03592nas a2200289 4500000000100000008004100001260002000042653002000062653003100082653003100113653002800144100001300172700001900185700001300204700001400217700001300231700001200244700001600256700001600272700001500288700001300303700001400316700001600330245019300346856009700539520266600636 2020 d bResearch Square 10 aschistosomiasis 10 aIntestinal Schistosomiasis 10 aUrogenital schistosomiasis 10 aPrimary school children 1 aKayuni S 1 aO’Ferrall AM 1 aBaxter H 1 aHesketh J 1 aMainga B 1 aLally D 1 aAl-Harbi MH 1 aLaCourse EJ 1 aJuziwelo L 1 aMusaya J 1 aMakaula P 1 aStothard JR 00 aAn outbreak of intestinal schistosomiasis, alongside increasing urogenital schistosomiasis prevalence, in primary school children on the shoreline of Lake Malawi, Mangochi District, Malawi uhttps://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-26662/v2/5ce16f40-c382-4b3c-91ed-d084d7e91ffb.pdf 3 aAbstract
Background: Intestinal schistosomiasis was not considered endemic in Lake Malawi until November 2017 when populations of Biomphalaria pfeifferi were first reported; in May 2018, emergence of intestinal schistosomiasis was confirmed. This emergence was in spite of ongoing control of urogenital schistosomiasis by preventive chemotherapy. Our current study sought to ascertain whether intestinal schistosomiasis is transitioning from emergence to outbreak, to judge if stepped-up control interventions are needed.Methods: During late-May 2019, three cross-sectional surveys of primary school children for schistosomiasis were conducted using a combination of rapid diagnostic tests, parasitological examinations and applied morbidity-markers; 1) schistosomiasis dynamics were assessed at Samama (n=80) and Mchoka (n=80) schools, where Schistosoma mansoni was first reported, 2) occurrence of S. mansoni was investigated at two non-sampled schools, MOET (Mangochi Orphan Education and Training) (n=60) and Koche (n=60) schools, where B. pfeifferi was nearby, and 3) rapid mapping of schistosomiasis, and B. pfeifferi, conducted across a further 8 shoreline schools (n=240). Results: In total, 520 children from 12 lakeshore primary schools were examined, mean prevalence of S. mansoni by ‘positive’ urine CCA-dipsticks was 31.5% [95% CI 27.5 – 35.5]. Upon comparisons of infection prevalence in May 2018, significant increases at Samama (RR=1.7 [95% CI 1.4 – 2.2]) and Mchoka (RR= 2.7 [95% CI 1.7 – 4.3]) schools were observed. Intestinal schistosomiasis was confirmed at MOET (18.3%) and Koche (35.0%) schools, and in all rapid mapping schools, ranging from 10.0% to 56.7%. Several populations of B. pfeifferi were confirmed, with two new eastern shoreline locations noted. Mean prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis was 24.0% [95% CI 20.3 – 27.7]. Conclusions: We notify that intestinal schistosomiasis, once considered non-endemic in Lake Malawi, is now transitioning from emergence to outbreak. Once control interventions can resume after COVID-19, we recommend stepped-up preventive chemotherapy, with increased community-access to treatments, alongside renewed efforts in appropriate environmental control.