BACKGROUND Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium are co-endemic in many areas in Africa. Yet, little is known about the micro-geographical distribution of these two infections or associated disease within such foci. Such knowledge could give important insights into the drivers of infection and disease and as such better tailor schistosomiasis control and elimination efforts. METHODOLOGY In a...

BACKGROUND Bladder cancer is a significant health problem in rural areas of Africa and the Middle East where Schistosoma haematobium is prevalent, supporting an association between malignant transformation and infection by this blood fluke. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms linking these events are poorly understood. Bladder cancers in infected populations are generally diagnosed at a late...

OBJECTIVE To predict the spatial distributions of Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni infections to assist planning the implementation of mass distribution of praziquantel as part of an on-going national control programme in Tanzania. METHODS Bayesian geostatistical models were developed using parasitological data from 143 schools. RESULTS In the S. haematobium models, although land surf...

A helminthological study of stool and urine samples from 1037 people from 4 rural communities in Gumau District of Bauchi State, Nigeria, was carried out using formol-ether concentration and direct centrifugation methods respectively. 39.0% of persons examined were infected. Ova of Ascaris lumbricoides, Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni were the most common. Trichuris trichiura, hookworm, ...

AIM To study impact of once weekly iron supplementation on praziquantel cure rate, Schistosoma haematobium reinfection, and haematological parameters in pupils aged between 9 and 15 years of age in Nchelenge district, Zambia. METHODS Pupils in the intervention group received once weekly dose of ferrous sulphate at 200 mg while those in the control received once weekly vitamin C at 100 mg for ...

The teguments of males from 5 populations of S. mattheei, of which 3 were sympatric and 2 allopatric with S. haematobium, were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A certain percentage of the males of each sympatric population bore tubercle spines while the allopatric populations were spineless. It is postulated that the presence of tubercle spines is a characteristic inherit...

Previous investigations have shown that in the Lake Region of Sukumaland, Tanganyika, where Schistosoma haematobium is highly endemic, Bulinus (Physopsis) nasutus is responsible for the transmission of that schistosome in small, temporary rain pools. This area is one of low rainfall, and large artificial reservoirs are the chief source of water in the dry season. The role of these reservoirs in...

Causal agents of schistosomiasis are dioecious, digenean schistosomes affecting mankind in 76 countries. Preventive measures manifold but need to be complemented by vaccination for long-term protection; vaccine candidates advanced pre-clinical/clinical stages include Sm14, Sm-TSP-2/Sm-TSP-2Al®, Smp80/SchistoShield®, and Sh28GST/Bilhvax®. Natural anthropogenic changes impact on breaking species ...

BACKGROUND The global distribution map of schistosomiasis shows a large overlap of Schistosoma haematobium- and S. mansoni-endemic areas in Africa. Yet, little is known about the consequences of mixed Schistosoma infections for the human host. A recent study in two neighboring co-endemic communities in Senegal indicated that infection intensities of both species were higher in mixed than in sin...

BACKGROUND Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni are blood flukes that cause urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis, respectively. In Côte d'Ivoire, both species are endemic and control efforts are being scaled up. Accurate knowledge of the geographical distribution, including delineation of high-risk areas, is a central feature for spatial targeting of interventions. Thus far, mod...