A5075975238- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Helminth infection and control
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Global Health and Surgery
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Global Health Workforce Issues
- Malaria Research and Control
- Parasitic infections in humans and animals
- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Amoebic Infections and Treatments
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
Western University of Health Sciences
2022-2025
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
2022-2024
Natural History Museum
2015-2024
Wolfson Foundation
2024
University College London
2024
London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research
2018-2023
Imperial College London
2018-2023
Cardiff University
2018-2022
Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology
2016
Polish Academy of Sciences
2016
Control and elimination of schistosomiasis is an arduous task, with current strategies proving inadequate to break transmission. Exploration genetic approaches interrupt Schistosoma mansoni transmission, the causative agent for human intestinal in sub-Saharan Africa South America, has led genomic research snail vector hosts genus Biomphalaria. Few complete resources exist, African Biomphalaria species being particularly underrepresented despite this where majority S. infections occur. Here...
Elimination of urogenital schistosomiasis transmission is a priority for the Zanzibar Ministry Health. Preventative chemotherapy together with additional control interventions have successfully alleviated much disease burden. However, persistently high Schistosoma haematobium prevalence found in certain areas. Our aim was to characterise and evaluate these persistent "hot-spots" reinfection comparison low-prevalence areas, support intervention planning elimination Zanzibar. Prevalences S....
Sound knowledge of the abundance and distribution intermediate host snails is key to understanding schistosomiasis transmission inform effective interventions in endemic areas.A longitudinal field survey freshwater biomedical importance was undertaken Niger River Valley (NRV) between July 2011 January 2016, targeting Bulinus spp. Biomphalaria pfeifferi (intermediate hosts Schistosoma spp.), Radix natalensis Fasciola spp.). Monthly snail collections were carried out 92 sites, near 20...
Accurate diagnosis of urogenital schistosomiasis is vital for surveillance and control programmes. While a number diagnostic techniques are available there need simple, rapid highly sensitive point-of-need (PON) tests in areas where infection prevalence intensity low. Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) isothermal molecular technology that rapid, portable has been used at the PON several pathogens. A real time fluorescence RPA assay (RT-ShDra1-RPA) targeting Schistosoma haematobium...
Urogenital schistosomiasis, caused by infection with Schistosoma haematobium, is endemic in Niger but complicated the presence of bovis, curassoni and S. haematobium group hybrids along various Bulinus snail intermediate host species. Establishing schistosomes snails involved transmission aids disease surveillance whilst providing insights into snail-schistosome interactions/compatibilities biology.
<title>Abstract</title> Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease, is transmitted by freshwater snails. Interruption of transmission will require novel vector-focused interventions. We performed genome-wide association study African snails, <italic>Biomphalaria sudanica</italic>, exposed to <italic>Schistosoma mansoni</italic> in an endemic area high Kenya. Two snail genomic regions, SudRes1 and SudRes2, were significantly associated with immunity schistosomes. includes receptor-like...
Biomphalaria snails are intermediate hosts for schistosome parasites, which cause morbidity and mortality in humans worldwide. We aimed to determine the mating system of sudanica, a hermaphroditic vector schistosomiasis African Great Lakes, with goal informing design genetic studies such as linkage mapping improve genome assembly association identify snail resistance genes. To relative rates outcrossing versus selfing, we assayed progeny experimental crosses laboratory using PCR restriction...
Human urogenital schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium is widely distributed across Africa and increasingly targeted for control regional elimination. The development of new high-throughput, cost-effective molecular tools approaches are needed to monitor evaluate the impact programs on parasite populations. Microsatellite loci genetic markers that can be used investigate how populations change over time in relation external influences such as interventions. Here, 18 existing S....
Schistosomiasis is hyper-endemic in the Lake Victoria basin; with intestinal schistosomiasis plaguing communities adjacent to lake, where intermediate host snails live. The two species of Schistosoma mansoni Mwanza region are Biomphalaria sudanica, found on banks lakes, and B. choanomphala, lake itself. There few longitudinal surveys documenting changing abundance differential transmission patterns these across seasons years. We undertook 15 field at 26 sites over four years determine...
Accurate diagnosis of urogenital schistosomiasis is crucial for disease surveillance and control. Routine diagnostic methods, however, lack sensitivity when assessing patients with low levels infection still able to maintain pathogen transmission. Therefore, there a need highly sensitive tools that can be used at the point-of-care in endemic areas. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) rapid tool has been diagnose several pathogens point-of-care. Here, analytical performance previously...
Schistosoma bovis is a parasitic trematode of ungulates transmitted by freshwater snails in Sub-Saharan Africa causing bovine intestinal schistosomiasis that leads to chronic morbidity and significant agricultural economic losses. The recently reported occurrence Bulinus globosus infected with S. for the first time on Pemba Island (Zanzibar, United Republic Tanzania) cause concern livestock/wildlife health complicates surveillance haematobium. To confirm local cattle are bovis, fresh faecal...
Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease of medical and veterinary importance, transmitted through specific freshwater snail intermediate hosts, is targeted for elimination in several endemic regions sub-Saharan Africa. Multi-disciplinary methods are required both human environmental diagnostics to certify schistosomiasis when eventually reached. Molecular xenomonitoring protocols, DNA-based detection method screening vectors, have been developed trialed parasites by hematophagous...
Background The Zanzibar Archipelago (Pemba and Unguja islands) is targeted for the elimination of human urogenital schistosomiasis caused by infection with Schistosoma haematobium where intermediate snail host Bulinus globosus . Following multiple studies, it has remained unclear if B nasutus (a species that occupies geographically distinct regions on Archipelago) involved in S transmission Zanzibar. Additionally, was thought to be only present until sympatric bovis , a parasite ruminants,...
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by infection with parasitic trematodes of the genus Schistosoma that can lead to debilitating morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization recommend molecular xenomonitoring Biomphalaria spp. freshwater snail intermediate hosts mansoni identify highly focal intestinal schistosomiasis transmission sites monitor transmission, particularly in low-endemicity areas. A standardised protocol do this, however, needed. Here, two...
Abstract The causative agent of urogenital schistosomiasis, Schistosoma haematobium , was thought to be the only schistosome species transmitted through Bulinus snails on Unguja and Pemba Island (Zanzibar, United Republic Tanzania). For insights into environmental risk S. transmission Island, malacological surveys collecting globosus B. nasutus two closely related potential intermediate hosts were conducted across island in November 2016. Of 1317 / collected, seven identified sequencing a...
Interactions between Schistosoma mansoni and its snail host are understood primarily through experimental work with one South American vector species, Biomphalaria glabrata. However, 90% of schistosomiasis transmission occurs in Africa, where a diversity species may serve as vectors. With the long-term goal determining genetic ecological determinants infection African hosts, we developed models sudanica, principal Great Lakes. We determined laboratory dynamics two S. lines four B. sudanica...
Bulinus senegalensis and umbilicatus, two sympatric freshwater snails found in temporal ponds Senegal, were thought to be involved the transmission of Schistosoma haematobium and/or curassoni. To better understand role these species human animal species, B. umbilicatus collected 2015, during a malacological survey, from pond Niakhar, central Senegal. Snails induced shed cercariae on consecutive days. Individual each snail preserved for molecular identification. Infected identified by...
Schistosomiasis, afflicting >260 million people worldwide, could be controlled by preventing infection of freshwater snail vectors. Intestinal schistosomiasis, caused Schistosoma mansoni, occurs predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa and is vectored Biomphalaria sudanica related species. Despite their importance transmission, very little genomic work has been initiated African snails, thus hindering development novel control strategies. To identify genetic factors influencing resistance to...
Accurate detection of schistosome infections in snails is vital for epidemiologic and laboratory studies. Traditional microscopy methods to detect schistosomes are hindered by long prepatent periods snail survivorship, leading inaccurate assessment infections. A rapid, multiplexed PCR assay targeting Biomphalaria sudanica or glabrata (internal control) Schistosoma mansoni DNA described. The method takes less than 90 min starting from extracted successful at amplifying tissue as soon 30...
The World Health Organization's revised NTD Roadmap and the newly launched Guidelines target elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem in all endemic areas by 2030. Key to meeting this goal is elucidating how selective pressures imposed interventions shape parasite populations. Our aim was identify any differential impact unique cluster-randomized tri-armed intervention (biannual mass drug administration (MDA) applied alone or association with either mollusciciding (snail...