Subclinical hepatorenal biomarker alterations and urogenital indicators in Schistosoma haematobium -infected School-Aged Children in Sene West District, Ghana
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Urogenital schistosomiasis, caused by Schistosoma haematobium , remains a major public health challenge among school-aged children in rural Ghana. Although urogenital indicators are well- established, systemic hepatic biomarker alterations in post-mass drug administration pediatric settings remain poorly characterized. This cross-sectional study evaluated point-of-care urinalysis profiles alongside a panel of serum hepatic and renal biomarkers in 174 children (aged 3–16 years) from the Sene West District, Ghana. Active infection (urine microscopy egg detection) was identified in 84 participants (48.3%, median egg count = 4.50 eggs/10 mL, IQR: 1.00–9.25). Active infection was strongly associated with microhematuria (57.1% vs. 11.1%, p < 0.001), proteinuria (42.9% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.004), and leukocyturia (27.4% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001). Children with active infection also demonstrated a higher frequency of composite categorical hepatic biomarker alterations (60.7% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.002), whereas categorical renal alterations showed no significant difference ( p = 0.332). Controlling for age and sex, multivariable logistic regression confirmed active infection as a significant independent predictor of composite hepatic biomarker alterations (aOR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.37–4.69, p = 0.003), but not renal alterations (aOR = 1.40, p = 0.359). Continuous medians for individual serum biomarkers showed no significant differences between groups. Combining composite hepatic biomarker thresholds with routine dipstick screening improves the detection of subclinical morbidity in pediatric field settings.
Source: medRxiv
Institutions: Ghana Health Service, University of California San Diego
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7215703813