Molecular diagnostics reveal substantial sub-patent schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections in school children: An implication for elimination programme

Approximately one-third of parasitic infections remain undetected by microscopy across diverse Nigerian ecological zones. Integration of molecular diagnostics into elimination programmes both during active control to identify and treat sub-patent reservoir infections and during post-elimination surveillance to verify interruption of transmission is essential for accurate progress assessment towards the 2030 targets. WHO elimination thresholds may require recalibration to account for systematic underestimation by conventional diagnostics.