Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40446062›Full record

Trial reportPLoS neglected tropical diseases2025

School-aged Schistosoma mansoni infection levels after long-term programmatic control show failure to meet control programme targets and evidence of a persistent hotspot: evaluation of the FibroScHot trial baseline data.

Fred Besigye, Candia Rowel, Moses Adriko, Fredrick J Muyodi, John Joseph Kisakye, Rosemary Nalwanga, Birgitte J Vennervald, Fred Nuwaha, Edridah M Tukahebwa, Shona Wilson

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialEquivalence Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Fred BesigyeVector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Candia RowelVector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Moses AdrikoVector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Fredrick J MuyodiDepartment of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
John Joseph KisakyeDepartment of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Rosemary NalwangaDepartment of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Birgitte J VennervaldSection for Parasitology and Aquatic Pathobiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Fred NuwahaSchool of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, New Mulago Hill, Mulago, Kampala, Uganda.
Edridah M TukahebwaVector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Shona WilsonDepartment of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-5725-4376

Funding

European UnionFibroScHot
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTreatment guidelines for schistosomiasis recommend increasing frequency of preventative chemotherapy (PC) administration of praziquantel to twice per annum in persistent hotspots of transmission, in combination with integrated control strategies. FibroScHot was an individual randomised superiority trial designed to examine twice per annum and four times per annum treatment frequency. It was conducted in two primary schools, Buhirigi and Kaiso, in Hoima District Uganda - a designated Schistosoma mansoni high transmission area in which PC is targeted at children and adults. The baseline parasitology data was assessed against international control programme thresholds of success and the criteria for persistent hotspots. Further, the study also assessed the potential for integrated control strategies within the surrounding communities. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL

findingsThe prevalence of infection, heavy infection and the infection intensity were derived for 700 participants from Kato-Katz examination of one stool sample. Neither school met the threshold of morbidity control (<5% with heavy infection). A strong school effect was observed in models of prevalence and prevalence of heavy infection, with these being greater in Kaiso. By prevalence, Kaiso was a high transmission area and Buhirigi a moderate transmission area. Kaiso but not Buhirigi met the definition of a persistent hotspot. Persistent hotspot classification did not change when intensity of infection was used. Intermediate snail hosts were collected at both Kaiso landing site and from the River Hoimo in Buhirigi, though in smaller numbers in the latter. Questionnaire data indicates that reliance on water collection from transmission sites and open defecation occurs more frequently in Kaiso than in Buhirigi.

conclusionsThe criteria for persistent hotspots were met in the high transmission but not the moderate transmission community despite neither community meeting the threshold of morbidity control. This disconnect indicates that endemic communities exist in which control has not been achieved but increased frequency of treatment is currently not recommended. FibroScHot will be able to inform on whether widening the current recommendation of increased treatment frequency to these communities will achieve improved control. Evidence provided also indicates scope for the integrated control strategies of vector control and WASH improvements in both the participating communities.

Indexed as

AnthelminticsPraziquantelSchistosoma mansoniSchistosomiasis mansoniAdolescentAdultAnimalsChildFecesFemaleHumansMalePrevalenceSchoolsUgandaYoung AdultAnthelminticsPraziquantel

Identifiers

PMID40446062
PMCPMC12165415

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.