African Journal of Parasitology Research

African Journal of Parasitology Research | Vol. 14, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 581–588

DOI: 10.46882/AJPR/170546

Article Type: Full Length Research Paper

Title: Efficacy and tolerability of a novel combination therapy of moxidectin and albendazole against Trichuris trichiura infections in school children on Pemba Island, Tanzania

Names of Authors: Khamis A. Haji¹, Mwajuma M. Said¹, Said J. Mohammed²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Public Health Laboratory-Ivo de Carneri, Chake Chake, Pemba, Tanzania. ²Department of Parasitology and Entomology, State University of Zanzibar, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Abstract: Standard single-dose albendazole treatment displays unacceptably low cure rates against Trichuris trichiura, complicating global soil-transmitted helminth eradication targets. This randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of a combination regimen of moxidectin (a novel macrocyclic lactone) and albendazole compared to standard albendazole monotherapy. The trial enrolled 640 school children (aged 6 to 12 years) diagnosed with active Trichuris trichiura infections on Pemba Island, Tanzania. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either oral moxidectin (2 milligrams) plus albendazole (400 milligrams) or albendazole (400 milligrams) combined with a placebo. Stool analysis using the Kato-Katz technique was executed at baseline and three weeks post-treatment. The combination therapy achieved a cure rate of 48.6 percent (n = 153/315), which was significantly higher than the 12.4 percent cure rate (n = 39/314) observed in the monotherapy group (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the geometric mean egg count reduction rate reached 92.4 percent in the co-administered cohort versus 54.1 percent in the reference arm. Adverse events were mild and transient, consisting primarily of self-limiting vertigo (6.2 percent) and transient abdominal discomfort (4.8 percent), with no serious clinical safety events reported. These definitive findings confirm that moxidectin-albendazole combination therapy provides a superior curative outcome, supporting its inclusion in targeted mass drug administration strategies across hyper-endemic regions.

Keywords: Trichuris trichiura, Moxidectin, Albendazole, Combination therapy, Mass drug administration, Tanzania

Manuscript Timeline: Received: 05 June 2026; Revised: 03 July 2026; Accepted: 25 July 2026; Published: 20 August 2026

African Journal of Parasitology Research | Vol. 14, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 573–580

DOI: 10.46882/AJPR/170545

Article Type: Full Length Research Paper

Title: Zoonotic potential and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium species in commercial poultry and livestock farming systems in the Nile Delta, Egypt

Names of Authors: Tarek M. El-Sayed¹, Ahmed R. Mahmoud², Fatma S. Abdel-Hadi¹

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. ²Animal Health Research Institute, Diagnostic Virology and Parasitology Division, Dokki, Egypt.

Abstract: Cryptosporidiosis is a significant diarrhoeal pathogen causing substantial economic losses in livestock and severe gastrointestinal illness in humans. This molecular epidemiological survey investigated the prevalence, species distribution, and zoonotic transmission hazards of Cryptosporidium species across 68 intensive livestock and poultry farming operations in the Nile Delta, Egypt. Stool and litter samples (n = 1120) collected from calves, sheep, and broiler chickens were screened using modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining followed by nested polymerase chain reaction amplification targeting the small subunit rRNA and gp60 genes. An overall Cryptosporidium prevalence of 22.8 percent was recorded across all agricultural facilities. Molecular typing identified Cryptosporidium parvum as the dominant species in pre-weaned calves (64.2 percent), while Cryptosporidium bovis and Cryptosporidium ryanae predominated in older cattle. In poultry assets, Cryptosporidium baileyi and Cryptosporidium meleagridis were identified in 18.4 percent of samples. Sequence analysis of the gp60 gene in Cryptosporidium parvum isolates revealed the dominance of the hyper-transmissible, zoonotic IIaA15G2R1 subtype family. Multivariable logistic regression associated high oocyst shedding with high stocking densities (odds ratio = 3.12, 95 percent confidence interval [1.88 to 5.16]) and shared water sources between domestic species (odds ratio = 2.44, 95 percent confidence interval [1.35 to 4.41]). The widespread identification of anthropozoonotic subtypes emphasizes the critical role of commercial farms as environmental reservoirs, requiring stringent biosecurity measures and improved waste management protocols to protect public health.

Keywords: Cryptosporidium, Zoonosis, Molecular epidemiology, gp60 subtyping, Intensive farming, Egypt

Manuscript Timeline: Received: 11 May 2026; Revised: 14 June 2026; Accepted: 18 July 2026; Published: 18 August 2026

African Journal of Parasitology Research | Vol. 14, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 605–612

DOI: 10.46882/AJPR/170549

Article Type: Full Length Research Paper

Title: Insecticide resistance profiling and voltage-gated sodium channel mutation frequencies in Cimex lectularius populations from urban transport hubs in West Africa

Names of Authors: Chuka E. Nwosu¹, Amara J. Obi¹, Idris S. Abubakar²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. ²Department of Biological Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.

Abstract: Common bedbugs are re-emerging urban pests causing dermatological distress and psychological morbidity worldwide. This study assessed the phenotypic resistance profiles and underlying knock-down resistance (kdr) mutation frequencies within Cimex lectularius populations across major commercial transit centers and public transportation hubs in southern and northern Nigeria. Wild bedbug populations (n = 14 strains, 2800 specimens) were harvested from long-distance passenger vehicles, trains, and transit lodges. Standard WHO topical bioassays were conducted using pyrethroid (deltamethrin 0.05 percent) and organophosphate (malathion 5.0 percent) compounds. Molecular screening via quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeted the voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) gene to detect the V419L and L925I mutations. Bioassay results revealed widespread high-level pyrethroid resistance, with mortality rates ranging from 4.0 percent to 28.6 percent following 24-hour exposures. Conversely, sensitivity to malathion remained high, yielding an average mortality rate of 91.4 percent. Molecular tracking confirmed a high overall frequency of the L925I kdr mutation (74.2 percent), whereas the V419L substitution occurred in 12.8 percent of analyzed samples. Linear regression analysis identified a significant positive correlation between L925I mutation frequency and deltamethrin survival times (r = 0.84, P < 0.001). These data demonstrate that pyrethroid-based chemical controls are largely ineffective in West African transport infrastructure, emphasizing the need for integrated pest management programs utilizing non-chemical thermal treatments and alternative classes of insecticides.

Keywords: Cimex lectularius, Pyrethroid resistance, Knock-down resistance, Urban transit, Insecticide bioassay, Nigeria

Manuscript Timeline: Received: 18 June 2026; Revised: 15 July 2026; Accepted: 02 August 2026; Published: 26 August 2026

African Journal of Parasitology Research | Vol. 14, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 565–572

DOI: 10.46882/AJPR/170544

Article Type: Full Length Research Paper

Title: Emergence of kelch13 gene mutations associated with partial artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from northern Uganda

Names of Authors: Joseph O. Okello¹, Harriet A. Akello¹, Moses D. Wandera²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. ²Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Clinical Research Unit, Gulu, Uganda.

Abstract: The evolution of antimalarial drug resistance poses a critical threat to global malaria control efforts. This clinical surveillance program monitored molecular markers of artemisinin resistance across three districts in northern Uganda following reports of delayed parasite clearance times. Blood samples were collected from 480 patients presenting with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria who were treated with standard artemether-lumefantrine. DNA extraction and targeted sequencing of the Pfkelch13 propeller domain were conducted alongside in vitro ring-stage survival assays. Genetic profiling identified Pfkelch13 mutations in 14.2 percent (n = 68) of the isolates, with the A675V and C469Y substitutions being the most prevalent alleles. Patients harboring these mutant parasites exhibited a significantly higher risk of persistent parasitaemia on day 3 post-treatment (relative risk = 3.84, 95 percent confidence interval [2.11 to 6.98]). The in vitro ring-stage survival assays confirmed phenotypic partial artemisinin resistance, demonstrating a mean survival rate of 8.6 percent in mutant isolates compared to 1.1 percent in wild-type strains (P < 0.001). No significant changes were detected in the copy number of the Pfmdr1 gene, suggesting sustained baseline efficacy of the partner drug lumefantrine. These molecular findings confirm the established focus of indigenous artemisinin resistance mutations in northern Uganda, demanding an urgent transition to triple artemisinin-based combination therapies to contain further spread.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum, Antimalarial resistance, Pfkelch13, Ring-stage survival assay, Genomics, Uganda

Manuscript Timeline: Received: 04 June 2026; Revised: 01 July 2026; Accepted: 22 July 2026; Published: 15 August 2026

African Journal of Parasitology Research | Vol. 14, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 557–564

DOI: 10.46882/AJPR/170543

Article Type: Short Communication

Title: Diagnostic validation of an artificial intelligence-driven smartphone microscopic system for rapid field detection of soil-transmitted helminths in rural KwaZulu-Natal

Names of Authors: Sibusiso K. Ndlovu¹, Thabo M. Khumalo¹, Elena R. Thompson²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. ²Centre for Diagnostic Innovation, Digital Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Abstract: Point-of-care digital diagnostics offer automated alternatives to manual microscopy in resource-constrained regions. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of an artificial intelligence-driven smartphone microscopic attachment (SmartMicro-AI) optimized for the automated identification and quantification of soil-transmitted helminth ova. A diagnostic validation trial was conducted using 650 stool specimens from school children in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, utilizing dual-investigator manual Kato-Katz microscopy as the reference standard. The SmartMicro-AI system uses a custom deep-learning convolutional neural network to scan thick smears via a mobile phone camera lens. The automated system achieved an overall sensitivity of 93.4 percent and a specificity of 97.2 percent for detecting Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm species combined. Species-specific analysis revealed optimal performance for Ascaris (sensitivity 96.1 percent), while hookworm sensitivity was slightly lower at 88.5 percent due to rapid egg degradation in older samples. Quantification correlation analysis showed strong agreement between AI-calculated eggs per gram values and manual counts (r = 0.89, P < 0.001). Processing time per sample was reduced from an average of 8.5 minutes manually to 1.2 minutes using the automated system. These field validation findings demonstrate that automated mobile microscopy provides reliable, scalable diagnostic outputs, offering a robust tool for large-scale epidemiological monitoring and verification of helminth elimination benchmarks.

Keywords: Soil-transmitted helminths, Digital diagnostics, Artificial intelligence, Mobile health, Point-of-care microscopy, South Africa

Manuscript Timeline: Received: 20 May 2026; Revised: 22 June 2026; Accepted: 15 July 2026; Published: 12 August 2026

African Journal of Parasitology Research | Vol. 14, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 549–556

DOI: 10.46882/AJPR/170542

Article Type: Full Length Research Paper

Title: Spatio-temporal expansion of Biomphalaria pfeifferi habitats and intestinal schistosomiasis transmission risks driven by climate shifts in the Ethiopian highlands

Names of Authors: Yared M. Alemu¹, Tewodros S. Kebede¹, Martha G. Wolde²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ²Department of Earth Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Abstract: Climatic variations are reshaping the altitudinal boundaries of vector-borne diseases in East Africa. This longitudinal investigation tracked the ecological expansion of the intermediate snail host Biomphalaria pfeifferi and corresponding Schistosoma mansoni transmission dynamics across historical low-risk highland zones (elevations 2100 to 2400 meters) in central Ethiopia. Systematic malacological sampling was conducted monthly at 45 water-contact sites alongside cross-sectional parasitological screening of 1840 school children. Results documented the establishment of stable Biomphalaria pfeifferi colonies at altitudes up to 2350 meters, driven by a 1.4 degrees Celsius increase in mean annual water temperatures over the last decade. The mean snail density at these elevated sites reached 34 snails per square meter, with a seasonal infection rate of 4.8 percent containing active Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Concurrently, stool screening using double-smear Kato-Katz techniques revealed a rising intestinal schistosomiasis prevalence of 16.5 percent (n = 304) among children, with a geometric mean egg count of 142 eggs per gram of faeces. Spatial regression analysis coupled with satellite temperature data linked high transmission intensity with communal laundry zones located near expanding irrigation schemes (odds ratio = 4.12, 95 percent confidence interval [2.65 to 6.42]). These findings prove that climatic warming has enabled the upstream encroachment of intestinal schistosomiasis, necessitating the immediate extension of mass drug administration and snail control programs to previously non-endemic highland ecosystems.

Keywords: Schistosoma mansoni, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Climate change, Altitude expansion, Highland malaria, Ethiopia

Manuscript Timeline: Received: 02 May 2026; Revised: 05 June 2026; Accepted: 12 July 2026; Published: 08 August 2026