Molecular Diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni Infections in a Predominantly Schistosoma haematobium Prevalent Community in Ijoun, Ogun State

Abstract

Knowledge of the contribution of the intestinal and urinary schistosomiasis to morbidity in endemic areas is helpful for the proper control of schistosomiasis. The use of conventional diagnostic tools for schistosomiasis surveillance could be time-consuming and impractical, given the constraints of the infrastructure. Thus, it was suggested that genomic surveillance of the disease be carried out and incorporated into control programs. In this paper, PCR was evaluated for its ability to establish Schistosoma mansoni prevalence in a cross-sectional survey. Faecal samples were obtained from 100 participants aged 5 to 16 years in Ijoun, Ogun State, a Schistosoma haematobium prevalent community. A combined diagnostic reference of microscopy detection techniques (single Kato-Katz, Formol-ether solution, and Sucrose floatation) and PCR were used to test faecal samples for S. mansoni. Overall prevalence was 6%, with a frequency of 1% for microscopy and 5% for PCR, respectively. S. mansoni was uncommon among school children in this sample population. The PCR had a sensitivity of 83.3% in detecting Schistosoma mansoni parasites compared to microscopy. Therefore, the use of PCR for Schistosoma mansoni surveillance in schistosomiasis endemic areas could be recommended.