{ "abstract": "Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, causing substantial morbidity and millions of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Although the WHO aims to eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem in several countries by 2030, current epidemiological data on schistosomiasis in Zambia are insufficient to adequately characterize transmission patterns, identify priority intervention areas, and inform the planning and evaluation of control programmes. Methods: We assessed the prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis among school-age children in two peri-urban districts of Lusaka (Chongwe and Kafue). A total of 208 participants were enrolled, and infection status was determined using urine filtration microscopy, ELISA, and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results: Urogenital schistosomiasis prevalence was significantly higher in Chongwe than in Kafue, as determined by both microscopy and qPCR. By microscopy, 34 of 48 positive cases (70.8%) were from Chongwe and 14 (29.2%) from Kafue (χ² = 4.82; P < 0.05). Similarly, qPCR revealed a prevalence of 73.9% in Chongwe and 27.84% in Kafue (χ² = 14.31; P < 0.01). No significant association was observed between sex and infection status. However, infection was significantly associated with age across the study population. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that urogenital schistosomiasis remains highly prevalent in the peri-urban districts of Chongwe and Kafue in Lusaka Province, Zambia, highlighting ongoing transmission and the need for strengthened surveillance and control efforts. These results provide updated information on the epidemiological situation of urogenital schistosomiasis in Zambia and will support planning and implementation within the WHO NTD agenda. Author summary: Urogenital schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, yet current epidemiological data from Zambia are limited, particularly in peri-urban communities surrounding Lusaka. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis among school-age children in two peri-urban districts, Chongwe and Kafue, using complementary parasitological, serological, and molecular diagnostic methods. We found significantly higher infection levels in Chongwe than in Kafue, with quantitative PCR (qPCR) detecting substantially more infections than conventional urine microscopy. Infection was also significantly associated with age but not sex. These findings indicate that urogenital schistosomiasis remains actively transmitted and that reliance on microscopy alone may underestimate the true burden of infection. Our study provides current epidemiological evidence that can inform surveillance, guide targeted control interventions, and support ongoing efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem in Zambia.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Institute of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia.", "Department of Postgraduate and Research, Lusaka Apex Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia.", "Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.", "CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain." ], "article_type": "Research Article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 12, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Mable M Mutengo" }, { "affs": [ 1 ], "name": "James Mwansa" }, { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Kelly Chisanga" }, { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Emmanuel Zulu" }, { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Namwiinga Rozaria Mulunda" }, { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "James Muchinga" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Esther Rodríguez" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Sergio Sánchez" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Lourdes Castro" }, { "affs": [ 2, 3 ], "name": "María J Perteguer" }, { "affs": [ 2, 3 ], "name": "David Carmena" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Javier Sotillo", "orcid": "0000-0002-1443-7233" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dfyv6q71gzded.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1371/journal.pntd.0014013", "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014013", "id": "dfyv6q71gzded", "issns": [ "1935-2735", "1935-2727" ], "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014013", "language": "eng", "licence": "CC-BY", "licence_label": "CC BY", "licence_source": "article", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "lcc", "RA1-1270" ], [ "lcc", "RC955-962" ], [ "openalex", "2405|Parasites and Host Interactions" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Urine" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Invertebrates/Helminths/Schistosoma/Schistosoma haematobium" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Body fluids/Urine" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Reproductive physiology/Eggs" ], [ "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/Diagnostic medicine" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Parasitic diseases" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Parasitic diseases/Helminth infections/Schistosomiasis" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Parasitic diseases/Helminth infections/Schistosomiasis/Urogenital schistosomiasis" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Tropical diseases/Neglected tropical diseases/Schistosomiasis" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Tropical diseases/Neglected tropical diseases/Schistosomiasis/Urogenital schistosomiasis" ], [ "plos", "/People and places/Geographical locations/Africa/Zambia" ] ], "openalex": "W7223090881", "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014013&type=printable", "pmcid": "PMC13705608", "pmid": "42905868", "published": "2026-10-21", "publisher": "Public Library of Science", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dfyv6q71gzded.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z", "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pntd.0014013", "source": "plos", "url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014013" }, { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:53Z", "native_id": "MED:42905868", "source": "europepmc", "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42905868" }, { "first_seen": "2026-10-31T14:22:29Z", "native_id": "0646c6dfaa974de48f2e0610b5770239", "source": "doaj", "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014013" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:anatomy", "subfield": "physiology" } ], "title": "Schistosoma haematobium infection among school age children in two peri-urban areas of Lusaka, Zambia: A cross-sectional study", "title_text": "Schistosoma haematobium infection among school age children in two peri-urban areas of Lusaka, Zambia: A cross-sectional study", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-31T14:22:29Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dfyv6q71gzded", "venue": "PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases", "versions": [] }