02224nas a2200181   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653001300058653001700071100001500088700001600103700001500119245011700134856016700251300001100418520159900429022001402028       2020                            d  bElsevier BV10aCovid-1910aPraziquantel1 aOyeyemi OT1 aOkunlola OA1 aAdebayo AD00aAssessment of schistosomiasis endemicity and preventive treatment on coronavirus disease 2019 outcomes in Africa  uhttps://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S2052297520301736?token=2800CAFFB5B98F719B2E5D15EDF2D3EE6E8AABEFC2C6D00AB0BDE2E7A689BE1066113DF77B746EBED8CF94E83B29F613  a1008213 aSince the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, attention has been drawn to the possible interactions between the deadly disease and a few other infections. Although schistosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases have been proposed to influence susceptibility to COVID-19, no study has looked into this. This study therefore investigated the impact of schistosomiasis on the transmission of COVID-19 and also evaluated the role of praziquantel treatment coverage on COVID-19 outcomes in African countries. The schistosomiasis endemicity and the preventive chemotherapy coverage index statuses were obtained from the World Health Organization databank. COVID-19 data were obtained from the Worldometer COVID-19 report. The data were adjusted and the percentage of COVID-19 cases confirmed, and active cases, recovery and deaths were computed. The COVID-19 outcomes were evaluated relative to schistosomiasis endemicity and treatment coverage. COVID-19 outcomes, especially active cases and recovery rates, were significantly improved in schistosomiasis nonendemic African countries (p < 0.05). While COVID-19 confirmed cases were significantly higher in countries with >75% schistosomiasis preventive chemotherapy coverage index (p < 0.05), improved COVID-19 outcomes were observed relative to active cases and recovery in countries with >75% preventive chemotherapy coverage index (p > 0.05). Schistosomiasis endemicity may be associated with negative COVID-19 outcomes, and higher praziquantel treatment coverage could reduce COVID-19 active cases and improve the recovery rate.  a2052-2975