Longitudinal wastewater-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 during 2023 in Ethiopia.

Introduction: Although wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) successfully functioned as a tool for monitoring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic globally, relatively little is known about its utility in low-income countries. This study aimed to quantify severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in wastewater, estimate the number of infected individuals in the catchment areas, and correlate the results with the clinically reported COVID-19 cases in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: A total of 323 influent and 33 effluent wastewater samples were collected from three Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) using a 24-h composite Moore swab sampling method from February to November 2023.

Serological and molecular analysis of Leishmania infection in a recent outbreak of visceral leishmaniasis in South Omo Zone, Ethiopia.

Background: Ethiopia has a high burden of visceral leishmaniasis. Recently, there was a significant increase in cases in the South Omo Zone. This study aims to assess the prevalence of Leishmania donovani infection and its associated factors.

Associations of Plasmodium and Intestinal Helminth Infections with Maternal Anemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Northwest Ethiopia.

Malaria and intestinal helminth infections are significant public health challenges in Ethiopia. However, little is known about the relationship of Plasmodium and intestinal helminth infections in pregnancy with maternal anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. A health-facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 526 parturients in northwest Ethiopia to investigate the associations of these parasitic infections with anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Plasmodium infections and associated risk factors among parturients in Jawi district, northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Pregnant women have an increased risk of Plasmodium infections and disease. Malaria in pregnancy is a major public health problem in endemic areas. Assessment of the burden and risk factors of malaria in pregnancy across different malaria transmission settings is required to guide control strategies and for malaria elimination.

Reemergence of Human African Trypanosomiasis Caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Ethiopia.

We report 4 cases of human African trypanosomiasis that occurred in Ethiopia in 2022, thirty years after the last previously reported case in the country. Two of 4 patients died before medicine became available. We identified the infecting parasite as Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.

Evaluating performance of multiplex real time PCR for the diagnosis of malaria at elimination targeted low transmission settings of Ethiopia.

Background: Malaria incidence has declined in Ethiopia in the past 10 years. Current malaria diagnostic tests, including light microscopy and rapid antigen-detecting diagnostic tests (RDTs) cannot reliably detect low-density infections. Studies have shown that nucleic acid amplification tests are highly sensitive and specific in detecting malaria infection.