One Health insights into local transmission of zoonotic Schistosoma mattheei in southern Malawi

Citation

Juhász A, Makaula P, Cunningham LJ, Nkolokosa C, Archer J, Jones S, Namacha G, Chammudzi P, Mainga B, Lally D, Kayuni SA, LaCourse EJ, O'Ferrall AM, Musaya J & Stothard JR (2026) One Health insights into local transmission of zoonotic Schistosoma mattheei in southern Malawi. Philosophical Transactions B, 381 (1941). https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0519

Abstract
Schistosoma mattheei is a zoonotic schistosome species in central and southern Africa and is of increasing public health concern in southern Malawi. To gain insight into its local transmission, we investigated the biology of Schistosoma mattheei in southern Malawi, integrating epidemiological, environmental and genetic data within a One Health framework. Cattle, goats, humans and snails were surveyed, with DNA barcoding revealing nine mitochondrial S. mattheei haplotypes. Two haplotypes were shared across species, indicating cross-host transmission. Infected snails were detected year-round, with seasonal variation linked to vegetation cover (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)). Praziquantel (40 mg kg−1) treatment in selected cattle herds reduced infection prevalence over 12 weeks. These findings highlight the zoonotic potential of S. mattheei and the need for integrated control strategies.

Keywords
schistosomiasis; microepidemiology; DNA barcoding; hybridization; livestock; normalized difference vegetation index

Journal
Philosophical Transactions B: Volume 381, Issue 1941

• One Health insights into local transmission of zoonotic Schistosoma mattheei in southern Malawi