y2017m03b17 20170327110700 assa nadine@assaf.org.za assa South African Journal of Science S. Afr. J. Sci 1996-7489 03292017 Volume 113 Number 3/4 Co-infection with Schistosoma haematobium and soil-transmitted helminths in rural South Africa Mari Molvik http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4567-678X Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway Elin Helland http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0619-6265 Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Siphosenkosi G. Zulu http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4996-8827 Discipline of Public Health Medicine, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Elisabeth Kleppa http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7089-5343 Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Kristine Lillebo http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4826-9071 Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway Svein G. Gundersen http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8474-6106 Research Department, Sorlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway Institute for Global Development and Planning, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway Jane D. Kvalsvig Discipline of Public Health Medicine, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Myra Taylor http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3087-2240 Discipline of Public Health Medicine, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Eyrun F. Kjetland http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5552-1095 Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway Discipline of Public Health Medicine, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Birgitte J. Vennervald http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5721-3494 Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Abstract Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis are among the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases and may lead to severe consequences. We assessed the extent of co-infection between Schistosoma haematobium and the soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura in schoolgirls in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We also explored if S. haematobium can serve as a predictor for soil-transmitted helminths in this area. From 15 selected schools, 726 primary schoolgirls aged 10–12 years provided both urine and stool samples. The samples were examined for the presence of eggs using the urine sedimentation technique for S. haematobium and the Kato Katz technique for STHs. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to calculate the association and Spearman’s rank correlation was used for the correlation analysis. There was a highly significant correlation between S. haematobium and STHs at a school level (Spearman’s correlation coefficient =0.93; p bigger than 0.001). The prevalences were found to be 36.9% and 38.8% for S. haematobium and STHs, respectively. A significant association was found between S. haematobium and STHs (odds ratio =2.05; confidence interval =1.58–2.93; p bigger than 0.001). Indirect indicators of urogenital schistosomiasis (e.g. water contact and haematuria) were significantly associated with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infection. We have demonstrated a highly significant correlation and overall association between urogenital schistosomiasis and A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura. We cautiously suggest that all S. haematobium endemic areas should be treated for STH infections. 03292017 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/za/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/za/ 10.17159/sajs.2017/20160251 20170327110700 http://www.sajs.co.za/co-infection-schistosoma-haematobium-and-soil-transmitted-helminths-rural-south-africa/mari-molvik-elin-helland-siphosenkosi-g-zulu-elisabeth-kleppa-kristine-lillebo-svein-g-gundersen http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-3-4_Molvik_ResearchArticle.pdf http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-3-4_Molvik_ResearchArticle.pdf http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-3-4_Molvik_ResearchArticle.pdf http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-3-4_Molvik_ResearchArticle.pdf http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-3-4_Molvik_ResearchArticle.pdf http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-3-4_Molvik_ResearchArticle.pdf http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-3-4_Molvik_ResearchArticle.pdf