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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0PLOS Global Public Health

Sex-specific correlates of Schistosoma haematobium infection in a rural Zambian setting: A pilot study focusing on immune and hematological factors

  • David Chisompola1,2
  • Reggison Phiri1
  • Emmanuel L. Luwaya1
  • Martin Chakulya1
  • Lukundo Siame1,2
  • Bislom C. Mweene1,2
  • Benson M. Hamooya1,2
  • Joseph M. Chalwe3,4
  • Joreen P. Povia5
  • Sepiso K. Masenga1,2
5 affiliations
  1. 1HAND Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mulungushi University, Livingstone, Zambia
  2. 2Department of Pathology, Livingstone Center for Prevention and Translational Science, Livingstone, Zambia
  3. 3Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI), Capital Park, Pretoria, South Africa
  4. 4Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria & Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
  5. 5Department of Economics, Livingstone Center for Prevention and Translational Science, Livingstone, Zambia
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Abstract

This study aimed to identify and compare the sex-specific immune, hematological, and environmental factors associated with Schistosoma haematobium infection in a rural Zambian setting. This community-based cross-sectional study enrolled participants from rural Zambia. Schistosoma haematobium infection was diagnosed microscopically from urine. Blood samples were analyzed for complete blood counts and cytokines via ELISA. Data were analyzed using sex-stratified logistic regression models in StatCrunch, with multivariable models restricted to a limited number of predictors based on events-per-variable considerations to improve stability. The analysis included 51 male and 92 female participants. In the multivariable model, for males, only access to clean water remained independently associated with schistosomiasis infection (aOR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.00–0.34, p = 0.0040). For females, the final model identified access to clean water (aOR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01–0.93, p = 0.0440), reporting any symptoms (aOR = 19.2, 95% CI: 3.17–116.4, p = 0.0010), elevated IL-4 (aOR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02, p < 0.0001), and lower hemoglobin (aOR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.28–0.83, p = 0.0080) as independent correlates of infection. The correlates of schistosomiasis infection appear to differ by sex. While environmental exposure is a key driver for males, the female profile reflects a combination of environmental, immunological, and hematological factors. These findings highlight the importance of considering sex-specific patterns in schistosomiasis research; however, given the cross-sectional design and limited sample size, the results should be interpreted with caution and confirmed in larger, longitudinal studies.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{chisompola2026sexspecific,
  title = {{Sex-specific correlates of Schistosoma haematobium infection in a rural Zambian setting: A pilot study focusing on immune and hematological factors}},
  author = {David Chisompola and Reggison Phiri and Emmanuel L. Luwaya and Martin Chakulya and Lukundo Siame and Bislom C. Mweene and Benson M. Hamooya and Joseph M. Chalwe and Joreen P. Povia and Sepiso K. Masenga},
  journal = {PLOS Global Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pgph.0005692},
  url = {https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0005692},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Sex-specific correlates of Schistosoma haematobium infection in a rural Zambian setting: A pilot study focusing on immune and hematological factors
AU  - David Chisompola
AU  - Reggison Phiri
AU  - Emmanuel L. Luwaya
AU  - Martin Chakulya
AU  - Lukundo Siame
AU  - Bislom C. Mweene
AU  - Benson M. Hamooya
AU  - Joseph M. Chalwe
AU  - Joreen P. Povia
AU  - Sepiso K. Masenga
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/04
JO  - PLOS Global Public Health
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pgph.0005692
UR  - https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0005692
AB  - This study aimed to identify and compare the sex-specific immune, hematological, and environmental factors associated with Schistosoma haematobium infection in a rural Zambian setting. This community-based cross-sectional study enrolled participants from rural Zambia. Schistosoma haematobium infection was diagnosed microscopically from urine. Blood samples were analyzed for complete blood counts and cytokines via ELISA. Data were analyzed using sex-stratified logistic regression models in StatCrunch, with multivariable models restricted to a limited number of predictors based on events-per-variable considerations to improve stability. The analysis included 51 male and 92 female participants. In the multivariable model, for males, only access to clean water remained independently associated with schistosomiasis infection (aOR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.00–0.34, p = 0.0040). For females, the final model identified access to clean water (aOR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01–0.93, p = 0.0440), reporting any symptoms (aOR = 19.2, 95% CI: 3.17–116.4, p = 0.0010), elevated IL-4 (aOR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02, p < 0.0001), and lower hemoglobin (aOR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.28–0.83, p = 0.0080) as independent correlates of infection. The correlates of schistosomiasis infection appear to differ by sex. While environmental exposure is a key driver for males, the female profile reflects a combination of environmental, immunological, and hematological factors. These findings highlight the importance of considering sex-specific patterns in schistosomiasis research; however, given the cross-sectional design and limited sample size, the results should be interpreted with caution and confirmed in larger, longitudinal studies.
SN  - 2767-3375
ER  -