Schistosomiasis and the host metabolome in preschool-aged children: Schistosoma haematobium infection outcome data

Millions of preschool-aged children (PSAC), i.e. aged 5 years and below, in sub-Saharan Africa suffer from a neglected tropical disease caused by helminth parasitic worms, known as schistosomiasis (commonly referred to as bilharzia or snail fever). This was a study to determine the changes in host metabolic profiles, in response to the first Schistosoma haematobium infection and treatment in Zimbabwean preschool-aged children. The species S. haematobium is the most common, and accounts for about two-thirds of all schistosomiasis cases in Africa.

Eighty-three children (age range, 2–5 years old) confirmed schistosome-negative (as determined by parasitological diagnosis, guardian interviews and examination of medical records) were recruited at baseline (T0). Children were followed up after three months for parasitological diagnosis of their first S. haematobium infection, as determined by microscopic egg counts in urine (T2). Children positive for infection were treated with the antihelminthic drug praziquantel, and treatment efficacy was checked three months after treatment (T3). Blood samples were taken at each time point (i.e. T0, T2, and T3) and serum metabolite profiles were measured by capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry. The change in serum metabolite profiles (∆T) were compared between schistosome-infected versus uninfected children.
This dataset is linked as part of the manuscript “Schistosoma haematobium infection is associated with alterations in energy and purine-related metabolism in preschool-aged children”

Osakunor, Derick Nii Mensah; Mutapi, Francisca. (2020). Schistosomiasis and the host metabolome in preschool-aged children: Schistosoma haematobium infection outcome data, [dataset]. University of Edinburgh. School of Biological Sciences. https://doi.org/10.7488/ds/2930.