PNTD-D-24-01726

Assessing the Status of Soil-transmitted Helminths and Schistosoma mansoni infections toward the parasitological indicators set by the elimination program after seven years of preventive chemotherapy  among school-age children in Mizan-Aman town

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Dear Dr. Abera,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases's publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

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Kind regards,

Uwem Friday Ekpo, PhD

Academic Editor

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Jong-Yil Chai

Section Editor

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Shaden Kamhawi

co-Editor-in-Chief

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

orcid.org/0000-0003-4304-636XX

Paul Brindley

co-Editor-in-Chief

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

orcid.org/0000-0003-1765-0002

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Reviewers' Comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Key Review Criteria Required for Acceptance?

As you describe the new analyses required for acceptance, please consider the following:

Methods

-Are the objectives of the study clearly articulated with a clear testable hypothesis stated?

-Is the study design appropriate to address the stated objectives?

-Is the population clearly described and appropriate for the hypothesis being tested?

-Is the sample size sufficient to ensure adequate power to address the hypothesis being tested?

-Were correct statistical analysis used to support conclusions?

-Are there concerns about ethical or regulatory requirements being met?

Reviewer #1: -Are the objectives of the study clearly articulated with a clear testable hypothesis stated?

- Yes the manuscript have clear objectives to assess the impact of multiple intervention of S.haematobium prevalence and further assess the factors contributing to persistence transmission

-Is the study design appropriate to address the stated objectives?

Yes, the study design is appropriate

-Is the population clearly described and appropriate for the hypothesis being tested?

-The study population is well described for schools and community

-Is the sample size sufficient to ensure adequate power to address the hypothesis being tested?

- The sample size is well described and the calculations are clear with power to test the hypothesis

-Were correct statistical analysis used to support conclusions?

-Statistics are clear

-Are there concerns about ethical or regulatory requirements being met?

- Ethical standards were followed.

Reviewer #2: (No Response)

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Results

-Does the analysis presented match the analysis plan?

-Are the results clearly and completely presented?

-Are the figures (Tables, Images) of sufficient quality for clarity?

Reviewer #1: -Does the analysis presented match the analysis plan?

- The analysis matches with the analysis plan

-Are the results clearly and completely presented?

- The results match the study objectives

-Are the figures (Tables, Images) of sufficient quality for clarity?

- All are clear

Reviewer #2: (No Response)

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Conclusions

-Are the conclusions supported by the data presented?

-Are the limitations of analysis clearly described?

-Do the authors discuss how these data can be helpful to advance our understanding of the topic under study?

-Is public health relevance addressed?

Reviewer #1: The conclusion is supported by the results

-Study limitations not described and no nay limitations on the analysis described

- Yes, the discussion point out the need to address poverty which is the main central point for persistent transmission of S.haematobium infection

-Yes, very relevant manuscript and data are relevant to show the impact of multiple interventions

Reviewer #2: (No Response)

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Editorial and Data Presentation Modifications?

Use this section for editorial suggestions as well as relatively minor modifications of existing data that would enhance clarity. If the only modifications needed are minor and/or editorial, you may wish to recommend “Minor Revision” or “Accept”.

Reviewer #1: No comments

Reviewer #2: (No Response)

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Summary and General Comments

Use this section to provide overall comments, discuss strengths/weaknesses of the study, novelty, significance, general execution and scholarship. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. If requesting major revision, please articulate the new experiments that are needed.

Reviewer #1: - The manuscript present very good data from endemic areas though the impact of the interventions was not that much as expected to the effort which went into data collection, indicating that schistosomiasis remain as a complex disease and there is a need to address the central point, the poverty. It will be interesting to access the treatment coverage in these IU.

Minor comments. No limitations were indicated which are obvious, from the study design and the uptake of the treatment (coverage and compliance) were not reported

Line 29- there is no large microhaematuria- this is Macrohaematuria, the same for line 30'

50-51- need english grammar check

229-0238- repetition of results, not needed

Reviewer #2: (No Response)

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: Yes:  Jean T. Coulibaly

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Reproducibility:

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Attachments

Attachment

Submitted filename: Reviewer Comment (14 1 2025).docx

Dear Mr. Abera,

We are pleased to inform you that your manuscript 'Assessing Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Schistosoma mansoni Infections Using Parasitological Indicators After Seven Years of Preventive Chemotherapy Among School-Age Children in Mizan-Aman Town' has been provisionally accepted for publication in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Before your manuscript can be formally accepted you will need to complete some formatting changes, which you will receive in a follow up email. A member of our team will be in touch with a set of requests.

Please note that your manuscript will not be scheduled for publication until you have made the required changes, so a swift response is appreciated.

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Thank you again for supporting Open Access publishing; we are looking forward to publishing your work in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Best regards,

Jong-Yil Chai

Section Editor

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Jong-Yil Chai

Section Editor

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Shaden Kamhawi

co-Editor-in-Chief

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

orcid.org/0000-0003-4304-636XX

Paul Brindley

co-Editor-in-Chief

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

orcid.org/0000-0003-1765-0002

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The revised version of this manuscript is acceptable for publication.

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