{ "abstract": "Background: Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) and high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) infections frequently co-occur in sub-Saharan Africa and may jointly contribute to cervical carcinogenesis. However, no existing molecular platform enables simultaneous detection of Schistosoma haematobium and hr-HPV from a single cervical specimen. Methods: A multiplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay targeting the S. haematobium Dra1 repeat and seven hr-HPV genotypes (16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58) was developed and validated. Analytical performance was assessed using HPV reference plasmids from the International HPV Reference Centre and biobanked S. haematobium DNA from the Centre for Research in Applied Biology (CeRAB), Ghana. Clinical performance was evaluated using 217 archived cervical swabs from high-risk women enrolled in the CERVIVAL project in rural Ghana. Results: The assay showed a limit of detection of 10 copies/µL for all targets, with no cross-reactivity to non-target HPV genotypes, common uropathogenic bacteria, or Schistosoma mansoni. In reference panels, positive and negative agreement were 98.2% and 100% for S. haematobium and 100% for both sensitivity and specificity across all hr-HPV genotypes. In the 217 high-risk cervical samples, S. haematobium DNA was detected in 56.7% (123/217). HPV58 (19.8%), HPV16 (14.7%), and HPV52 (12.4%) were the most frequent genotypes. Concordance with visual inspection/microscopy for FGS was 93.6% (κ = 0.87), and concordance with a molecular HPV test (ScreenFire HPV) ranged from 90.3% to 99.5% (κ = 0.80–0.95) across HPV channels. The assay identified 11 additional S. haematobium–positive samples that were negative by visual inspection/microscopy. Conclusions: The multiplex qPCR assay provides a highly sensitive and practical tool for integrated detection of S. haematobium and hr-HPV from a single cervical sample. Its compatibility with standard qPCR platforms and strong agreement with established diagnostic methods support its potential use in FGS and cervical cancer screening programmes in resource-limited, co-endemic settings. Author summary: In sub-Saharan Africa, millions of women face the dual threat of infections that severely impact reproductive health: a parasitic worm known as Schistosoma haematobium, which causes female genital schistosomiasis, and high-risk types of human papillomavirus, the primary cause of cervical cancer. Growing evidence suggests that suffering from both infections simultaneously may increase a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer. However, health programs currently lack a simple method to test for both pathogens using a single clinical sample. To address this gap, we developed a new laboratory test capable of detecting DNA from both the parasite and the virus in a single cervical swab. When we evaluated this tool using samples from women in Ghana, we found it to be highly accurate. By combining these diagnoses into one highly sensitive tool that uses standard laboratory equipment, we can streamline screening programs. This approach reduces testing resources and could potentially allow health workers to identify and treat these conditions earlier, offering a practical solution to help prevent cervical cancer in regions where both diseases are widespread.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Centre for Research in Applied Biology, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana", "Department of Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Allied Health Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana", "Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana", "Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Legon, Ghana", "Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana", "Dr. K C Patel Research and Development Centre (KRADLE), Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT), Changa, India", "Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana", "Department of Biological Science, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana", "International HPV Reference Center, Center for Cervical Cancer Elimination, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden" ], "article_type": "Research Article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 14, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Emmanuel Timmy Donkoh" }, { "affs": [ 1 ], "name": "Isaac Williams" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Rita Nyaaba Akologo" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Alfred Afriyie Asiedu" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "Reindoff Junior Ofori-Atta" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Ivy Wina Boadu" }, { "affs": [ 6 ], "name": "Oksana Ryabinina" }, { "affs": [ 7 ], "name": "Akua Obeng Forson" }, { "affs": [ 8 ], "name": "Kwadwo Boampong" }, { "name": "Neeraj Jain" }, { "name": "Edward Tieru Dassah" }, { "name": "Samuel Fosu Gyasi" }, { "name": "Laila Sara Arroyo Mühr" }, { "name": "William Gariba Akanwariwaik" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2d88nykrfyzy5.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1371/journal.pntd.0014694", "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014694", "id": "2d88nykrfyzy5", "issns": [ "1935-2735" ], "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014694", "language": null, "licence": "CC-BY-4.0", "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0", "licence_source": "journal", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "openalex", "2713|Cervical Cancer and HPV Research" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Urine" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Papillomaviruses/HPV-16" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Papillomaviruses/Human papillomavirus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Molecular biology/Molecular biology techniques/Artificial gene amplification and extension/Polymerase chain reaction" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Invertebrates/Helminths/Schistosoma/Schistosoma haematobium" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/DNA viruses/Papillomaviruses/HPV-16" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/DNA viruses/Papillomaviruses/Human papillomavirus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Papillomaviruses/HPV-16" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Papillomaviruses/Human papillomavirus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Body fluids/Urine" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Invertebrates/Helminths/Schistosoma/Schistosoma haematobium" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Urine" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Infectious diseases/Sexually transmitted diseases/Human papillomavirus infection" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Infectious diseases/Viral diseases/Human papillomavirus infection" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Gynecological tumors/Cervical cancer" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Papillomaviruses/HPV-16" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Papillomaviruses/Human papillomavirus" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Urology/Genitourinary infections/Human papillomavirus infection" ], [ "plos", "/Research and analysis methods/Extraction techniques/DNA extraction" ], [ "plos", "/Research and analysis methods/Molecular biology techniques/Artificial gene amplification and extension/Polymerase chain reaction" ] ], "openalex": "W7212280571", "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014694&type=printable", "pmcid": null, "pmid": null, "published": "2026-09-11", "publisher": "Public Library of Science", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2d88nykrfyzy5.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z", "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pntd.0014694", "source": "plos", "url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014694" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "biology", "origin": "plos:microbiology", "subfield": "microbiology" }, { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:infectious diseases", "subfield": "infectious-disease" }, { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:anatomy", "subfield": "physiology" } ], "title": "Development of a multiplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for simultaneous detection of Schistosoma haematobium and high-risk human papillomaviruses", "title_text": "Development of a multiplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for simultaneous detection of Schistosoma haematobium and high-risk human papillomaviruses", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2d88nykrfyzy5", "venue": "PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases", "versions": [] }