NIMR Aims to Halt Transmission of Neglected Tropical Diseases

Scientists from the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research have outlined strategies for Nigerians to disrupt the spread of certain neglected tropical diseases within the nation.

The group of scientists exploring the occurrence and distribution of urinary schistosomiasis, Buruli ulcer, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis stated that proper diagnosis and surveillance could aid in interrupting the spread of these neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

A director at NIMR, Professor Olaoluwa Akinwale, emphasized that these diseases can be both treated and prevented.

At the Institute's regular monthly press briefing held in Lagos on Friday, Akinwale, who headed the research team, urged Nigerians—especially women living in areas where schistosomiasis is common—to practice good personal cleanliness.

We are pushing for increased screenings and tests to interrupt the spread of certain diseases.

"They can be addressed effectively through strict adherence to proper hygiene, access to clean drinking water, along with health education and modifications in behavior," she stated.

The Parasitology professor stated that urinary schistosomiasis causes an affected individual to pass urine containing blood.

As she explains, the infection affects millions globally, particularly impacting vulnerable populations like children and women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa, notably in Nigeria.

Akinwale, who was previously the deputy director-general at NIMR, disclosed that the infection shows a stronger impact on females compared to males.

"The illness can appear as a gender-specific infection in certain instances, where urogenital schistosomiasis impacts the reproductive organs of patients, particularly affecting women," explained the parasitologist.

However, she pointed out that there was a lack of information specifically addressing this gender-related form of urinary schistosomiasis in Nigeria.

In our study, nearly half of the women we examined had contracted urinary schistosomiasis. Given that they come from regions where this disease is widespread, it comes as no surprise that such a significant portion of our subjects were affected.

Younger females exhibited significantly higher infection rates. According to the photo colposcopy findings, approximately half of the infected women, rather than half of all participants, displayed indications suggestive of female genital schistosomiasis. These indicators encompassed gritty sandy areas, yellowish sandy regions, atypical blood vessels, and firm nodular lesions.

"Additionally, their Pap smear results indicated abnormal cervical changes," the donor stated.

Nevertheless, the team suggested steps to enhance the well-being of women, particularly those residing in areas where schistosomiasis is widespread.

"Although every woman in the study who was infected exhibited cervical cells that differed from their typical appearance or composition, it is crucial to conduct regular follow-ups to track any possible advancement of these cells that might result in malignant growths," Akinwale emphasized.

Speaking further, the parasitologist said NIMR conducted over 3000 free Buruli Ulcer tests in the country.

She mentioned that their study indicated the illness occurs less frequently in the nation when contrasted with other African nations.

We examined our data, which revealed that since 2016, the Burili ulcer has not been widespread in Nigeria relative to certain other African countries. The study also indicated a notable disparity between male and female infection rates.

"We noticed that people below the age of 50 are more impacted compared to those in older age brackets. Additionally, the majority of our samples originate from South Nigeria, an area characterized by significant rainfall and humidity," explained the professor.

As she stated, the Buruli Ulcer PCR Lab located within NIMR has guaranteed prompt diagnoses as well as enhanced recovery rates among patients suffering from this condition.

She stated that the World Health Organization required more than 70 percent of cases in every country to undergo PCR lab confirmation.

Upon receiving positive confirmation, she stated that the WHO suggested an eight-week course of antibiotic therapy.

This test proved to be quite costly; however, upon securing a grant, by 2016, NIMR succeeded in establishing the Buruli Ulcer Reference Laboratory for PCR confirmation within the nation. The lab operates under the auspices of the institute, supported financially by both the WHO and NIMR.

"Since 2016, NIMR has offered complimentary PCR tests for Buruli ulcer patients. To date, we've processed more than 3,000 samples at no cost. Each test incurs significant expenses; however, they receive support from both the institute and the World Health Organization," Akinwale noted.

Considering the findings indicating a low occurrence of Buruli Ulcer (BU) in Nigeria, the research team suggested that clinically identified BU cases which test negative via PCR should undergo additional testing for other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), such as yaws.

They further suggested enhanced government awareness campaigns at the local community level, while urging better proactive case identification by medical staff to detect additional instances for prompt action.

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