Association of female genital schistosomiasis and human papillomavirus and cervical pre-cancer: a systematic review.

Background: S. haematobium is a recognized carcinogen and is associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. Its association with high-risk(HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence, cervical pre-cancer and cervical cancer incidence has not been fully explored.

The first BILGENSA Research Network workshop in Zambia: identifying research priorities, challenges and needs in genital bilharzia in Southern Africa.

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) and male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) are gender-specific manifestations of urogenital schistosomiasis. Morbidity is a consequence of prolonged inflammation in the human genital tract caused by the entrapped eggs of the waterborne parasite, Both diseases affect the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of millions of people globally, especially in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). Awareness and knowledge of these diseases is largely absent among affected communities and healthcare workers in endemic countries.

Zipime-Weka-Schista study protocol: a longitudinal cohort study and economic evaluation of an integrated home-based approach for genital multipathogen screening in women, including female genital schistosomiasis, human papillomavirus, Trichomonas and HIV in Zambia.

Introduction: Multiplathogen home-based self-sampling offers an opportunity to increase access to screening and treatment in endemic settings with high coinfection prevalence of sexually transmitted (HIV, human papillomavirus (HPV)) and non-sexually transmitted pathogens ()). Chronic coinfections may lead to disability (female genital schistosomiasis) and death (cervical cancer). The Zipime-Weka-Schista (Do self-testing sister!) study aims to evaluate the validity, acceptability, uptake, impact and cost-effectiveness of multipathogen self-sampling for genital infections among women in Zambia.

Visual diagnosis of female genital schistosomiasis in Zambian women from hand-held colposcopy: agreement of expert image review and association with clinical symptoms.

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) can occur in   infection and is caused by egg deposition in the genital tract. Confirming a diagnosis of FGS is challenging due to the lack of a diagnostic reference standard. A 2010 expert-led consensus meeting proposed visual inspection of the cervicovaginal mucosa as an adequate reference standard for FGS diagnosis.

The Presence of Hemoglobin in Cervicovaginal Lavage Is Not Associated With Genital Schistosomiasis in Zambian Women From the BILHIV Study.

Background: Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) occurs when eggs are deposited in reproductive tissue. Female genital schistosomiasis in the cervical mucosa is associated with increased vascularity. If FGS is associated with the presence of hemoglobin in cervicovaginal lavage (CVL), the use of urinary reagent strips to detect hemoglobin in CVL could supplement FGS diagnosis.

Validation of the isothermal Schistosoma haematobium Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) assay, coupled with simplified sample preparation, for diagnosing female genital schistosomiasis using cervicovaginal lavage and vaginal self-swab samples.

Background: Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a neglected and disabling gynecological disease that can result from infection with the parasitic trematode Schistosoma haematobium. Accurate diagnosis of FGS is crucial for effective case management, surveillance and control. However, current methods for diagnosis and morbidity assessment can be inaccessible to those at need, labour intensive, costly and unreliable.

An update on female and male genital schistosomiasis and a call to integrate efforts to escalate diagnosis, treatment and awareness in endemic and non-endemic settings: The time is now.

The last decades have brought important insight and updates in the diagnosis, management and immunopathology of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) and male genital schistosomiasis (MGS). Despite sharing a common parasitic aetiological agent, FGS and MGS have typically been studied separately. Infection with Schistosoma haematobium manifests with gender-specific clinical manifestations and consequences of infection, albeit having a similar pathogenesis within the human genital tract.

Association of Female Genital Schistosomiasis With the Cervicovaginal Microbiota and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Zambian Women.

Background: The cervicovaginal microbiota, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), have not been well described in female genital schistosomiasis (FGS).

Methods: Women (aged 18-31, sexually active, nonpregnant) were invited to participate at the final follow-up of the HPTN 071 (PopART) Population Cohort in January-August 2018. We measured key species of the cervicovaginal microbiota (, , , , and ) and STIs (, , , and ) using quantitative PCR (qPCR).

Female Genital Schistosomiasis and HIV-1 Incidence in Zambian Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) has been associated with prevalent HIV-1. We estimated the incidence of HIV-1 infection in Zambian women with and without FGS.

Methods: Women (aged 18-31, nonpregnant, sexually active) were invited to participate in this study in January-August 2018 at the final follow-up of the HPTN 071 (PopART) Population Cohort.

Cervicovaginal Immune Activation in Zambian Women With Female Genital Schistosomiasis.

HIV-1 infection disproportionately affects women in sub-Saharan Africa, where areas of high HIV-1 prevalence and endemicity largely overlap. Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), an inflammatory disease caused by egg deposition in the genital tract, has been associated with prevalent HIV-1 infection. Elevated levels of the chemokines MIP-1α (CCL-3), MIP-1β (CCL-4), IP-10 (CXCL-10), and IL-8 (CXCL-8) in cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) have been associated with HIV-1 acquisition.

Acceptability and feasibility of genital self-sampling for the diagnosis of female genital schistosomiasis: a cross-sectional study in Zambia.

: Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a neglected and disabling gynaecological disorder that is difficult to diagnose and is part of the wider spectrum of urogenital disease caused by the waterborne parasite  . Over 90% of human schistosomiasis cases are found in sub-Saharan Africa with 3.8 million people infected with schistosomes in Zambia.

Genital self-sampling compared with cervicovaginal lavage for the diagnosis of female genital schistosomiasis in Zambian women: The BILHIV study.

Background: Given the potentially causal association of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) with HIV-1 infection, improved diagnostics are urgently needed to scale-up FGS surveillance. The BILHIV (bilharzia and HIV) study assessed the performance of home-based self-collection methods (cervical and vaginal swabs) compared to cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) for the detection of Schistosoma DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Methods: Between January and August 2018, a consecutive series of female participants from the Population-Cohort of the previous HIV prevention trial HPTN 071 (PopART), resident in Livingstone, Zambia were invited to take part in BILHIV if they were 18-31 years old, non-pregnant and sexually active.

The Effect of Combination Antiretroviral Therapy Use Among HIV Positive Children on the Hazard of AIDS Using Calendar Year as an Instrumental Variable.

Background: Instrumental variable (IV) analyses are a common causal inference technique used in the absence of randomized data. Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) was first introduced in 1996 and calendar periods have been used as a proxy for cART use. However, cART use misclassification can bias IV analyses.

Temporal trends in otolaryngologic findings among HIV-1-infected children in a population-based cohort.

Background: Otolaryngologic conditions are common among HIV-1-infected children. In this study, we provide data regarding prevalence of pediatric HIV-1 otolaryngologic manifestations in the era of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods: We conducted population-based, prospective, multicenter pediatric HIV-1 surveillance among 276 children with perinatally acquired HIV-1 from 1988 to 2009.

Temporal trends in mucocutaneous findings among human immunodeficiency virus 1-infected children in a population-based cohort.

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of pediatric human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) mucocutaneous manifestations in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We conducted population-based, prospective, multicenter pediatric HIV-1 surveillance in 276 children with perinatally acquired HIV-1 from 1988 to 2009. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-defined HIV-1 related mucocutaneous conditions among the 276 children were: category A (n = 152), B (n = 60), and C (n = 1).

Timing of antiretroviral therapy initiation and its impact on disease progression in perinatal human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection.

Objective: Treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) reduces overall perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1-related mortality. The effect of timing of HAART initiation on reduction of morbidity is not well defined. We evaluated the association of timing of HAART initiation on progression to moderate or severe disease.

Antiretroviral use during pregnancy for treatment or prophylaxis.

Introduction: Antiretrovirals are recommended for all pregnant women either for treatment of HIV-1 infection or for prevention of mother-to-child transmission. Distinguishing between HIV-1-infected pregnant women who meet treatment criteria and those who do not (who use antiretrovirals during pregnancy for prophylaxis) is accomplished by assessing the HIV-1 disease stage and has important implications regarding when antiretroviral drugs are initiated during pregnancy, what drugs are used and antiretroviral use after delivery.

Areas Covered: This review addresses antiretroviral use by HIV-1-infected women during pregnancy.

Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies pasteurianus (biotype II/2), a newly reported cause of adult meningitis.

We report the first case of adult meningitis confirmed to be due to Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus. Phenotypically reported as Streptococcus bovis biotype II/2, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed S.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for treating HIV infection in ART-eligible pregnant women.

Background: This systematic review focuses on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in ART-eligible pregnant women. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is the primary means by which children worldwide acquire HIV infection. MTCT occurs during three major timepoints during pregnancy and the postpartum period: in utero, intrapartum, and during breastfeeding.