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Schistosoma mansoni infection risk for school-aged children clusters within households and is modified by distance to freshwater bodies

Abstract:

Background

The interaction of socio-demographic and ecological factors with Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infection risk by age and the household clustering of infections between individuals are poorly understood.

Methods

This study examined 1,832 individuals aged 5–90 years across 916 households in Mayuge District, Uganda. S. mansoni infection status and intensity were measured using Kato-Katz microscopy. Socio-demographic and ecological factors were examined as predictors of infection status and intensity using logistic and negative binomial regression models, respectively, with standard errors clustered by household. A subgroup analysis of children was conducted to examine the correlation of infection status between children and their caretakers.

Findings

Infection varied within age groups based on the distance to Lake Victoria. Children aged 9–17 years and young adults aged 18–29 years who lived ≤0.50km from Lake Victoria were more likely to be infected compared to individuals of the same age who lived further away from the lake. Infections clustered within households. Children whose caretakers were heavily infected were 2.67 times more likely to be infected.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate the focality of schistosome transmission and its dependence on socio-demographic, ecological and household factors. Future research should investigate the sampling of households within communities as a means of progressing towards precision mapping of S. mansoni infections.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1371/journal.pone.0258915

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Nuffield Department of Population Health
Sub department:
Population Health
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-4653-0846



Publisher:
Public Library of Science
Journal:
PLoS One More from this journal
Volume:
16
Issue:
11
Article number:
e0258915
Publication date:
2021-11-04
Acceptance date:
2021-10-07
DOI:
EISSN:
1932-6203


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1200228
Local pid:
pubs:1200228
Deposit date:
2021-10-12

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