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Life sciences · Journal article
Bulletins of Natural and Applied Sciences · August 1, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This is a descriptive epidemiological survey demonstrating that PCR amplification of Dra 1 repeat sequences successfully detects S. haematobium infection in urine samples from three Nigerian communities. The overall infection prevalence was 19.33%, with higher rates in males, children aged 10–14 years, and Gumbi community. The work establishes the technical feasibility and sensitivity of the molecular method for surveillance but does not compare diagnostic accuracy against a gold standard or provide evidence on clinical impact.
Cross-sectional descriptive survey. Residents of Gumbi, More, and Katami communities in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria; demographics (age, sex) reported but detailed inclusion/exclusion criteria not stated.. Intervention: PCR amplification targeting Dra 1 repeat sequences with species-specific primers. Compared with: Standard urine filtration technique for microscopic detection of S. haematobium eggs. n = 476. Three communities in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria.
Overall S. haematobium prevalence 19.33% (92/476 samples) Age-group variation: highest prevalence at 10–14 years (31.25%, p = 0.045) Sex difference: males 24.83% vs females 10.11% (p = 0.0001)
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The findings demonstrate that PCR-based molecular detection is feasible in endemic settings and may improve sensitivity over microscopy alone. However, the study does not report diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, predictive values) compared to a reference standard, clinical outcomes, or treatment implications, limiting immediate clinical utility.
A descriptive cross-sectional survey of infection prevalence using both microscopy and PCR in three Nigerian communities; establishes feasibility of molecular detection but lacks a control group, comparative effectiveness data, or clinical outcomes to guide practice.
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The findings demonstrate that PCR-based molecular detection is feasible in endemic settings and may improve sensitivity over microscopy alone. However, the study does not report diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, predictive values) compared to a reference standard, clinical outcomes, or treatment implications, limiting immediate clinical utility.
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Urinary Schistosomiasis remains a major public health concern in endemic regions of sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the molecular epidemiology of S. haematobium infection through PCR amplification of Dra 1 repeat sequences among residents of selected communities in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria. A total of 476 urine samples were collected from participants in Gumbi, More, and Katami communities and examined using the standard urine filtration technique for the detection of S. haematobium eggs. Genomic DNA was extracted from positive samples using the Qiagen QIAamp DNA Mini Kit, while PCR amplification targeting the Dra 1 repeat sequence was performed using species-specific primers to amplify a 121 bp fragment. PCR products were visualized by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis at p < 0.05. The overall prevalence of infection was 19.33% (92/476). Infection varied significantly across age groups (p = 0.045), with the highest prevalence observed among participants aged 10-14 years (31.25%). Males recorded a significantly higher prevalence (24.83%) than females [10.11%][p = 0.0001]. Significant variation was also observed among the study communities (p = 0.045), with Gumbi community recording the highest prevalence (23.90%). PCR successfully amplified Dra 1 repeat sequences, confirming S. haematobium infection. The study highlights the usefulness of PCR-based molecular diagnosis for sensitive detection and epidemiological surveillance of urinary schistosomiasis in endemic communities.
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