Schistosome Infection is Associated with High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Persistence, Together with Altered Cervicovaginal Microbiota.

Schistosoma haematobium infection may impair female genital mucosal antiviral defense. We sought to determine whether women with S. haematobium infection had higher odds of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) persistence, a pre-requisite to cervical cancer.

T cell responses in repeated controlled human schistosome infection compared to natural exposure.

In Schistosoma-endemic regions a lack of natural sterilizing immunity means individuals are repeatedly infected, treated and reinfected. Due to difficulties in tracking natural infection, kinetics of host immune response during these reinfections have not been elucidated. Here, we use repeated (3x) controlled-human-Schistosoma mansoni infection (CHI) to study how antigen-specific T cells develop during reinfection (NCT05085470 study).

Validation of urinary biomarkers for accurate diagnosis of urinary tract infections in older adults across primary care, hospitals and long-term care facilities in the Netherlands and UK (UTI-GOLD): a multicentre observational study protocol.

Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are highly prevalent and pose a significant burden among older adults. Accurate diagnosis in this population is challenging due to the high prevalence of pre-existing lower urinary tract symptoms, inability to express symptoms and asymptomatic bacteriuria. Current diagnostic tests are unreliable, often resulting in over- and underdiagnosis.

Urogenital Schistosomiasis Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Burkina Faso.

There is significant overlap in the global distribution of malaria and neglected tropical diseases, with the largest health burden in Sub-Saharan Africa, where areas are co-endemic for malaria and schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, or lymphatic filariasis. Some studies suggest that helminth infections may increase susceptibility to malaria, but evidence is limited. This study investigated the association between urogenital schistosomiasis and the risk of Plasmodium falciparum (P.

Detecting Schistosoma infections in endemic countries: a diagnostic accuracy study in rural Madagascar.

Background: Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni are endemic in Madagascar, but reliable diagnostic tools are often lacking, contributing to exacerbate transmission and morbidity. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of three tests for schistosome infection in Malagasy adults from areas of medium to high endemicity.

Anti-phenolic glycolipid antibodies in infected cattle.

, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), causes significant financial losses in the agricultural industry. Additionally, transmission from animals to humans can result in zoonotic TB, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), highlighting the need to enhance One Health surveillance to mitigate this threat. Antibodies directed against a major mycobacterial cell wall component of , phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I), have shown excellent performance in identifying infection in humans and animals.

Detection and analysis of Serpin and RP26 specific antibodies for monitoring Schistosoma haematobium transmission.

Background: Schistosoma haematobium is the causative pathogen for urogenital schistosomiasis. To achieve progress towards schistosomiasis elimination, there is a critical need for developing highly sensitive and specific tools to monitor transmission in near-elimination settings. Although antibody detection is a promising approach, it is usually unable to discriminate active infections from past ones.

Detecting two circulating antigens - CCA and CAA - in urine and serum to improve diagnosis of human schistosomiasis.

Background: Schistosomiasis is caused by infection with parasitic worms and affects more than 250 million people globally. The detection of schistosome derived circulating cathodic and anodic antigens (CCA and CAA) has proven highly valuable for detecting active infections, causing both intestinal and urinary schistosomiasis.

Aim: The combined detection of CCA and CAA was explored to improve accuracy in detecting infections.

Identification of a circulating carbohydrate antigen as a highly specific and sensitive target for schistosomiasis serology.

Unlabelled: The World Health Organization (WHO) 2030 roadmap for schistosomiasis calls for development of highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tools to continue and sustain progress towards elimination. Serological assays are excellent for sensitive detection of primary schistosome infections and for schistosomiasis surveillance in near- and post-elimination settings. To develop accurate assay formats, it is necessary to identify defined antibody targets with low cross-reactivity and potential for standardized production.

Schistosome and malaria exposure and urban-rural differences in vaccine responses in Uganda: a causal mediation analysis using data from three linked randomised controlled trials.

Background: Vaccine immunogenicity and effectiveness vary geographically. Chronic immunomodulating parasitic infections including schistosomes and malaria have been hypothesised to be mediators of geographical variations.

Methods: We compared vaccine-specific immune responses between three Ugandan settings (schistosome-endemic rural, malaria-endemic rural, and urban) and did causal mediation analysis to assess the role of Schistosoma mansoni and malaria exposure in observed differences.

The effect of BCG revaccination on the response to unrelated vaccines in urban Ugandan adolescents (POPVAC C): an open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Immune responses induced by several important vaccines differ between populations, with reduced responses in low-income and rural settings compared with high-income and urban settings. BCG immunisation boosts immune responses to some unrelated vaccines in high-income populations. We aimed to test the hypothesis that BCG revaccination can enhance responses to unrelated vaccines in Ugandan schoolchildren.

The effect of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine on vaccine-specific responses among schoolchildren in rural Uganda (POPVAC B): a double-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Several important vaccines differ in immunogenicity and efficacy between populations. We hypothesised that malaria suppresses responses to unrelated vaccines and that this effect can be reversed-at least partially-by monthly malaria intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) in high-transmission settings.

Methods: We conducted an individually randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the effect of malaria IPT with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine on vaccine responses among schoolchildren aged 9-17 years in Jinja district, Uganda.

The effect of intensive praziquantel administration on vaccine-specific responses among schoolchildren in Ugandan schistosomiasis-endemic islands (POPVAC A): an open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Vaccine responses differ between populations and are often impaired in rural and low-income settings. The reasons for this are not fully understood, but observational data suggest that the immunomodulating effects of parasitic helminths might contribute. We hypothesised that Schistosoma mansoni infection suppresses responses to unrelated vaccines, and that suppression could be reversed-at least in part-by intensive praziquantel administration.

Safety and efficacy of praziquantel in pregnant women infected with Schistosoma haematobium in Lambaréné, Gabon - Clinical results from the randomized, single-blinded, controlled freeBILy-Gabon trial.

Objectives: Despite evidence of praziquantel's (PZQ) safety for treating schistosomiasis in pregnancy, many countries withhold treatment. Only two randomized controlled trials have investigated PZQ in pregnancy, none involving Schistosoma haematobium.

Methods: Pregnant women during the second trimester in Lambaréné (Gabon) were screened for S.

Comparative evaluation of plasma biomarkers of Schistosoma haematobium infection in endemic populations from Burkina Faso.

Infection with Schistosoma haematobium causes urogenital disease associated with organ disfunction, bleeding, pain, and higher susceptibility to infections and cancer. Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for prompt and appropriate treatment as well as surveillance efforts, and the use of plasma biomarkers offers important advantages over parasitological examination of urine, including increased sensitivity and the possibility to use the same specimen for multiple investigations. The present study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of different plasma biomarkers in endemic populations from Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Molecular and Serological Surveillance for and in Wild Red Squirrels () from Scotland and Northern England.

Leprosy is a poverty-associated infectious disease in humans caused by or , often resulting in skin and peripheral nerve damage, which remains a significant public health concern in isolated areas of low- and middle-income countries. Previous studies reported leprosy in red squirrels in the British Isles, despite the fact that autochthonous human cases have been absent for centuries in this region. To investigate the extent of and presence in wild red squirrels in the northern UK, we analyzed 220 blood/body cavity fluid samples from opportunistically sampled red squirrels (2004-2023) for specific antibodies against phenolic glycolipid-I, a cell wall component specific for these leprosy bacilli.

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.

Flow-S: A Field-Deployable Device with Minimal Hands-On Effort to Concentrate and Quantify Circulating Anodic Antigen (CAA) from Large Urine Volumes.

A laboratory-based lateral flow (LF) test that utilizes up-converting reporter particles (UCP) for ultrasensitive quantification of circulating anodic antigen (CAA) in urine is a well-accepted test to identify active infection. However, this UCP-LF CAA test requires sample pre-treatment steps not compatible with field applications. Flow, a new low-cost disposable, allows integration of large-volume pre-concentration of urine analytes and LF detection into a single field-deployable device.

Clinical and Demographic Factors Associated With Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Shedding in Saliva or Cervical Secretions in a Cohort of Tanzanian Women.

Background: Reasons for the high prevalence of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in sub-Saharan Africa, and risk factors leading to viral reactivation and shedding, remain largely undefined. Preliminary studies have suggested that schistosome infection, which has been associated with impaired viral control, is associated with KSHV. In this study we sought to determine the relationship between active or infection and KSHV shedding.

Schistosome infection among pregnant women in the rural highlands of Madagascar: A cross-sectional study calling for public health interventions in vulnerable populations.

Introduction: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with Madagascar being among the countries with highest burden of the disease worldwide. Despite WHO recommendations, suggesting treatment of pregnant women after the first trimester, this group is still excluded from Mass Drug Administration programs. Our study, had the objective to measure the prevalence of schistosome infection among pregnant women in Madagascar in order to inform public health policies for treatment in this vulnerable population.

Validation of artificial intelligence-based digital microscopy for automated detection of Schistosoma haematobium eggs in urine in Gabon.

Introduction: Schistosomiasis is a significant public health concern, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conventional microscopy is the standard diagnostic method in resource-limited settings, but with limitations, such as the need for expert microscopists. An automated digital microscope with artificial intelligence (Schistoscope), offers a potential solution.