02899nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260004600042653002800088653002400116653001100140100001400151700001300165700001500178700001100193700001400204700001500218700001700233700001500250700001300265700001600278700001400294700001400308700001400322245013100336856009900467300001100566490000700577520197500584022001402559       2026                            d  c10/2026bPublic Library of Science (PLoS)10aSchistosoma haematobium10aschool age children10aZambia1 aMutengo M1 aMwansa J1 aChisanga K1 aZulu E1 aMulunda N1 aMuchinga J1 aRodríguez E1 aSánchez S1 aCastro L1 aPerteguer M1 aCarmena D1 aSotillo J1 aDiemert D00aSchistosoma haematobium infection among school age children in two peri-urban areas of Lusaka, Zambia: A cross-sectional study  uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014013&type=printable  a1 - 140 v203 a<p><strong>Background</strong></p>

<p>Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, causing substantial morbidity and millions of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Although the WHO aims to eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem in several countries by 2030, current epidemiological data on schistosomiasis in Zambia are insufficient to adequately characterize transmission patterns, identify priority intervention areas, and inform the planning and evaluation of control programmes.</p>

<p><strong>Methods</strong></p>

<p>We assessed the prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis among school-age children in two peri-urban districts of Lusaka (Chongwe and Kafue). A total of 208 participants were enrolled, and infection status was determined using urine filtration microscopy, ELISA, and quantitative PCR (qPCR).</p>

<p><strong>Results</strong></p>

<p>Urogenital schistosomiasis prevalence was significantly higher in Chongwe than in Kafue, as determined by both microscopy and qPCR. By microscopy, 34 of 48 positive cases (70.8%) were from Chongwe and 14 (29.2%) from Kafue (χ² = 4.82; P &lt; 0.05). Similarly, qPCR revealed a prevalence of 73.9% in Chongwe and 27.84% in Kafue (χ² = 14.31; P &lt; 0.01). No significant association was observed between sex and infection status. However, infection was significantly associated with age across the study population.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p>

<p>Our findings demonstrate that urogenital schistosomiasis remains highly prevalent in the peri-urban districts of Chongwe and Kafue in Lusaka Province, Zambia, highlighting ongoing transmission and the need for strengthened surveillance and control efforts. These results provide updated information on the epidemiological situation of urogenital schistosomiasis in Zambia and will support planning and implementation within the WHO NTD agenda.</p>
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