Differential impact of mass and targeted praziquantel delivery on schistosomiasis control in school-aged children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

摘要: Background Schistosomiasis is a widespread public health concern in the poorest regions of world. The principal control strategy regular praziquantel administration to school-aged children endemic areas. With calls for elimination schistosomiasis as problem, expanding delivery all community members has been advocated. This systematic review and meta-analysis compares impact community-wide child-targeted distribution on prevalence intensity children. Methodology/Principal findings We searched MEDLINE, Embase Web Science identify papers that reported schistosome before after administration, either only or members. Extracted data included Schistosoma species, drug strategy, number treatment rounds, follow-up interval treatment. used inverse variance weighted generalised linear models examine mass versus targeted reduction, boxplots infection reduction. study registered with PROSPERO, CRD42018095377. In total, 34 articles were eligible 28 meta-analysis. mansoni was 20 studies; haematobium 19 studies, japonicum two studies. Results showed no detectable difference between strategies reduction S. (odds ratio 0.47, 95%CI 0.13–1.68, p = 0.227) (0.41, 0.06–3.03, 0.358). Box plots also apparent differences strategies. Conclusions/Significance results this do not support hypothesis more effective than at reducing infections may be due relatively small insufficient coverage, persistent hotspots unmeasured confounders. Further field-based studies comparing are required.