Revisiting immunity vs. exposure in schistosomiasis: A mathematical modeling study of delayed concomitant immunity.

The relative contributions of exposure vs. acquired immunity to the epidemiology of human schistosomiasis has been long debated. While there is considerable evidence that humans acquire partial immunity to infection, age- and sex-related contact patterns with water bodies contaminated with infectious cercarial schistosome larvae also contribute to typical epidemiological profiles of infection.

A comprehensive evaluation of an artificial intelligence based digital pathology to monitor large-scale deworming programs against soil-transmitted helminths: A study protocol.

Background: Manual screening of a Kato-Katz (KK) thick stool smear remains the current standard to monitor the impact of large-scale deworming programs against soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). To improve this diagnostic standard, we recently designed an artificial intelligence based digital pathology system (AI-DP) for digital image capture and analysis of KK thick smears. Preliminary results of its diagnostic performance are encouraging, and a comprehensive evaluation of this technology as a cost-efficient end-to-end diagnostic to inform STH control programs against the target product profiles (TPP) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) is the next step for validation.

Extensive transmission and variation in a functional receptor for praziquantel resistance in endemic .

Mass-drug administration (MDA) of human populations using praziquantel monotherapy has become the primary strategy for controlling and potentially eliminating the major neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis. To understand how long-term MDA impacts schistosome populations, we analysed whole-genome sequence data of 570 samples (and the closely related outgroup species, from eight countries incorporating both publicly-available sequence data and new parasite material. This revealed broad-scale genetic structure across countries but with extensive transmission over hundreds of kilometres.

Relationships Between Schistosoma mansoni Infection Intensity and Nutritional Status and Anemia Among Preschool-aged Children in Uganda.

In a cross-sectional analysis of 354 Ugandan children (age 12-48 months) infected with Schistosoma mansoni, we assessed relationships between infection intensity and nutritional morbidities. Higher intensity was associated with an increased risk for anemia (RR = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.

Diarrhoeal outcomes in young children depend on diarrhoeal cases of other household members: a cross-sectional study of 16,025 people in rural Uganda.

Background: There is a limited understanding of how diarrhoeal cases across other household members influence the likelihood of diarrhoea in young children (aged 1-4 years).

Methods: We surveyed 16,025 individuals from 3421 households in 17 villages in Uganda. Using logistic regressions with standard errors clustered by household, diarrhoeal cases within households were used to predict diarrhoeal outcomes in young children.

Review of 2022 WHO guidelines on the control and elimination of schistosomiasis.

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.

Infection History and Current Coinfection With Schistosoma mansoni Decreases Plasmodium Species Intensities in Preschool Children in Uganda.

Malaria-schistosomiasis coinfections are common in sub-Saharan Africa but studies present equivocal results regarding the interspecific relationships between these parasites. Through mixed-model analyses of a dataset of Ugandan preschool children, we explore how current coinfection and prior infection with either Schistosoma mansoni or Plasmodium species alter subsequent Plasmodium intensity, Plasmodium risk, and S mansoni risk. Coinfection and prior infections with S mansoni were associated with reduced Plasmodium intensity, moderated by prior Plasmodium infections, wealth, and host age.

Schistosoma mansoni infection risk for school-aged children clusters within households and is modified by distance to freshwater bodies.

Background: The interaction of socio-demographic and ecological factors with Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infection risk by age and the household clustering of infections between individuals are poorly understood.

Methods: This study examined 1,832 individuals aged 5-90 years across 916 households in Mayuge District, Uganda.

Hepatic schistosomiasis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and health related quality of life measurements from the Albert Nile Basin.

Background: Health related quality of life measurements are vital elements of public health surveillance that uncover unmet health needs and predict the success of health interventions. We described health related quality of life measurements using the EuroQoL 5-dimension (EQ-VAS/EQ-5D) instrument and associated factors among patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) and hepatic schistosomiasis at a rural health facility in the Albert Nile Basin, Uganda.

Methods And Materials: This was a cross-sectional study at Pakwach Health Centre IV.

Praziquantel and Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Hepatic Schistosomiasis: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: There is a general consensus that widespread use of praziquantel in populations where schistosomiasis is endemic prevents development of hepatic schistosomiasis and its complications. However, a few studies have reported discordant findings linking praziquantel to the occurrence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in some patients with hepatic schistosomiasis and varices.

Objective: We explored if there was any causal association between recent praziquantel use (rPZQ) and upper gastrointestinal bleeding in hepatic schistosomiasis in rural Africa.

Anthelminthic treatment receipt and its predictors in Lake Victoria fishing communities, Uganda: Intervention coverage results from the LaVIISWA cluster randomised trial.

Background: Mass drug administration (MDA) is a cornerstone of control of parasitic helminths. In schistosomiasis-endemic areas with >50% of school-aged children infected, community-wide MDA with praziquantel is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), with target coverage of >75%. Using data from a cluster-randomised trial of MDA treatment strategies, we aimed to describe the proportion of eligible residents who received MDA and predictors of treatment receipt, and to assess associations with helminth prevalence.

Risk assessment for the implementation of controlled human infection trials in Uganda.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, and a significant cause of morbidity; it is a priority for vaccine development. A controlled human infection model for (CHI-S) with potential to accelerate vaccine development has been developed among naïve volunteers in the Netherlands. Because responses both to infections and candidate vaccines are likely to differ between endemic and non-endemic settings, we propose to establish a CHI-S in Uganda where is endemic.

Does Intensive Treatment Select for Praziquantel Resistance in High-Transmission Settings? Parasitological Trends and Treatment Efficacy Within a Cluster-Randomized Trial.

Background: Praziquantel mass drug administration (MDA) is recommended in schistosomiasis-endemic areas. Animal models demonstrate parasite resistance to praziquantel after repeated exposure.

Methods: We conducted a parasitological survey in 26 fishing communities in Uganda after 4 years of quarterly (13 communities) or annual (13 communities) praziquantel MDA, with infection detected by single-stool-sample Kato-Katz.

The division of labour between community medicine distributors influences the reach of mass drug administration: A cross-sectional study in rural Uganda.

Background: Despite decades of community-based mass drug administration (MDA) for neglected tropical diseases, it remains an open question as to what constitutes the best combination of community medicine distributors (CMDs) for achieving high (>65%/75%) treatment rates within a village.

Methods: Routine community-based MDA was evaluated in Mayuge District, Uganda. For one month, we tracked 6,148 individuals aged 1+ years in 1,118 households from 28 villages.

Profiling the best-performing community medicine distributors for mass drug administration: a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of treatment for schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and soil-transmitted helminths in Uganda.

Background: The most prevalent neglected tropical diseases are treated through blanket drug distribution that is reliant on lay community medicine distributors (CMDs). Yet, treatment rates achieved by CMDs vary widely and it is not known which CMDs treat the most people.

Methods: In Mayuge District, Uganda, we tracked 6779 individuals (aged 1+ years) in 1238 households across 31 villages.

Molecular characterisation and taxon assemblage typing of giardiasis in primary school children living close to the shoreline of Lake Albert, Uganda.

As part of an epidemiological survey for gastrointestinal parasites in school children across five primary schools on the shoreline of Lake Albert, the prevalence of giardiasis was 87.0% (n = 254) as determined by real-time PCR analysis of faecal samples with a genus-specific 18S rDNA probe. Faecal samples were further characterised with taxon assemblage-specific triose phosphate isomerase (TPI) Taqman® probes and by sequence characterisation of the -giardin gene.

Precision global health and comorbidity: a population-based study of 16 357 people in rural Uganda.

In low-income countries, complex comorbidities and weak health systems confound disease diagnosis and treatment. Yet, data-driven approaches have not been applied to develop better diagnostic strategies or to tailor treatment delivery for individuals within rural poor communities. We observed symptoms/diseases reported within three months by 16 357 individuals aged 1+ years in 17 villages of Mayuge District, Uganda.

Data on the pre-MDA and post MDA interventions for and in a co-endemic focus in Uganda: 1951-2011.

The dataset for this article contains Urinary and Intestinal Schistosomiasis from Lango region, northern Uganda which is the only known co-endemic region for and . Reported in the data, is the retrospective data review for historical information before interventions were implemented before 2003 and after interventions were implemented in 2003 by the national control program. In 2007 and 2011, parasitological surveys were conducted in the region to validate Schistosomiasis trends following World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for surveys.