Detection of male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) by real-time TaqMan® PCR analysis of semen from fishermen along the southern shoreline of Lake Malawi

Kayuni, Sekeleghe, Alharbi, Mohammad, Shaw, Alexandra, Fawcett, Joanna, Makaula, Peter, Lampiao, Fanuel, Juziwelo, Lazarus, LaCourse, James ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9261-7136, Verweij, Jaco J. and Stothard, Russell ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9370-3420 (2023) 'Detection of male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) by real-time TaqMan® PCR analysis of semen from fishermen along the southern shoreline of Lake Malawi'. Heliyon, Vol 9, Issue 7, e17338.

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Abstract

Background
Male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) is an underappreciated complication of schistosomiasis, first described in 1911. However, its epidemiology, diagnostic testing and case management are not well understood in sub-Saharan Africa. To shed new light on MGS prevalence in Malawi, a longitudinal cohort study was conducted among adult fishermen along the southern shoreline of Lake Malawi using detection of schistosome DNA in participants’ semen by real-time TaqMan® PCR analyses.

Methods
Upon recruitment of 376 participants, 210 submitted urine samples and 114 semen samples for parasitological tests. Thereafter, the available semen samples were subsequently analysed by real-time TaqMan® PCR. Praziquantel (PZQ) treatment was provided to all participants with follow-ups attempted at 1, 3, 6 and 12-months’ intervals.

Results
At baseline, real-time PCR detected a higher MGS cohort prevalence of 26.6% (n = 64, Ct-value range: 18.9–37.4), compared to 10.4% by semen microscopy. In total, 21.9% of participants (n = 114) were detected with MGS either by semen microscopy and/or by real-time PCR. Subsequent analyses at 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups indicated variable detection dynamics.

Conclusions
This first application of a molecular method, to detect MGS in sub-Saharan Africa, highlights the need for development of such molecular diagnostic tests which should be affordable and locally accessible. Our investigation also notes the persistence of MGS over a calendar year despite praziquantel treatment.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 680 Tropical diseases (General) WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 810 Schistosomiasis
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology Clinical Sciences & International Health > Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Programme (MLW) Education
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17338
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User:	JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited:	29 Jun 2023 10:59
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2023 13:13
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/22692

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