Freshwater snail faecal metagenomes reveal environmental reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes across two continents.

The transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) from environmental microbes to pathogens is a critical but underexplored One Health driver of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we evaluate freshwater snails, which are geographically widespread aquatic invertebrates, as environmental reservoirs of ARGs. We collected faeces from eight gastropod genera at 15 freshwater locations across Malawi, Uganda, Zanzibar and the UK and conducted the first freshwater snail faecal metagenomic study.

Notes on the threadworm (Nematoda: Strongyloididae) in vervet monkeys () and zoonotic strongyloidiasis in southern Malawi.

We sought to ascertain whether zoonotic strongyloidiasis occurred in vervet monkeys (), a non-human primate (NHP) species becoming increasingly common in Southern Malawi. Faecal collection took place in four locations: Nyala Park, a private wildlife reserve adjacent to a sugarcane plantation in Chikwawa District, and three public locations, each near tourist lodges in Mangochi District. Our sampling took place during July 2023, when 32 faecal samples were inspected with parasitological methods.

Closing the diagnostic gap in male genital schistosomiasis (MGS): current detection tools and novel strategies.

Male genital schistosomiasis (MGS), a gender-specific manifestation of urogenital schistosomiasis and neglected tropical disease, typically results from the entrapment of eggs within the male genital tract. Across the world, there are no current and accurate estimates of the burden of MGS, due to disease underreporting primarily from diagnostic challenges and a lack of general awareness within the health system. Diagnostic methods for MGS are extremely limited.

'Female Genital Schistosomiasis: Translational Challenges and Opportunities' - outputs and actions from a consultative, collaborative and translational workshop.

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a chronic disease manifestation of the waterborne parasitic infection that affects up to 56 million women and girls, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa. Starting from early childhood, this stigmatizing gynaecological condition is caused by the presence of eggs and associated toxins within the genital tract. typically causes debilitating urogenital symptoms, mostly as a consequence of inflammation, which includes bleeding, discharge and lower abdominal pelvic pain.

Three annual cross-sectional community-based Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) and prevalence surveys for urogenital schistosomiasis infection in two rural communities within Mangochi and Nsanje Districts, southern Malawi.

In 2022 the World Health Organization (WHO) issued guidelines with key interventions to control and eliminate schistosomiasis in endemic countries. In Malawi, whilst praziquantel Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaigns have been ongoing for over a decade, implementation of other interventions have not been formally assessed. To help formulation of an integrated country-specific control strategy, we assessed the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) and infection prevalences in two representative rural communities in Mangochi and Nsanje Districts.

Unexpected Zoonotic and Hybrid Schistosome Egg Excretion Patterns, Malawi, 2024.

Two exemplary cases of mixed urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis in Malawi show hybridizations of Schistosoma mattheei with S. haematobium and S. mansoni, indicating newly emerging genetic diversity.

Description of four cases of male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) in children and adolescents, with a scoping review.

We present four cases of male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) within children and adolescents opportunistically encountered as part of a wider screening programme for imported schistosomiasis in Germany and community outreach screening in Mali. Such genital manifestations in young children and adolescents are often overlooked but can include hydrocele, hypogonadism, varicocele, cutaneous granulomata on the penis and scrotum, echogenic spots in the prostate and the epididymis, alongside testicular masses. Though these cases appear sporadic, from our scoping literature review, they draw fresh attention on MGS in young children and highlight wider confusion with other congenital, neoplastic and infectious disease.

Population genetics and molecular xenomonitoring of Biomphalaria freshwater snails along the southern shoreline of Lake Malawi, Malawi.

Background: Intestinal schistosomiasis was confirmed endemic in Mangochi District, Malawi, in May of 2018 following an unexpected encounter with discreet populations of Biomphalaria spp. freshwater snails during routine malacological surveillance activities. Since then, only limited malacological surveillance of Biomphalaria has been carried out, and so the distribution of Biomphalaria populations in this area is currently unclear.

Revealing caprine schistosomiasis and its One Health importance in Malawi: A molecular epidemiological investigation augmented with a praziquantel treatment and GPS animal tracking pilot sub-study.

To shed first light on caprine schistosomiasis and its zoonotic potential in Malawi, we conducted a molecular epidemiological investigation, sampling goats ( = 230) across three districts, using faecal miracidia hatching test. Molecular genotyping of miracidia later revealed the prevalence of to be 0.0 % in Nsanje District ( = 30), 16.

A geospatial analysis of local intermediate snail host distributions provides insight into schistosomiasis risk within under-sampled areas of southern Lake Malawi.

Background: Along the southern shoreline of Lake Malawi, the incidence of schistosomiasis is increasing with snails of the genera Bulinus and Biomphalaria transmitting urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis, respectively. Since the underlying distribution of snails is partially known, often being focal, developing pragmatic spatial models that interpolate snail information across under-sampled regions is required to understand and assess current and future risk of schistosomiasis.

Methods: A secondary geospatial analysis of recently collected malacological and environmental survey data was undertaken.

Highlighting male genital schistosomiasis in Malawi.

Highlighting recent literature, we review the epidemiological and clinical importance of male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) in Malawi. We then discuss why individual disease management is an unmet public health challenge and outline how future interventions should be better set within routine services of HIV and men's sexual and reproductive health clinics.

Female genital schistosomiasis burden and risk factors in two endemic areas in Malawi nested in the Morbidity Operational Research for Bilharziasis Implementation Decisions (MORBID) cross-sectional study.

Background: Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), caused by the parasite Schistosoma haematobium (Sh), is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. FGS is associated with sexual dysfunction and reproductive morbidity, and increased prevalence of HIV and cervical precancerous lesions. Lack of approved guidelines for FGS screening and diagnosis hinder accurate disease burden estimation.

Development, validation, and pilot application of a high throughput molecular xenomonitoring assay to detect and other trematode species within freshwater snail hosts.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by infection with parasitic trematodes of the genus that can lead to debilitating morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization recommend molecular xenomonitoring of spp. freshwater snail intermediate hosts of to identify highly focal intestinal schistosomiasis transmission sites and monitor disease transmission, particularly in low-endemicity areas.

Prospective pilot study on the relationship between seminal HIV-1 shedding and genital schistosomiasis in men receiving antiretroviral therapy along Lake Malawi.

Male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) is hypothesized to increase seminal shedding of HIV-1. This prospective pilot study assessed seminal HIV-1 RNA shedding in men on long-term ART with and without a diagnosis of MGS. Study visits occurred at 0, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.

Molecular Epidemiology and Assemblage Typing of Giardia duodenalis in School-Age Children Situated along the Southern Shoreline of Lake Malawi, Malawi.

Almost all human giardiasis infections are caused by Giardia duodenalis assemblages A and B. Differentiation between human infections with these assemblages, as well as between single-assemblage (A or B) and mixed-assemblage (A and B) infections, is therefore needed to better understand the pathological impact of infection with either, or both, assemblages. We assessed the prevalence of G.

Modelling the age-prevalence relationship in schistosomiasis: A secondary data analysis of school-aged-children in Mangochi District, Lake Malawi.

Schistosomiasis is an aquatic snail borne parasitic disease, with intestinal schistosomiasis (IS) and urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) caused by and infections, respectively. School-aged-children (SAC) are a known vulnerable group and can also suffer from co-infections. Along the shoreline of Lake Malawi a newly emerging outbreak of IS is occurring with increasing UGS co-infection rates.

Correlates of prior HIV testing and schistosomiasis treatment: Baseline survey findings from the "creating demand for fishermen's schistosomiasis HIV services" (FISH) cluster-randomized trial in Mangochi, Malawi.

Background: Fishing exposes fishermen to schistosomiasis-infested fresh water and concurrently through precarious livelihoods to risky sexual behaviour, rendering these two infections occupational hazards for fishermen. This study aimed to characterize the knowledge of the two conditions to obtain necessary data for a subsequent cluster randomized trial designed to investigate demand creation strategies for joint HIV-schistosomiasis service provision in fishing villages on the shores of southern Lake Malawi.

Methods: Enumeration of all resident fishermen in 45 clusters (fishing communities) was carried out between November 2019 and February 2020.