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Detection of male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) associated with human, zoonotic and hybrid schistosomes in Southern Malawi

Kayuni, Sekeleghe, Cunningham, Lucas, Mainga, Bright, Kumwenda, Dingase, Jnr, David Lally, Chammudzi, Priscilla, Kapira, Donales, Namacha, Gladys, Chisale, Alice, Nchembe, Tereza, Kinley, Louis, Chibwana, Ephraim, Ntaba, Bessie, Chapweteka, Gilbert, Khumalo, Waleke, Chibowa, Henry, Kumfunda, Victor, Juhász, Alexandra, Jones, Sam, Archer, John, O'Ferrall, Angus M., Rollason, Sarah, Chiphwanya, John, Makaula, Peter, LaCourse, James ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9261-7136, Musaya, Janelisa and Stothard, Russell ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9370-3420 (2024) 'Detection of male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) associated with human, zoonotic and hybrid schistosomes in Southern Malawi'. BMC Infectious Diseases, Vol 24, Issue 1, p. 839.

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Abstract

Background
Male Genital Schistosomiasis (MGS) remains an often-overlooked chronic sequela of urogenital schistosomiasis in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa. As part of a 2-year longitudinal study on Hybridization of UroGenital Schistosomiasis (HUGS) in Malawi, a MGS sub-study was conducted to assess whether hybrid schistosomes were incriminated.

Methods
During recruitment, demographic, health and socio-economic data were collected through individual questionnaire interviews in Mthawira community from Nsanje District along Shire River and Samama community from Mangochi District along Lake Malawi shoreline. Urine and semen samples were collected and analysed to determine the identity of schistosome infection. Urine filtration and microscopy, direct microscopy of semen and its sediments (after centrifugation) were performed. Thereafter, the sediments were examined by molecular DNA analysis with a novel two-tube real-time PCR assay. The participants were also screened for Human papilloma virus (HPV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Results
Twenty-two men were recruited for the sub-study, 8 in Nsanje District and 14 in Mangochi District, with a median age of 22.0 years. By microscopy, ten (45.7%) participants had Schistosoma ova in their urine, 11 (50.0%) in semen while 16 (72.7%) were positive by real-time PCR. One participant had both S. haematobium and S. mattheei ova in his semen, three showed symptoms, and one had a mixed infection of S. mansoni and possible S. haematobium-S. mattheei hybrid. Twelve men had detectable high-risk HPV serotypes 16, 18 and others while six had Trichomonas vaginalis and other STIs.

Conclusion
Zoonotic and hybrid schistosomes can cause MGS similar to human schistosomes, which can be co-infected with HPV and STIs, thereby posing a new challenge in diagnosis, management and control measures in resource poor settings. Increased awareness of these infections among local communities and primary healthcare workers and improvement of disease management are needed and advocated.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: WA Public Health > Preventive Medicine > WA 110 Prevention and control of communicable diseases. Transmission of infectious diseases
WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 810 Schistosomiasis
Faculty: Department: Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology
Education
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09732-z
SWORD Depositor: JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User: JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited: 09 Sep 2024 15:22
Last Modified: 08 Oct 2024 09:33
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/25185

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