‘Female Genital Schistosomiasis: Translational Challenges and Opportunities’ – outputs and actions from a consultative, collaborative and translational workshop

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a chronic disease manifestation of the waterborne parasitic infection <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> that affects up to 56 million women and girls, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa. Starting from early childhood, this stigmatizing gynaecological condition is caused by the presence of <i>Schistosoma</i> eggs and associated toxins within the genital tract. <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> typically causes debilitating urogenital symptoms, mostly as a consequence of inflammation, which includes bleeding, discharge and lower abdominal pelvic pain. Chronic complications of FGS include adverse sexual and reproductive health and rights outcomes such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. FGS is associated with prevalent human immunodeficiency virus and may increase the susceptibility of women to high-risk human papillomavirus infection. Across SSA, and even in clinics outside endemic areas, the lack of awareness and available resources among both healthcare professionals and the public means FGS is underreported, misdiagnosed and inadequately treated. Several studies have highlighted research needs and priorities in FGS, including better training, accessible and accurate diagnostic tools, and treatment guidelines. On 6 September, 2024, LifeArc, the Global Schistosomiasis Alliance and partners from the BILGENSA Research Network (Genital Bilharzia in Southern Africa) convened a consultative, collaborative and translational workshop: 'Female Genital Schistosomiasis: Translational Challenges and Opportunities'. Its ambition was to identify practical solutions that could address these research needs and drive appropriate actions towards progress in tackling FGS. Here, we present the outcomes of that workshop - a series of discrete translational actions to better galvanize the community and research funders.

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Journal
Parasitology
Published
2025-06-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182025100346
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Parasites and Host Interactions
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.05
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article

‘Female Genital Schistosomiasis: Translational Challenges and Opportunities’ – outputs and actions from a consultative, collaborative and translational workshop

Bodo Randrianasolo, Rhoda Ndubani, Amy Sturt, Benjamin López-Jimena et al.
1 citations
Parasitology
Parasites and Host Interactions
2.05
article

‘Female Genital Schistosomiasis: Translational Challenges and Opportunities’ – outputs and actions from a consultative, collaborative and translational workshop

Bodo Randrianasolo, Rhoda Ndubani, Amy Sturt, Benjamin López-Jimena, Jennifer A. Downs, Elizabeth F. Long, Kwame Shanaube, Janelisa Musaya, Bonnie Lee Webster, Margaret Gyapong, Sabine Specht, J. Russell Stothard, Sekeleghe A. Kayuni, Anouk Gouvras, W. Evan Secor, Eyrun Floerecke Kjetland, Olimpia Lamberti, Peter Wasson, Dingase Kumwenda, Amaya L. Bustinduy, Ashley Preston, David Rollinson, Lisette van Lieshout, Morgan E. Lemin, Maia Kavanagh Williamson, Amelia Hallas-Potts, Magdalena Koscielniak, Steven Tait
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a chronic disease manifestation of the waterborne parasitic infection <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> that affects up to 56 million women and girls, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa. Starting from early childhood, this stigmatizing gynaecological condition is caused by the presence of <i>Schistosoma</i> eggs and associated toxins within the genital tract. <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> typically causes debilitating urogenital symptoms, mostly as a consequence of inflammation, which includes bleeding, discharge and lower abdominal pelvic pain. Chronic complications of FGS include adverse sexual and reproductive health and rights outcomes such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. FGS is associated with prevalent human immunodeficiency virus and may increase the susceptibility of women to high-risk human papillomavirus infection. Across SSA, and even in clinics outside endemic areas, the lack of awareness and available resources among both healthcare professionals and the public means FGS is underreported, misdiagnosed and inadequately treated. Several studies have highlighted research needs and priorities in FGS, including better training, accessible and accurate diagnostic tools, and treatment guidelines. On 6 September, 2024, LifeArc, the Global Schistosomiasis Alliance and partners from the BILGENSA Research Network (Genital Bilharzia in Southern Africa) convened a consultative, collaborative and translational workshop: 'Female Genital Schistosomiasis: Translational Challenges and Opportunities'. Its ambition was to identify practical solutions that could address these research needs and drive appropriate actions towards progress in tackling FGS. Here, we present the outcomes of that workshop - a series of discrete translational actions to better galvanize the community and research funders.

ParasitologyVol. 152(14)
LifeArc (GB), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US), Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (CH), Natural History Museum (GB), University of Liverpool (GB), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (GB), Cornell University (US), University of Health and Allied Sciences (GH), Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (MW), Leiden University Medical Center (NL), Kamuzu Central Hospital (MW), ME Association (GB), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB), Health Resources Unlimited (US), Association Vahatra (MG), The Task Force for Global Health (US), Center for Global Health (US), Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit (TZ), Zambart (ZM), Tropical Diseases Research Centre (ZM), Bugando Medical Centre (TZ), Deutsche Meeresmuseum (DE), Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (MW), London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (GB), National Institute for Medical Research (TZ), Weill Cornell Medicine (US), Digital Research Alliance of Canada, University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA), Stanford University (US)
Gender equality
Openalex Percentile: Top 16%
Parasites and Host Interactions
2.05
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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