Cross-Species Surveillance of Schistosoma Infections in Humans, Livestock, and Soil in Rivers State, Nigeria

Schistosomiasis remains a significant global health burden, particularly in regions with poor sanitation and inadequate access to clean water. This study employed a One Health epidemiological approach to investigate the cross-species prevalence and transmission of Schistosoma infections among humans, livestock, and soil in Rivers State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used within the One Health framework to identify and characterize Schistosoma species across sample types. For soil analysis, systematic random sampling was used to select 30 locations, from which 90 soil samples were collected using an auger. Livestock blood samples were obtained from 181 cattle through simple random sampling, with 10 ml of blood collected from each animal into sterile, labeled containers. For the human population, a multistage sampling technique was employed to select participants, and 10 ml of blood was collected from 255 individuals under aseptic conditions. All samples underwent DNA extraction and purification. The extracted DNA was amplified using species-specific primers ITTS2F and ITTS1R, and results were interpreted based on the presence of Schistosoma-specific DNA sequences. Descriptive statistics were used to determine frequency distributions, while correlation tests assessed associations across species and environmental interfaces. Findings revealed a Schistosoma prevalence of 20.4% in human samples (S. haematobium: 12.2%, S. mansoni: 4.7%, S. japonicum: 3.1%, S. intercalatum: 0.4%). In livestock, the prevalence was 48.1% (S. japonicum: 13.2%, S. bovis: 34.8%). Soil samples showed a 20.0% prevalence (S. bovis: 17.8%, S. haematobium: 2.2%). Significant correlations were found between S. japonicum in humans and livestock (p = 0.012), and between S. bovis in livestock and soil (p = 0.001), suggesting possible zoonotic and environmental transmission routes. However, the correlation between S. haematobium in humans and soil was not statistically significant (p = 0.234). These results underscore the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in schistosomiasis transmission. Strengthened health education, improved sanitation, and integrated community-based interventions are recommended to reduce disease prevalence and interrupt transmission cycles in endemic communities.