scholarly journals Three monthly doses of 60 mg/kg praziquantel for Schistosoma haematobium infection is a safe and effective treatment regimen.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Nkansah Darko ◽  
Henry Hanson ◽  
Sampson Twumasi Ankrah ◽  
Sandra Baffour ◽  
Priscilla Adjei-Kusi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Praziquantel (PZQ) is the standard treatment for Schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is evidence suggesting praziquantel treatment failure in Schistosome infections with associated potential renal impairment. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of three monthly doses of 60 mg/kg/day PZQ on schistosome egg count, liver and renal function during the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in Ghana. Methods A nested case-control study was designed from a cohort screened for schistosomiasis; 28 schistosomiasis positive cases by microscopy matched with 53 healthy controls by age and gender. The study population was urban dwellers from the Asokwa sub-metropolitan area, Kumasi in Ghana. Participants were within the age range of 6 to 30 years. We assessed Schistosoma haematobium egg counts in urine and its associated impact on liver and renal function at baseline, treatment and post-treatment phases using serum. Results Of the 28 cases and 53 controls, 78.6% and (81.1% were males respectively. Globulin levels before treatment was higher in cases [36.7 (32.8, 40.1) vrs 30.5 (22.4, 33.8) , p=0.005] at pre-treatment but not at post-treatment [35.8 (31.2, 39.1)vrs 37.4 (29.7, 43.0), p= 0.767]. Estimated cure rate was 42.9%, 46.4% and 96.4% after first, second and third dose respectively. Schistosome egg counts dropped significantly (p= 0.001) from before second dose to post-treatment. Similarly, levels of alanine aminotransferase (p=0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.028) and gamma glutamyl transferase (p=0.001) significantly declined towards post-treatment. Estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly improved from before second dose to post-treatment using both the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Program (p=0.001) and 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (p=0.002) equations. Conclusion Treatment of urinary Schistosoma hematobium infections with a repeated high monthly dose of 60 mg/kg of praziquantel for 3 months is safe and effective.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Nkansah Darko ◽  
Henry Hanson ◽  
Sampson Twumasi Ankrah ◽  
Sandra Baffour ◽  
Priscilla Adjei-Kusi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Praziquantel (PZQ) is the standard treatment for Schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is evidence suggesting praziquantel treatment failure in Schistosome infections with associated potential renal impairment. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of three monthly doses of 60 mg/kg/day PZQ on schistosome egg count, liver and renal function during the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in Ghana.Methods: A nested case-control study was designed from a cohort screened for schistosomiasis; 28 schistosomiasis positive cases by microscopy matched with 53 healthy controls by age and gender. The study population was urban dwellers from the Asokwa sub-metropolitan area, Kumasi in Ghana. Participants were within the age range of 6 to 30 years. We assessed Schistosoma haematobium egg counts in urine and its associated impact on liver and renal function at baseline, treatment and post-treatment phases using serum. Results: Of the 28 cases and 53 controls, 78.6% and (81.1% were males respectively. Globulin levels before treatment was higher in cases [36.7 (32.8, 40.1) vrs 30.5 (22.4, 33.8), p=0.005] at pre-treatment but not at post-treatment [35.8 (31.2, 39.1) vrs 37.4 (29.7, 43.0), p= 0.767]. Estimated cure rate was 42.9%, 46.4% and 96.4% after first, second and third dose respectively. Schistosome egg counts dropped significantly (p= 0.001) from before second dose to post-treatment. Similarly, levels of alanine aminotransferase (p=0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.028) and gamma glutamyl transferase (p=0.001) significantly declined towards post-treatment. Estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly improved from before second dose to post-treatment using both the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Program (p=0.001) and 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (p=0.002) equations. Conclusion: Treatment of urinary Schistosoma hematobium infections with a repeated high monthly dose of 60 mg/kg of praziquantel for 3 months is safe and effective.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Nkansah Darko ◽  
Henry Hanson ◽  
Sampson Twumasi Ankrah ◽  
Sandra Baffour ◽  
Priscilla Adjei-Kusi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Praziquantel (PZQ) is the standard treatment for Schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is evidence suggesting praziquantel treatment failure in Schistosome infections with associated potential renal impairment. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of three monthly doses of 60 mg/kg/day PZQ on schistosome egg count, liver and renal function during the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in Ghana.Methods: A nested case-control study was designed from a cohort screened for schistosomiasis; 28 schistosomiasis positive cases by microscopy matched with 53 healthy controls by age and gender. The study population was urban dwellers from the Asokwa sub-metropolitan area, Kumasi in Ghana. Participants were within the age range of 6 to 30 years. We assessed S. haematobium egg counts in urine and its associated impact on liver and renal function at baseline, treatment and post-treatment phases. Results: Of the 28 cases and 53 controls, 78.6% and (81.1% were males respectively. Globulin levels before treatment was higher in cases [(36.92±1.46 vrs 27.88±1.49), p=0001] at pre-treatment but not at post-treatment [(35.35±1.28 vrs 37.26±1.77), p= 0.391]. Estimated cure rate was 42.9%, 46.4% and 96.4% after first, second and third dose respectively. Schistosome egg counts dropped significantly (p= 0.001) from before second dose to post-treatment. Similarly, levels of alanine aminotransferase (p=0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.028) and gamma glutamyl transferase (p=0.001) significantly declined towards post-treatment. Estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly improved from before second dose to post-treatment using both the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Program (p=0.001) and 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (p=0.002) equations. Conclusion: Treatment of urinary Schistosoma hematobium infections with a repeated high monthly dose of 60 mg/kg of praziquantel for 3 months could be an effective and safe alternative for the current treatment option 40 mg/kg body weight.


Author(s):  
Ajibade O. Oyeyemi ◽  
Olatunde A. Oseni ◽  
Adebimpe O. Babatunde ◽  
Olorunfemi R. Molehin

AbstractBackgroundCadmium serves as a major pollutant in the environment and it has been documented for its widespread harmful effects. This study sought to investigate the prophylactic and the curative effects of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Polyalthia longifolia against cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.MethodsAnimals in group I served as the normal control and administered distilled water only for 14 days, group II was administered cadmium (4 mg/kg/body weight) for 7 days, groups III and IV rats served as the prophylactic group and were pre-treated with P. longifolia aqueous and methanolic leaf extract for 7 days and then exposed to cadmium for another 7 days, serving as pre-treatment group, groups V, VI, VII, and VIII served as curative groups and were first exposed to cadmium for 7 days and then post-treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract and 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of methanolic extract P. longifolia for another 7 days.ResultsPre- and post-treatment with both extracts of P. longifolia revealed a significant hepatoprotective ability by decreasing the alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, acid phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase enzymatic activities were elevated due to cadmium intoxication. Pre- and post-treatment with aqueous and methanolic extract of P. longifolia extract significantly decreased hepatic malondialdehyde levels, together with an improvement in the antioxidant status of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, and reduced glutathione of rats exposed to cadmium. Histopathology examinations also confirm the above biochemical findings.ConclusionThe findings from this work suggested that P. longifolia may be beneficial in ameliorating the cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats.


Author(s):  
Simplice A. Asongu ◽  
Joseph Amankwah‐Amoah ◽  
Rexon T. Nting ◽  
Godfred Adjapong Afrifa

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 496
Author(s):  
Caroline Deignan ◽  
Alison Swartz ◽  
Sara Cooper ◽  
Christopher J. Colvin

Cervical cancer rates in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are amongst the highest worldwide. All three of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines (9-valent, quadrivalent and bivalent HPV vaccine) provide primary protection against the most common cancer-causing strains of HPV (types 16 and 18) that are known to cause 70% of cervical cancers. Over the last five years, there has been an increase in Sub-Saharan African countries that have introduced the HPV vaccine. The majority of research has been conducted on supply-side barriers and facilitators to HPV vaccination uptake in SSA, yet little research has been conducted on demand-side or end-user perspectives of, and decisions around, HPV vaccination. In order to complement existing research, and inform current and future HPV vaccination implementation approaches, this qualitative systematic review explored Stakeholders’ understandings of HPV vaccination in SSA. This review searched the following databases: Embase (via Scopus), Scopus, MEDLINE (via PubMed), PubMed, EBSCOhost, Academic Search Premier, Africa-Wide Information, CINAHL, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, SocINDEX, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL) and found a total of 259 articles. Thirty-one studies were found eligible for inclusion and were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s methods for conducting a thematic analysis. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. Three major themes emerged from this analysis; knowledge of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer is intertwined with misinformation; fear has shaped contradictory perceptions about HPV vaccination and gender dynamics are relevant in how stakeholders understand HPV vaccination in SSA.


Parasitology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 147 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne K. Angora ◽  
Jean-François Allienne ◽  
Olivier Rey ◽  
Hervé Menan ◽  
André O. Touré ◽  
...  

AbstractSchistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease, though it is highly prevalent in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. While Schistosoma haematobium-bovis hybrids have been reported in West Africa, no data about Schistosoma hybrids in humans are available from Côte d'Ivoire. This study aimed to identify and quantify S. haematobium-bovis hybrids among schoolchildren in four localities of Côte d'Ivoire. Urine samples were collected and examined by filtration to detect Schistosoma eggs. Eggs were hatched and 503 miracidia were individually collected and stored on Whatman® FTA cards for molecular analysis. Individual miracidia were molecularly characterized by analysis of mitochondrial cox1 and nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS 2) DNA regions. A mitochondrial cox1-based diagnostic polymerase chain reaction was performed on 459 miracidia, with 239 (52.1%) exhibiting the typical band for S. haematobium and 220 (47.9%) the S. bovis band. The cox1 and ITS 2 amplicons were Sanger sequenced from 40 randomly selected miracidia to confirm species and hybrids status. Among the 33 cox1 sequences analysed, we identified 15 S. haematobium sequences (45.5%) belonging to seven haplotypes and 18 S. bovis sequences (54.5%) belonging to 12 haplotypes. Of 40 ITS 2 sequences analysed, 31 (77.5%) were assigned to pure S. haematobium, four (10.0%) to pure S. bovis and five (12.5%) to S. haematobium-bovis hybrids. Our findings suggest that S. haematobium-bovis hybrids are common in Côte d'Ivoire. Hence, intense prospection of domestic and wild animals is warranted to determine whether zoonotic transmission occurs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly Fornace ◽  
Claudio Fronterrè ◽  
Fiona M Fleming ◽  
Hope Simpson ◽  
Honorat Zoure ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Schistosomiasis control programmes primarily use school-based surveys to identify areas for mass drug administration of preventive chemotherapy. However, as the spatial distribution of schistosomiasis can be highly focal, transmission may not be detected by surveys implemented at districts or larger spatial units. Improved mapping strategies are required to accurately and cost-effectively target preventive chemotherapy to remaining foci across all possible spatial distributions of schistosomiasis. Methods: Here, we use geostatistical models to quantify the spatial heterogeneity of Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni across sub-Saharan Africa using the most comprehensive dataset available on school-based surveys. Applying this information to parameterise simulations, we assess the accuracy and cost of targeting alternative implementation unit sizes across the range of plausible schistosomiasis distributions. We evaluate the consequences of decisions based on survey designs implemented at district and subdistrict levels sampling different numbers of schools. Cost data were obtained from field surveys conducted across multiple countries and years, with cost effectiveness evaluated as the cost per correctly identified school. Results: Models identified marked differences in prevalence and spatial distributions between countries and species; however, results suggest implementing surveys at subdistrict level increase the accuracy of treatment classifications across most scenarios. While sampling intensively at the subdistrict level resulted in the highest classification accuracy, this sampling strategy resulted in the highest costs. Alternatively, sampling the same numbers of schools currently recommended at the district level but stratifying by subdistrict increased cost effectiveness.Conclusions: This study provides a new tool to evaluate schistosomiasis survey designs across a range of transmission settings. Results highlight the importance of considering spatial structure when designing sampling strategies, illustrating that a substantial proportion of children may be undertreated even when an implementation unit is correctly classified. Control programmes need to weigh the increased accuracy of more detailed mapping strategies against the survey costs and treatment priorities.


Author(s):  
Adamkolo Mohammed Ibrahim ◽  
Mohammed Alhaji Adamu

This chapter critically reviewed literature on gender disparity associated with access and usage of ICT, focusing on the less developed world, especially Sub-Saharan Africa. The authors used relevant online literature sourced from research databases such as Google Scholar, Elsevier and Wiley Online Library. With the aid of graphical illustrations, the chapter aligned its argument with some critical global research findings regarding gender-based mobile phone and Internet usage and the concept of ICT and gender. The chapter concluded that ICT gender gap negatively affects the socio-economic development of women, and recommended that ICTs manufacturers should integrate gender-balanced software and hardware right at the time of production of the technologies.


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