PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

BackgroundThe district of Mont Ngafula I in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been treating for onchocerciasis over the last two decades using community directed treatment with ivermectin strategy (CDTI). This study aimed to determine the transmission of onchocerciasis in blackflies after two decades of uninterrupted annual ivermectin mass campaigns using CDTI. MaterialBlackflies were collected at Kimwenza site in the district of Mont Ngafula 1 along Lukay...

BackgroundOnchocerciasis remains a public health problem in Cameroon despite years of community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI). Its persistence increasingly overlaps with the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Community knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward onchocerciasis and CDTI, as well as the coexistence of chronic NCDs, may influence the success of elimination programs. MethodologyA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between April and ...

BackgroundLeishmaniasis Is a vector-borne disease caused by obligate intracellular protozoan flagellate parasite, that is transmitted by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in the Middle East, its a major public health concern in Palestine, the current control strategies for Leishmaniasis depend on reservoir and vector control, active case detection and treatment of their disease and the use of insecticides. ObjectivesThis study aims to de...

BackgroundTungiasis, a skin infestation caused by the flea Tunga penetrans, affects resource limited tropical communities of Latin America, the Caribbeans and sub-Saharan Africa. Recently considered by the WHO as a Neglected Tropical Diseases, epidemiological data to inform control strategy is lacking in Cameroon. MethodsA cross-sectional study targeting schoolchildren from eight primary schools selected by stratified random sampling method was conducted from November 2024 to July 2025 in Dscha...

BackgroundMass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin for onchocerciasis has been disrupted by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. Mathematical modelling can help predict how missed/delayed MDA will affect short-term epidemiological trends and elimination prospects by 2030. MethodsTwo onchocerciasis transmission models (EPIONCHO-IBM and ONCHOSIM) are used to simulate microfilarial prevalence trends, elimination probabilities, and age-profiles of Onchocerca volvulus microfilarial prevalence and...

BackgroundSoil-transmitted helminths (STH) have been passively treated with the implementation of mass drug administration (MDA), with the drugs ivermectin and albendazole, against the parasitic disease, lymphatic filariasis (LF). In Malawi, LF MDA was administered to communities between 2008 and 2014. The aim of this analysis is to estimate the impact of LF MDA and its termination on STH prevalence in school aged children. MethodologySchool survey data of STH prevalence in Malawi were obtained...

BackgroundOnchocerciasis (river blindness) is caused by a filarial nematode worm called Onchocerca volvulus encapsulated in nodules under skin. The adult worm logged itself in nodules of cutaneous skin producing thousands of microfilariae per-day those migrating under the dermis of the skin causing cutaneous and eye disease. Ethiopia is one of countries with a high disease burden of onchocerciasis in Africa. Epidemiological mapping of onchocerciasis in hypoendemic area is a first step in elimina...

BackgroundSamoa conducted eight nationwide rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis (LF) between 1999 and 2011, and two targeted rounds in 2015 and 2017 in North West Upolu (NWU), one of three evaluation units (EUs). Transmission Assessment Surveys (TAS) were conducted in 2013 (failed in NWU) and 2017 (all three EUs failed). In 2018, Samoa was the first in the world to distribute nationwide triple-drug MDA using ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole. Surveillan...

Filariasis is a significant cause of morbidity and a public health concern in most tropical countries. These diseases are usually contracted in childhood and most often diagnosed in adulthood. This study aimed to identify biochemical markers associated with filariasis and the endobacteria present in microfilariae. This was a cross-sectional analytical study within a hospital setting. Persons aged from six years and above were included in the study. They were then clustered into asymptomatic and...

BackgroundHuman schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma intercalatum is poorly understood compared to other species of public health importance, such as S. haematobium, S. mansoni, and S. japonicum. The restricted distribution of S. intercalatum in Africa, its perceived low virulence, and poor understanding of its pathological consequences are possible reasons for this neglect. However, schistosomiasis as a public health problem cannot be eradicated without adequate knowledge of existing species o...

Mansonellosis is a vector-borne filariasis caused by parasitic nematodes of the genus Mansonella. The prevalence and health impact of mansonellosis is largely unknown, and there are no control programmes targeting this neglected tropical disease. Mansonellosis is prevalent in certain regions of Colombia, and while infection is often thought to be asymptomatic it may be associated with underrecognized clinical manifestations. In this study, we analyzed biobanked specimens from 905 patients partic...

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is an infectious neglected tropical disease caused by a mosquito-borne nematode and is a major cause of disability. In 2022, it was estimated that 51 million people were infected with LF. In Kenya filariasis is endemic along the entire coastal strip. The main vectors are Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae in rural areas and Culex quinquefaciatus mosquitoes in urban areas. In 2022, mosquitoes were collected from Kilifi, Kwale and Taita-Taveta counties which are lo...

ContextSoil-Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections are among the neglected tropical diseases with the highest prevalence and incidence in children aged 6 to 15 years. Appropriate health and nutrition interventions are necessary to prevent long-term adverse effects of parasitic infection. One example is the biannual school-based mass drug administration by the Department of Health in partnership with the Department of Education, as recommended by the World Health Organization. ObjectivesThe gener...

BackgroundPrior studies have demonstrated associations between helminths and mycobacterial infections, suggesting a can alter the susceptibility do mycobacterial infection or disease. Our goal was to assess the association of Mycobacterium leprae infection with parasitic infections in a highly endemic area for Hansens disease in Minas Gerais, Brazil. MethodsAdults and children ages 3 years and older were enrolled from communities in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and nearby municip...

BackgroundLoa (L.) loa hypermicrofilaraemia (>8,000 mf/mL) increases the risk of severe adverse events during mass ivermectin administration for onchocerciasis control. Albendazole has been proposed as a potential alternative for reducing microfilariaemia prior to treatment. Methodology and principal findingsThis prospective study was conducted in northern Gabon from November 2021 to April 2022. Individuals infected with L. loa were screened and allocated into three groups: two treatment arms r...

BackgroundAmerican Samoa successfully completed seven rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis (LF) from 2000-2006. The territory passed the school-based transmission assessment surveys in 2011 and 2015 but failed in 2016. One of the key challenges after the implementation of MDA is the identification of any residual hotspots of transmission. MethodBased on data collected in a 2016 community survey in persons aged [≥]8 years, Bayesian geostatistical models were devel...

BackgroundThe kala-azar elimination programme has resulted in a significant reduction in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases across the Indian Subcontinent. To detect any resurgence of transmission, a sensitive cost-effective surveillance system is required. Molecular xenomonitoring (MX), detection of pathogen DNA/RNA in vectors, provides a proxy of human infection in the lymphatic filariasis elimination programme. To determine whether MX can be used for VL surveillance in a low transmission setti...

BackgroundUnder the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), American Samoa conducted mass drug administration (MDA) from 2000-2006. Despite passing Transmission Assessment Surveys (TAS) in 2011/2012 and 2015, American Samoa failed TAS-3 in 2016, with antigen (Ag) prevalence of 0.7% (95%CI 0.3-1.8%) in 6-7 year-olds. A 2016 community survey (Ag prevalence 6.2% (95%CI 4.4-8.5%) in age [≥]8 years) confirmed resurgence. Here, we explore the potential of targeted strategies to str...

East Africa is emerging as the global hot spot of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), yet efforts to eliminate it are hindered by substantial knowledge gaps in its ecoepidemiology. Here, we report on the high prevalence of Leishmania infection in Phlebotomus orientalis in Marsabit county, Kenya (3.9%), and Gedaref state, Sudan (3.6%), where this species comprised 99.8% (n = 1185) and 100% (n = 1350) of captured Phlebotomus females, respectively. In Aba Roba, Ethiopia, Ph. martini accounted for 99% of 1...

Helminthiases are a class of neglected tropical diseases that affect at least one billion people worldwide, with a disproportionate impact in resource-poor areas with limited disease surveillance. Geospatial methods can offer valuable insights into the burden of these infections, particularly given that many are subject to strong ecological influences on the environmental, vector-borne, or zoonotic stages of their life cycle. In this study, we screened 6,829 abstracts and analyzed 485 studies th...