Prevalence and Hematological Changes in Urogenital Schistosomiasis: Infection Persistence in the Phase of Mass Drug Administration in Sempoa (Kwahu East, Ghana): A Cross-Sectional Study

IF 2.1 Q2 MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL Health Science Reports Pub Date : 2025-01-29 DOI:10.1002/hsr2.70404

Alahaman Nana Boakye, Neuwell Hatsu, Samuel Addo Akwetey, Akosua Bonsu Karikari, Simon Kwaku Atta, Mark Michael Addae

{"title":"Prevalence and Hematological Changes in Urogenital Schistosomiasis: Infection Persistence in the Phase of Mass Drug Administration in Sempoa (Kwahu East, Ghana): A Cross-Sectional Study","authors":"Alahaman Nana Boakye, Neuwell Hatsu, Samuel Addo Akwetey, Akosua Bonsu Karikari, Simon Kwaku Atta, Mark Michael Addae","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.70404","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Background</h3>\n \n <p>Schistosomiasis is a chronic neglected tropical disease and Ghana's second most prevalent helminth infection. The annual mass drug administration of praziquantel to school children is aimed at reducing disease morbidity as a public health problem.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Aim</h3>\n \n <p>The study aimed to assess the prevalence and hematological profile of urinary schistosomiasis in Sempoa after over a decade of consecutive Mass Drug Administration (MDA) of praziquantel.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>A community-based cross-sectional study involving 126 participants was conducted. <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> eggs were identified and quantified using the urine filtration-microscopy technique. The hematological profile was analyzed using a fully automated 5-part Sysmex XN-350 (Sysmex Co, Germany) analyzer.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>The study recorded a prevalence of 21.6% that was significantly related to water contact activities. Schistosomiasis was significantly associated with lower levels of Red Blood Cell (RBC) indices; MCV (<i>p</i> < 0.001), MCHC (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and MCH (<i>p</i> = 0.01) with higher platelet, lymphocytes, and basophil counts compared to the uninfected. Heavy infection was significantly associated with lower hemoglobin levels. The study further reported microhaematuria as a sensitive and specific proxy diagnostic tool for field surveillance in endemic communities.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusion</h3>\n \n <p>Urinary schistosomiasis accompanied by an altered hematological profile persists in Sempoa under preventive praziquantel. Future control interventions must consider an integrated approach of marrying behavioral change, with preventive chemotherapy and vector control.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11779747/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Health Science Reports","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hsr2.70404","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Schistosomiasis is a chronic neglected tropical disease and Ghana's second most prevalent helminth infection. The annual mass drug administration of praziquantel to school children is aimed at reducing disease morbidity as a public health problem.

Aim

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and hematological profile of urinary schistosomiasis in Sempoa after over a decade of consecutive Mass Drug Administration (MDA) of praziquantel.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study involving 126 participants was conducted. Schistosoma haematobium eggs were identified and quantified using the urine filtration-microscopy technique. The hematological profile was analyzed using a fully automated 5-part Sysmex XN-350 (Sysmex Co, Germany) analyzer.

Results

The study recorded a prevalence of 21.6% that was significantly related to water contact activities. Schistosomiasis was significantly associated with lower levels of Red Blood Cell (RBC) indices; MCV (p < 0.001), MCHC (p < 0.001), and MCH (p = 0.01) with higher platelet, lymphocytes, and basophil counts compared to the uninfected. Heavy infection was significantly associated with lower hemoglobin levels. The study further reported microhaematuria as a sensitive and specific proxy diagnostic tool for field surveillance in endemic communities.

Conclusion

Urinary schistosomiasis accompanied by an altered hematological profile persists in Sempoa under preventive praziquantel. Future control interventions must consider an integrated approach of marrying behavioral change, with preventive chemotherapy and vector control.

Abstract Image