Mass drug administration of praziquantel lowers the susceptibility of school-aged children to Schistosoma mansoni in endemic areas
Our study highlights a previously underappreciated advantage of sustained PZQ treatment in SAC from schistosomiasis-endemic areas. Regular deworming with PZQ may rapidly rewire the host to foster the development of protective immune responses, mitigating the risks of heavy reinfection and its sequelae, underscoring the overlooked benefits of PZQ treatment for integrated public health strategies against schistosomiasis.
Authors
- Mireille Kameni Poumeni
- Leonel Meyo Kamguia
- Thomas Spangenberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5654-8919)
- Justin Komguep Nono (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6153-9729)
- Marie Madeleine Noubissi Fotseu
- Vincent Brice Owona Ayissi
- Claudia Demarta-Gatsi
- Bernard Marie Bitye Zambo
- Etienne Borel Soh Bayeck
Institutions
- Université de Yaoundé I (CM)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- Merck KGaA, Darmstadt (Germany) (DE)
- University of Bamenda (CM)
- Bamenda University of Science and Technology (CM)
- Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku (GA)
- Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (CM)
- Catholic University of Central Africa (CM)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Immunology
- Published
- 2026-02-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1746003
- Primary Topic
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Merck KGaA
- Government of the United Kingdom
- African Academy of Sciences