prevalence of SCH infection was 55.8% (95% CI: 51.4-60.3), with prevalences of 41% (95% CI: 36.6-45.5), 36.3% (95% CI: 31.9-40.6), and 38.4% (95% CI: 32.6-44.3) for S. haematobium and S. mansoni infections and both infections, respectively. Among those with SCH infection, most had a light (67.5%) or heavy (51.7%) infection intensity. The geometric mean egg count was 16.6 EP 10 mL (95% CI: 12.9-21.3) for S. haematobium and 390.2 EPG (95% CI: 300.2-507.3) for S. mansoni. However, age (10 years and above (aOR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.5-3.1; p < 0.001)) was an independent risk factor for SCH infection. The overall prevalence of malaria infection was 16.9% (95% CI: 13.5-20.2), that of stunting was 28.7% (95% CI: 24.7-32.8), that of underweight was 17.1% (95% CI: 12.8-21.4), and that of thinness was 7.1% (95% CI: 4.8-9.4). Anemia was prevalent at 49.4% (95% CI: 44.9-5), and the median Hb level of all participants was 11.6 g/dL (IQR: 10.5-12.6 g/dL). Anemia was strongly associated with SCH infection (aOR: 3.4; 95% CI: 2.3-5.1; p < 0.001) yet there was no association with the risk for malaria infection (aOR: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.6-1.8; p = 0.563). In addition, the risk of anemia increased with heavy infection intensities (p < 0.026 and p < 0.013 for S. haematobium and S. mansoni, respectively). However, stunting had a protective factor for anemia (aOR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2-0.4; p < 0.001). To conclude, SCH infection was widespread among the SAC and strongly linked to anemia. These results provide evidence of the hyperendemicity of infection in the study area, which requires preventative measures such as chemotherapy to reduce the schistosomiasis-associated morbidity, and micronutrient supplements to avoid anemia.

The Impact of Targeted Treatment and Mass Drug Administration Delivery Strategies on the Prevalence and Intensity of Schistosomiasis in School Aged Children in Africa: A Systematic Review.

Schistosomiasis is a public health problem in more than 78 countries in the world. The disease is most prevalent among children than adults due to their high exposure to infectious water sources. Various interventions such as mass drug administration (MDA), snail control, safe water provision and health education have been implemented independently or jointly to control, reduce and ultimately eliminate Schistosomiasis. This scoping review focused on studies reporting the impact of different delivery strategies of targeted treatment and MDA on the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis infection in school aged children in Africa. The review focused on Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni species. A systematic search for eligible literature from peer-reviewed articles was done from Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed and EBSCO host databases. The search yielded twenty-seven peer-reviewed articles. All articles found reported a decrease in the prevalence of schistosomiasis infection. Five studies (18.5%) reported a prevalence change below 40%, eighteen studies (66.7%) reported a change between 40% and 80%, and four studies (14.8%) reported a change above 80%. The infection intensity post-treatment was varied: twenty-four studies reported a decrease, while two studies reported an increase. The review showed that the impact of targeted treatment on the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis depended on the frequency at which it was offered, complementary interventions, and its uptake by the target population. Targeted treatment can significantly control the infection burden, but cannot eliminate the disease. Constant MDA programs coupled with preventative and health promotional programs are required to reach the elimination stage.

Gender-related differences in prevalence, intensity and associated risk factors of Schistosoma infections in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundSchistosomiasis remains a global-health problem with over 90% of its burden concentrated in Africa. Field studies reflect the complex ways in which socio-cultural and socio-economic variables, affect the distribution of Schistosoma infections across different populations. This review set out to systematically investigate and quantify the differences in Schistosoma infection burdens between males and females in Africa for two of the most prevalent Schistosoma species—Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium.MethodologyWe searched (from inception to 11th March 2020) Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science for relevant studies on schistosomiasis. We included studies that report S. mansoni and/or S. haematobium prevalence and/or intensity data distributed between males and females. We conducted meta-analyses on the male to female (M:F) prevalence of infection ratios. Subgroup analyses were performed according to study baseline prevalence, sample size and the lower and upper age limit of study participants. We also present a descriptive analysis of differential risk and intensity of infection across males and females. Evidence for differences in the prevalence of schistosomiasis infection between males and females is presented, stratified by Schistosoma species.ResultWe identified 128 relevant studies, with over 200,000 participants across 23 countries. Of all the reported differences in the prevalence of infection between males and females, only 41% and 34% were statistically significant for S. mansoni and S. haematobium, respectively. Similar proportions of studies (27% and 34% for for S. haematobium and S. mansoni, respectively) of the reported differences in intensity of infection between males and females were statistically significant. The meta-analyses summarized a higher prevalence of infection in males; pooled random-effects weighted M:F prevalence of infection ratios were 1.20 (95% CI 1.11–1.29) for S. haematobium and 1.15 (95% CI 1.08–1.22) for S. mansoni. However, females are underrespresented in some of the studies. Additionally, there was significant heterogeneity across studies (Higgins I2 statistic (p-values < 0.001, I2values>95%)). Results of the subgroup analysis showed that the baseline prevalence influenced the M:F prevalence ratios for S. haematobium and S. mansoni, with higher M:F prevalence of infection ratios in settings with a lower baseline prevalence of infection. Across the studies, we identified four major risk factors associated with infection rates: occupational and recreational water contact, knowledge, socio-economic factors and demographic factors. The effect of these risk factors on the burden of infection in males and females varied across studies.ConclusionsWe find evidence of differences in prevalence of infection between males and females which may reflect differences in gender norms and water contact activities, suggesting that policy changes at the regional level may help ameliorate gender-related disparities in schistosomiasis infection burden. Collecting, robustly analysing, and reporting, sex-disaggregated epidemiological data, is currently lacking, but would be highly informative for planning effective treatment programmes and establishing those most at risk of schistosomiasis infections.

An Update on Schistosomiasis: Prevalence, Intensity of Infection and Risk Factors among School-Aged Children in Njombe, Littoral Region, Cameroon

Aims: The study aimed to assess an update of the burden of schistosomiasis among primary school children.&#x0D; Study Design: The study was a school-based cross-sectional study carried out among children aged between 4 to 15 years old.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The study took place in Njombé, Littoral Region, Cameroon from March to April 2017.&#x0D; Methodology: Urine and stool samples were collected were collected from 412 school-aged children and examined using the urine filtration method and the Kato-Katz technique respectively. A questionnaire was administered to assess their water related activities. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 2.0. Logistic regression and odds ratio was used to measure association and strength between variables respectively. P-value &lt; .05 at 95% CI was considered as statistically significant.&#x0D; Results: The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis was 9.7%, with 7,8% and 1,9% of school children infected with S. mansoni and S. haematobium, respectively and 0.7% co-infection with both species. The intensities of S. haematobium and S. mansoni infection were 2.1 eggs per 10 mL of urine, 94 eggs per gram of stool respectively. The multiple regression analysis revealed that itching after bathing in backwater (Odds ratio (OR)= 2.427, confidence interval (CI): 1.080 - 5454, P=.03). And school children attending EPB Alpha (OR= 2.024), CI: 1.203 – 4.804, P=.011). were predictors of schistosomiasis infection. However, significant association was found between schistosomiasis and playing in the stream and the presence of the river and back water in the vicinity of schools.&#x0D; Conclusion: There was a drastic decline in the prevalence of schistosomiasis infection in school children in Njombé compared to previous reports. The decrease is attributed to the bi-annual deworming campaign by the Public Health Authorities.

Prevalence of Schistosomiasis Infection among Young Children Aged 5 to 17 Years in Kilosa District, Tanzania: A 3 Year Retrospective Review

This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of schistosomiasis in children aged 5-17 years in Kilosa district over a 3 year period. A retrospective study using records of laboratory data from laboratory record books of the selected health facilities in four wards in Kilosa district. Samples of urine and stool submitted by young children to the laboratories of health facilities between 2014 and 2016 were recorded.A total of 702 samples were collected from the laboratory records books involving their age, sex and schistosome species. Of the 702 individuals, 541 were examined for urinary schistosomiasis and 161 for intestinal schistosomiasis; 31 (5.7%) were infected with S. haematobium and 11 (6.8%) with S. mansoni respectively. However, the overall prevalence of schistosomiasis was 6.27% in the study area. Males had prevalence for S. haematobium was 1.00% and S. mansoni was 2.35% while females had prevalence for S. haematobium was 3.96% and S. mansoni was 1.00%. Children of age group 13-17 years were infected with both species, S. haematobium was 5.11% and S. mansoni was 1.99%. Ruhembe ward had highest prevalence in both species, S. haematobium was 8.62% and S. mansoni was 5.17% respectively. The findings confirm that schistosomiasis is a public health problem in the district.

Prevalence of schistosomiasis infection among primary school pupils in Awgu LGA, Enugu State, Nigeria

A study on the prevalence of schistosomiasis infection was carried out among primary schools pupils in Awgu LGA, Enugu State, Nigeria. The primary schools include; Central Primary School Agbaogugu, Akegbi Primary School, Ogbaku Primary School, Ihe Primary School and Owelli-Court Primary School between November 2012 to October 2013. Sedimentation method was used in analyzing the urine samples and combi-9 test strips were used in testing for haematuria, the stool samples were parasitologically analyzed using the formal ether technique. A total of six hundred and twenty samples were collected from the pupils which include 310 urine samples and 310 stool samples. Out of the 310 urine samples examined, 139 (44.84%) were infected with urinary schistosomiasis, while out of 310 stool samples examined, 119 (38.39% were infected with intestinal schistosomiasis. The statistical analysis, revealed that urinary schistosomiasis was significantly higher at ( p < 0.05) than intestinal schistosomiasis. Children between 12-14 years were the most infected with both urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis with prevalence of 45 (14.84%) and 48 (15.48%) respectively, while children between 3-5 years were the least infected with both urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis 30 (9.68%) and 25 (8.06%) respectively. The percentage prevalence of co-infections of both urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis is significantly higher at ( p < 0.05) among the pupils between the ages of 3-5 years. Infection among schools show that pupils from Akegbi Primary School had the highest prevalence of infection for both urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis 37 (11.94%) and 32 (10.32%) respectively. The total prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis infection using combi-9 test strips was 181 (58.39%). The egg intensity for both urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis was 154 eggs and 96 eggs of schistosoma ova respectively. The study also revealed that 55 (27.5%) of the total number of pupils sampled had mixed infections of both urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis. However, the results of the study had revealed high prevalence of both urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis infections in Awgu LGA, Enugu State among the pupils. Proper personal hygiene and health education on the mode of transmission of the infection were highly recommended. Keywords: prevalence, schistosomiasis, Awgu, Enugu State

The Role of Socio-Cultural-Cognition in Disease Prevalence and Risky Behaviour among Children: A Conceptual Framework

It is estimated that 93% of the global schistosomiasis prevalence is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with the highest prevalence and intensity rates occurring in children and adolescents. Schistosomiasis infection is associated with detrimental developmental effects. The current study presents a hierarchical conceptual framework for understanding the role of socio-cultural-cognitive factors that influence risk behaviour among children, especially young girls, living in this hyperendemic setting. This study sought to determine the impact of caregiver monitoring on adolescent girl’s risk behaviours that may increase their risk of infection, especially with schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease that is pandemic in this region and has been associated with increased risk of HIV infection. This was a school-based, cluster, randomised, cross-sectional study conducted among 970 adolescent girls living in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A questionnaire was administered by a trained research counsellor and urine samples were co microscopy. Microscopy results showed a moderate prevalence of schistosomiasis infection (32.2%) among girls. Binary logistic regression revealed social (playing and swimming) and domestic (collecting water, doing laundry and washing blankets) water contact behaviours as significant predictors of infection. Caregiver monitoring was ineffective in reducing risk behaviours. The current study presents a conceptual model for understanding disease acquisition among children living in resource limited settings. The SCC model highlights the role of social and culturally rooted interactions that influence an adolescent girl’s capacity to act; subsequently increasing their risk of schistosomiasis and HIV infection.

Water Contact Activities and Prevalence of Schistosomiasis Infection among School-age Children in Communities along an Irrigation Scheme in Rural Northern Ghana

Of the various trematodes that infect humans, schistosomes remain among the most prevalent, and the various forms of schistosomiasis still pose significant public health problems. The prevalence of schistosomiasis infection among in-school and not-in-school children resident in communities along the Tono irrigation canals in northern Ghana was determined. Stool and urine samples from random representative samples were parasitologically examined using the Kato-Katz and 10 ml urine filtration methods respectively. A total of 920 children (mean age: 11.0 yrs; range: 6-15 yrs; STD Dev: 4.6 yrs), 573 (62.3%) males and 347 (37.7%) females with 473 in-school and 447 not-in-school participated in the study. The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was 33.2% (305/920) whilst that of S. mansoni was 19.8% (95% CI: 17.3-22.5; 182/920). The overall prevalence of infection (S. haematobium plus S. mansoni) was 47.7% (439/920). Many more males (51.7%; 95% CI: 47.5-55.8) than females (41.2%; 95% CI: 36.0-46.6) were infected. Forty-six (5.0%, 46/920) children were infected with both S. haematobium and S. mansoni. There was no difference in the prevalence of infection (S. haematobium plus S. mansoni) among children in-school (48.4%; 95% CI: 43.8-53.0) and those not-in-school (46.5%; 95% CI: 41.8-51.3). There was a statistically significant difference in prevalence of infection among communities (P=0.0002); with the lowest level of infection in residents of Korania (29.9%; CI: 20.0- 41.4) and the highest among those resident in Kajelo (64.9%; CI: 51.1-77.1), with significant differences in levels of water contact activities (χ2 =6.69; P=0.04). The highest intensity of S. mansoni infection (115.6 epg) was in Bonia where the highest prevalence of blood stained stools was collected (5.5%). Overall, 2.8% (26/920; 95% CI: 1.9-4.2) of stool samples were blood stained, whilst 10% (92/920; 95% CI: 8.2-12.2) of children had haematuria. S. haematobium ova were detected in 98.9% (91/92) of blood stained urine samples. Children infected by S. mansoni were more likely to have blood stained stool (χ2 =32.7; P<0.0001). The prevalence of schistosomiasis infection in the irrigation project site is high, adding praziquantel to albendazole and ivermectin for distribution during the annual mass drug administration for filariasis and onchocerciasis control will be an effective way of reaching all at risk groups in the Kassena-Nankana district for the control of schistosomiasis.

THE DELAYED BARBOUR'S MODEL FOR SCHISTOSOMIASIS

The transmission of schistosomiasis involves latent periods of infected hosts. In this paper, considering the latent periods of infected human, infected bovines and infected snails, we propose a delayed Barbour's model with two definitive hosts and define basic reproductive number. The stability of equilibria for the systems with and without time delays are both investigated. To study the impact of the latent periods on the transmission of schistosomiasis, some sensitivity analysis of the basic reproductive number on the three time delays are carried out. It is shown that the basic reproductive number decreases as the three time delays increase. Furthermore, the impact of the latent periods of infected snails on the system is stronger than that of the latent periods of infected human and infected bovines. Thus, to reduce the prevalence of schistosomiasis infection, prolonging the latent periods of infected snails by some measures could achieve better results than prolonging the latent periods of infected definitive hosts.