The major neglected tropical diseases, Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis and schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma mansoni or S. haematobium are presumed to be widely distributed in Africa. Taenia solium taeniosis/ cysticercosis has been reported as an emerging disease in different regions of Af...rica [1, 2], but currently the exact distribution remains unclear. Reported prevalences of T. solium taeniosis and cysticercosis in African countries are not extensive and are further complicated by the lack of ‘gold standard’ tests for diagnosis. more

Clinical Microbiology and Infection Volume 21, Issue 5, May 2015, Pages 433-443; The neglected zoonotic diseases (NZDs) have been all but eradicated in wealthier countries, but remain major causes of ill-health and mortality across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This neglect is, in part, a conse...quence of under-reporting, resulting in an underestimation of their global burden that downgrades their relevance to policy-makers and funding agencies. Increasing awareness about the causes of NZDs and how they can be prevented could reduce the incidence of many endemic zoonoses. more

PLOS Glob Public Health 4(12): e0004035. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004035. A new formulation of praziquantel, arpraziquantel (arPZQ), has been developed for preschool- aged children (PSAC) to fill the treatment gap for this age group in schistosomiasis control and elimination program...s. There is now a priority to ensure that the drug reaches all at-risk PSAC in endemic areas, including hard-to-reach areas and populations. This study aimed to deter- mine schistosomiasis treatment-related contextual factors among fishermen and island popu- lations in Homa Bay County, Kenya, and to identify a suitable platform to deliver arPZQ. more

Cogent Medicine, 7:1, 1794272, PUBLIC HEALTH & PRIMARY CARE | RESEARCH ARTICLE Edutainment and infographics for schistosomiasis health education in Ndumo area, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa Tafadzwa Mindu1*, Muhubiri Kabuyaya1 and Moses J. Chimbari1 Educational interventions targeting communiti...es which are at risk of contracting schistosomiasis infection may empower them to develop capacity to minimize the spread of the disease. We compared the effectiveness of health education inter- ventions for schistosomiasis knowledge uptake among school-going children in Ndumo area, KwaZulu-Natal using a quasi-experimental trial. more