Schistosomiasis in School Age Children in Sierra Leone After 6 Years of Mass Drug Administration With Praziquantel

Abstract

Historic data and baseline surveys showed schistosomiasis as highly/moderately endemic in 7 of 14 districts in Sierra Leone, justifying annual/biennial mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel. MDA commenced in 2009 and reported treatment coverage had been above the World Health Organization recommended 75% of target population. Assessment in 2012 showed significant reduction in infection. In 2016, another national school-based survey was conducted to evaluate the progress. Two schools from each category (high, moderate or low) of endemic communities in each MDA district and five schools in non-MDA districts were selected. Fifty children (25 boys and 25 girls) aged 9–14 years were randomly selected per school. Parasitological examination of 1,980 stool and 1,382 urine samples were conducted. Overall Schistosoma mansoni prevalence in the seven MDA districts decreased to 20.4% (95% CI: 18.7–22.3%) in 2016 from 42.2% (95% CI: 39.8–44.5%) at baseline ( p < 0.0001). Mean overall S. mansoni intensity of infection reduced to 52.8 epg (95% CI: 43.2–62.4 epg) in 2016 from 100.5 epg (95% CI: 88.7–112.3 epg) at baseline ( p < 0.001). The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium in the five MDA districts that had baseline prevalence data decreased to 2.2% (95% CI: 1.5–3.1%) in 2016 from 18.3% (95% CI: 16.3–20.5%) at baseline ( p < 0.0001). Mean overall intensity of infection increased to 1.12 e/10 ml (95% CI: 0.55–0.1.70 e/10 ml) in 2016 compared to 0.47 e/10 ml (95% CI: 0.16–0.78 e/10 ml) in 2012 ( p < 0.05) (no baseline data). No district was highly endemic in 2016 compared to three at baseline and there was no significant difference in prevalence or intensity of infection by sex for both species. This survey illustrated the significant progress made in controlling schistosomiasis in Sierra Leone. The fact that prevalence and intensity of infection showed an increase from the 2010 level suggested a detrimental effect of missing MDA due to the Ebola toward schistosomiasis control. The national program needs to continue the treatment and adopt a comprehensive approach including water, hygiene, and sanitation measures to achieve control and elimination of schistosomiasis.

Socio-demographic, social, cognitive, and emotional correlates of adherence to physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

“…However, it was not the perceived benefits for protecting oneself but rather the benefits for protecting others and solving the situation that was independently associated with adherence in this study. The sense of common fate experienced during a pandemic may lead to an emergent shared social identity that increases care and concern for others, sometimes referred to as a “disaster community” (Drury et al 2019 ). Evolutionary, collective threats to survival are best managed if groups give themselves clear and strict rules as well as a collective quest for adherence to these rules for the benefit of others (Drury et al 2019 ).…”

“…Social-cognitive models of behaviour change typically focus on the appraisals of health threat on the self rather than on collective well-being. However, a pandemic poses a significant health threat to entire communities, which may lead to an emergent shared social identity (Drury et al 2019 ). This sense of common fate can shift the boundaries of in-group and out-group membership, lead to greater concerns for others affected by the pandemic, and facilitate collective action.…”

“…A meta-analysis indicated that both descriptive and injunctive social norms are independently associated with the intention to engage in health behaviours (Rivis and Sheeran 2003 ). In addition, injunctive personal norms, or moral norms, may be particularly important when predicting behaviour that has consequences for the welfare of others, especially during a pandemic (Drury et al 2019 ; Manstead 2000 ). Injunctive personal norms reflect the internalized moral rules involving self-approval of a given behaviour and an ascription of responsibility of the self to engage in certain prosocial behaviour (Manstead 2000 ).…”

Detection of zoonotic pathogens in animals performed at the University Hospital Institute Méditerranée Infection (Marseille – France)

“…Non-human primates (NHPs), particularly the great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans), are the animals that are phylogenetically closest to humans, with whom they share the greatest number of diseases. NHPs are wild animals that may have occasional contact with humans, for example in the course poaching activities, where pathogens may be transmitted to humans and can cause potential emerging diseases [ 12 ]. A synthesis of studies conducted at the IHU, using mainly faeces from great apes, has been published recently [ 13 ].…”

Taxonomic classification of strain PO100/5 shows a broader geographic distribution and genetic markers of the recently described Corynebacterium silvaticum

“…ulcerans [ 11 – 13 ], and are known to transmit pathogens to humans and other domestic animals [ 11 , 12 , 14 ]. Rapid, simple and reliable identification of this new species is essential for diagnosis, treatment and surveillance [ 15 , 16 ]. To better understand the taxonomy of PO100/5, we performed a comparative analysis of 34 C .…”