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Iran J Parasitol 2020 Jan-Mar;15(1):124-129

Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Background: Intestinal schistosomiasis is a disease caused by infection with one of the blood flukes called infection is high in Sub-Saharan Africa due to water source, sanitation and hygiene problems. This study aimed to determine the effect of water source, sanitation and hygiene on the prevalence of schistosomiasis among school-age children in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from Apr 2016 to Aug 2016. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Jun 1;13(1):273. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Background: Fishermen and boatmen are a population at-risk for contracting schistosomiasis due to their high frequency of water contact in endemic areas of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China (P. R. China). Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Jun 1;13(1):278. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Núcleo de Pesquisa em Doenças Negligenciadas, Universidade Guarulhos, Guarulhos, SP, Brazil.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a socioeconomically devastating parasitic infection afflicting hundreds of millions of people and animals worldwide. It is the most important helminth infection, and its treatment relies solely on the drug praziquantel. Oral H1-antihistamines are available worldwide, and these agents are among the most widely used of all medications in children and adults. Read More

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Department of Gastroenterology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Botucatu Street, 740, Sao Paulo 04023-900, Brazil.

Background: Periportal fibrosis is associated with the main complications of schistosomiasis mansoni. The usefulness of hepatic transient elastography (TE) in its evaluation remains to be clarified.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of schistosomal patients, where the measurements obtained by FibroScan TE were correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis according to the Niamey sonographic protocol, adopted as the gold standard, and its performance was calculated as the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC). Read More

Biochem J 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.

Oncomelania hupensis is the unique intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum. As an irreplaceable prerequisite in the transmission and prevalence of schistosomiasis japonica, an in-depth study of this obligate host-parasite interaction can provide glimpse into the molecular events in the competition between schistosome infectivity and snail immune resistance. In previous studies, we identified a macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) from O. Read More

Pathogens 2020 May 27;9(6). Epub 2020 May 27.

Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

causes schistosomiasis in southeast Asia, against which praziquantel (PZQ) is the only treatment option. PZQ resistance has been reported, thus increasing the requirement to understand mechanism of PZQ. Herein, this study aimed to assess differences in proteome and phosphoproteome of after PZQ treatment for elucidating its action. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(3):326-327

Yueyang Second People's Hospital, Hunan Province, China.

A case with breast schistosomiasis japonica was reported. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Jan;32(3):323-325

Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Center on Schistosomiasis Control in Lake Regions, Hunan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Transmission Control of Schistosomiasis, National Key Clinical Specialty, Yueyang 414000, China.

The etiology, pathology, clinical features and prognosis of megalosplenic advanced schistosomiasis have their specific features, and therefore, the perioperative management of this disorder has special countermeasures. The review analyzes the difficult problems in the perioperative management of megalosplenic advanced schistosomiasis, including ultra - low platelet counts, extensive and severe adhesive splenomegaly, massive hemorrhage during surgery and portal vein thrombosis, and proposes countermeasures to tackle these problems, with aims to guide the clinical treatment and cure of schistosomiasis, thereby improving the prognosis, reducing complications and improving the quality of life. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(3):320-322

Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Center on Schistosomiasis Control in Lake Regions, Hunan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Transmission Control of Schistosomiasis, National Key Clinical Specialty, Yueyang 414000, China.

As an ancient parasitic disease, schistosomiasis has been endemic in Dongting Lake areas for more than 2 100 years. In the early 20th century, the first human case of schistosomiasis in China was reported in Dongting Lake areas, which was paid extensive attention. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, large-scale schistosomiasis control activities were launched promptly in Dongting Lake areas, and great successes have been achieved following the three stages of control efforts, including the snail control-based stage, synchronous chemotherapy for humans and livestock-based control stage and infectious source control-based control stage. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(3):317-319

Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Center on Schistosomiasis Control in Lake Regions, Hunan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Transmission Control of Schistosomiasis, National Key Clinical Specialty, Yueyang 414000, China.

Objective: To analyze the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in Hunan Province in 2019, so as to provide insights into the achievement of transmission interruption of schistosomiasis in the province in 2020.

Methods: The data pertaining to infections in humans and livestock and snail status were captured from Hunan Province in 2019 and analyzed.

Results: Schistosomiasis was endemic in 281 townships (towns) from 41 counties (districts) of 6 cities in Hunan Province by the end of 2019. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(3):311-313

Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, China.

Objective: To examine the construction and operation of the schistosomiasis diagnostic network platform in Hunan Province, so as to provide insights into the improvements of the schistosomiasis diagnostic network laboratory system in the province.

Methods: According to the criteria and requirements for the construction of the county-level schistosomiasis diagnostic network laboratory in China, the establishment and operation of the laboratory were assessed using self-assessment and field review in national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of Hunan Province.

Results: A total of 41 county-level schistosomiasis diagnostic network laboratories were built in national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of Hunan Province, and 36 met the requirements for the construction of the national schistosomiasis diagnostic network laboratory in China, which were approved for inclusion in the province-level schistosomiasis diagnostic network laboratory. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(3):308-310

Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Center on Schistosomiasis Control in Lake Regions, Hunan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Transmission Control of Schistosomiasis, National Key Clinical Specialty, Yueyang 414000, China.

Objective: To examine the effect of rational emotive therapy on negative emotions among advanced schistosomiasis patients with repeated hospitalizations.

Methods: A total of 97 advanced schistosomiasis patients with anxiety and depressive emotions that were hospitalized in Xiangyue Hospital of Hunan Institute of Schistosomiasis Control for three times or more were enrolled, and given rational emotive therapy for 4 weeks in addition to routine nursing care. The scores for anxiety, depression and quality of life were estimated in patients before and after the rational emotive therapy using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SRS), the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and WHOQOL-BREF Form. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2019 Nov;32(3):304-307

Department of Schistosomiasis, The First Hospital of Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, China.

Objective: To compare the expression of serum vitamin D in advanced schistosomiasis patients with grade I and II hepatic fibrosis, and to preliminarily examine its associations with the internal diameter of the main portal vein and progression of hepatic fibrosis.

Methods: The medical records of 126 advanced schistosomiasis patients with grade I and II hepatic fibrosis referred to Jiaxing First Hospital from March 2012 to September 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The internal diameter of the main portal vein and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] level were measured. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(3):301-303

Anhui Institute of Schistosomiasis Control, Hefei 230061, China.

Objective: To analyze the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in national surveillance sites of Anhui Province from 2015 to 2018, so as to provide scientific evidence for schistosomiasis control and prevention in Anhui Province.

Methods: According to the National Schistosomiasis Surveillance Programme (2014 version), a total of 51 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites were assigned in Anhui Province in 2015, and infections in humans and livestock and snail distribution were monitored from 2015 to 2018.

Results: A total of 89 638 local residents and 42 609 mobile populations received serological screening of schistosomiasis in 51 national surveillance sites of Anhui Province from 2015 to 2018, and the sero-prevalence of infections was 1. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 May;32(3):242-247

Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Center on Schistosomiasis Control in Lake Regions, Hunan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Transmission Control of Schistosomiasis, National Key Clinical Specialty, Yueyang 414000, China.

Objective: To analyze the changes in the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in national surveillance sites of Hunan Province, so as to provide scientific basis for the development of the schistosomiasis elimination programme in the province.

Methods: According to the requirements of the National Guidelines for Schistosomiasis Surveillance in China (2014 version), a total of 41 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites were assigned in all disease-endemic counties (districts) across Hunan Province. During the period between 2015 and 2019, infections were monitored in local residents, mobile populations and livestock, and snail status was monitored. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(3):236-241

Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Center on Schistosomiasis Control in Lake Regions, Hunan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Transmission Control of Schistosomiasis, National Key Clinical Specialty, Yueyang 414000, China.

Objective: To predict the changes in the prevalence of infections in humans and livestock in Hunan Province using the exponential smoothing model and the ARIMA model.

Methods: The data pertaining to infections in humans and livestock in Hunan Province from 1957 to 2015 were collected, and the exponential smoothing model and the ARIMA model were created using the software Eviews and PASW Statistics 18.0. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 May;32(3):230-235

Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Center on Schistosomiasis Control in Lake Regions, Hunan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Transmission Control of Schistosomiasis, National Key Clinical Specialty, Yueyang 414000, China.

Objective: To examine the effect of the integrated schistosomiasis control measures in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2019, so as to provide insights into the development of the schistosomiasis elimination strategy.

Methods: The integrated schistosomiasis control measures implemented by the health, agriculture, water resources, forestry, land and resources sectors were retrospectively collected in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2019, and the completion of each measure, cost of control measures, infections in humans and bovines, and snail status were analyzed each year. An index system for assessing the integrated schistosomiasis control effect was constructed using the Delphi method to calculate the integrated schistosomiasis control effect index. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(3):225-229

Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Center on Schistosomiasis Control in Lake Regions, Hunan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Transmission Control of Schistosomiasis, National Key Clinical Specialty, Yueyang 414000, China.

This paper describes the current epidemic characteristics and endemic status of schistosomiasis, analyzes the main challenges of schistosomiasis control and proposes the emphasis and interventions for future schistosomiasis control activities in Hunan Province, so as to provide insights into the elimination of schistosomiasis in Hunan Province. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(3):222-224

National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, China.

The culture of schistosomiasis control is specific in the history of Chinese culture. Broadly speaking, the culture of schistosomiasis control is a summary of specific social mood, social consciousness and material culture created by Chinese populations during the progress of schistosomiasis control since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Narrowly speaking, the culture of schistosomiasis control is the spiritual culture that is jointly created and nurtured by schistosomiasis control workers since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 May;32(3):219-221

National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases; Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of National Health Commission, Shanghai 200025, China.

Hunan Province occupies a particular position in the history of the national schistosomiasis control programme of China. The province is hyperendemic for schistosomiasis, and achieves great successes and many experiences at various stages of the national schistosomiasis control programme of China. Recently, remarkable schistosomiasis control benefits have been achieved in Hunan Province because of the strong political will, increased financial support, intensification of the integrated control strategy and sustainable implementation of the four projects, including management of livestock and humans as sources of infections, snail control and capability building of schistosomiasis control institutions. Read More

Parasitol Res 2020 May 29. Epub 2020 May 29.

University of Perpignan Via Domitia, IHPE UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Montpellier, 58 avenue Paul Alduy, Bât. R, F-66860, Perpignan, France.

Schistosomiasis remains a parasitic infection which poses serious public health consequences around the world, particularly on the African continent where cases of introgression/hybridization between human and cattle schistosomiasis are being discovered on a more frequent basis in humans, specifically between Schistosoma haematobium and S. bovis. The aim of this paper is to analyze the occurrence of S. Read More

Hepatology 2020 May 28. Epub 2020 May 28.

Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, Regensburg, Germany.

Schistosomiasis is a chronic helminthic disease caused by parasitic flatworms called schistosomes, infecting more than 207 million people in 78 countries worldwide, and provoking over 200,000 deaths annually. Schistosomiasis is the cause of a spectrum of serious diseases affecting several organs, belonging to the genitourinary, digestive, and nervous systems. In the liver, schistosomiasis induces hepatic fibrosis, hepatosplenomegaly, and portal hypertension. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(2):208-212

Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi 214064, China.

snail is the only intermediate host of , and controlling snail breeding and spread is an important intervention for schistosomiasis control. This review summarizes factors affecting snail spread, characteristics of snail spread in various endemic areas, high-risk environments of snail spread and monitoring methods of snail spread, so as to provide insights into the prevention of snail spread. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Mar;32(2):198-199

Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, China.

Objective: To investigate the survival period of Yunnan Province-derived smooth-shelled snails bred in laboratory.

Methods: snails were sampled from Heqing and Yongsheng counties where schistosomiasis is endemic, and uninfected adult snails were collected and bred in laboratory. The survival period of snails sampled from these two counties was compared. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(2):159-167

Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, China.

Objective: To characterize a species of the genus and parasitized trematodes in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Yunnan Province using a molecular analysis, so as to understand their taxonomic positions.

Methods: spp. and snails were collected from Xiangyun County, Yunnan Province, and cercaria parasitizing snails were observed using crushing followed by microscopy. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(2):154-158

Department of Infectious Diseases/Intensive Care Unit of Hepatology, The First Hospital Affiliated of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and the distribution of peripheral blood T lymphocyte sub-sets in patients with schistosomal hepatic cirrhosis in Suzhou City.

Methods: A total of 32 inpatients with liver diseases due to advanced schistosomiasis at the Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2016 to January 2018 were recruited and assigned into the infection and non-infection groups according to presence of co-infections, and 20 old healthy volunteers served as controls. Venous blood samples were collected on the day of admission, and the proportions of CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th17 cells were detected in peripheral blood using flow cytometry. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(2):148-153

Yijishan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China.

Objective: To examine the effect of schistosomiasis on the development of gastric cancer and colorectal cancer.

Methods: The clinical data of patients with gastric cancer and colorectal cancer with and without schistosomiasis japonica that were admitted to the Yijishan Hospital Affiliated to Wannan Medical College from January 2014 to December 2018 were collected. All cases were divided into schistosomal gastric cancer group and non - schistosomal gastric cancer group, schistosomal colorectal cancer group and non-schistosomal colorectal cancer group. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Mar;32(2):140-147

National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China.

Objective: To investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of snails and infected snails in the endemic areas of schistosomiasis in Anhui Province.

Methods: Based on the snail survey data in Anhui Province in 2016, the distribution of snails and infected snails were analyzed, and the spatial distribution of snails and spatial cluster patterns of infected snails were investigated in snail habitats in Anhui Province from 1950 to 2016.

Results: A total of 22 757 snail habitats and 5 004 infected snail habitats were identified in Anhui Province from 1950 to 2016, which appeared single-peak and double-peak patterns, with an inflection point seen in 1970. Read More

Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 2020 Apr;32(2):132-139

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Tropical Disease Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of water body environments on the microbial community of snails in marshlands of the eastern Dongting Lake where natural extinction of snails are found, so as to explore the correlation between the natural extinction of snails and the microbial community in snails.

Methods: Snails were caged water bodies in the Qianliang Lake marshland (Qianliang Lake regions) where natural extinction of snails was found and in the Junshan Park marshland (Junshan Park regions) in the eastern Dongting Lake for 30 days, and then all snails were collected and identified for survival or death. DNA sequencing of the fungi and bacteria was performed in snails before and after immersion in waters, and the biodiversity and abundance were analyzed. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 May 21;17(10). Epub 2020 May 21.

Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland.

The application of a health impact assessment (HIA) for a large-scale copper mining project in rural Zambia triggered the long-term monitoring and evaluation of determinants of health and health outcomes in communities living in proximity to the mine. Three consecutive cross-sectional surveys were conducted at intervals of four years; thus, at baseline (2011), four (2015) and eight (2019) years into the project's development. Using the same field and laboratory procedures, the surveys allowed for determining changes in health indicators at the household level, in young children (<5 years), school attendees (9-14 years) and women (15-49 years). Read More

J Trop Med 2020 6;2020:4083252. Epub 2020 May 6.

Department of Medical Parasitology, CMHS, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that resides in the vascular system of vertebrates, causing a chronic, debilitating disease that affects more than 200 million people and 800,000 deaths per year in over 70 countries. This parasite causes liver dysfunction and disorders normal hematological and biochemical profiles in addition to portal vein hypertension syndrome, ascites, and liver fibrosis. The general objective of the current study is to assess hematological and biochemical profiles of patients infected with in comparison with apparently healthy individuals (control group) in Sanja town, northwest Ethiopia. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 May 26;14(5):e0008187. Epub 2020 May 26.

IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Center for Tropical Diseases, Negrar, Verona, Italy.

Loiasis, caused by the filarial nematode Loa loa, is endemic in Central and West Africa where about 10 million people are infected. There is a scarcity of convenient, commercial diagnostics for L. loa. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2151:229-262

Center for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.

Vaccination has greatly reduced the burden of human diseases caused by infectious pathogens. Systematic development of vaccine targets requires established protocols to assess immunogenicity and efficacy of such vaccine candidates. Using a leading schistosomiasis vaccine candidate, Sm-p80, as an example, we describe standardized approaches for testing the immunogenicity and efficacy of Schistosoma mansoni vaccine targets. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2151:219-227

National Research Council, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rome, Italy.

Schistosomiasis is one of the major parasitic diseases with more than  200 million people infected worldwide every year. Praziquantel is the drug of choice against the schistosomiasis although the use of a single drug to treat such a large amount of infected people appears particularly worrisome. For this reason, the search of new schistosomicidal compounds is viewed as an urgent goal and a number of screening campaigns have been carried out in the past years. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2151:211-218

Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Protein structure determination by X-ray crystallography guides structure-function and rational drug design studies. Helminths cause devastating diseases, including schistosomiasis that affects over one-third of the human population. Trematodes from the genus Schistosoma heavily depend on glycolysis; thus enzymes involved in this metabolic pathway are potential drug targets. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2151:145-158

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.

Schistosomiasis caused by parasitic blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma is a global health problem with over 200 million people infected. Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B1 (SmCB1) is a gut-associated protease critical for digestion of host blood proteins as a source of nutrients. SmCB1 is a validated drug target, and inhibitors of SmCB1 represent promising anti-schistosomals. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2151:93-107

IHPE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France.

DNA-binding proteins play critical roles in many major processes such as development and sexual biology of Schistosoma mansoni and are important for the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) are useful to characterize the association of genomic regions with posttranslational chemical modifications of histone proteins. Challenges in the standard ChIP protocol have motivated recent enhancements in this approach, such as reducing the number of cells required and increasing the resolution. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2151:85-92

Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.

The tegument (outer surface) of Schistosoma mansoni and other trematodes is in intimate contact with the host and plays an important role in host-parasite interactions. It is a complex structure that contains hundreds of proteins implicated in a variety of functions, although, so far, only a few proteins have been well characterized. Indeed, a few of these proteins have been shown to be effective vaccine and diagnostic candidates against S. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2151:75-84

National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Schistosomiasis is one of the most important helminthic parasitic infections in the world, with over 700 million people at risk of infection. Species of Schistosoma have a complex life cycle involving the infection of freshwater snails before infecting their mammalian definitive host. Taking about 130,000 lives per annum, S. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2151:65-74

Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.

Schistosomes are deadly pathogens responsible for the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis. The parasite's virulence is aided by a skin-like tissue called the tegument. The study of the tegument is hampered by a lack of tools suitable for visualizing the tissue. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2151:9-26

Federal University of Paraíba, Health Center, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.

Schistosomiasis is a chronic neglected tropical disease, highlighted by the presence of Schistosoma worms, which presents in advanced cases in approximately 80 countries, affecting almost 300 million people. The treatment is based on only one drug, praziquantel, a drug discovered in the 1970s that shows moderate efficacy against the adult parasite, but low efficacy against the larval stages of the parasite. Therefore, the use of only one drug has brought concerns and losses on drug-resistance cases, necessitating the development of new effective chemotherapeutic agents against Schistosoma species. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2151:1-8

School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK.

Praziquantel is a remarkably effective drug for the treatment of schistosomiasis. It has few side effects, some of which have been attributed to its inactive enantiomer. Few, if any, verified cases of drug resistance have been reported in a clinical setting. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 May 24;13(1):268. Epub 2020 May 24.

Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 5BD, UK.

Background: Urogenital schistosomiasis, caused by infection with Schistosoma haematobium, is endemic in Niger but complicated by the presence of Schistosoma bovis, Schistosoma curassoni and S. haematobium group hybrids along with various Bulinus snail intermediate host species. Establishing the schistosomes and snails involved in transmission aids disease surveillance whilst providing insights into snail-schistosome interactions/compatibilities and biology. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2020 May 21:112972. Epub 2020 May 21.

Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Fagara tessmannii is a shrub of the African rainforests in South-West, Centre, South and East provinces in Cameroon. It is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of tumors, swellings, inflammation, gonorrhoea, schistosomiasis, antifungal, heart diseases and as anti-hypertensive.

Aim Of The Study: We investigated the potential effects of F. Read More

Ann Pathol 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

Laboratoire d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Aristide-Le-Dantec, Dakar, Sénégal.

Appendiceal schistosomiasis is a rare disease of only histopathological diagnosis. Appendectomy should be followed by treatment with praziquantel to avoid complications. We report two cases of appendiceal schistosomiasis and discuss the role of this infection of this infection in the pathogenesis of appendicitis. Read More

Diagnostics (Basel) 2020 May 20;10(5). Epub 2020 May 20.

Sustainable Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628CE Delft, The Netherlands.

Schistosomiasis is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases that affects over 200 million people worldwide, of which 29 million people in Nigeria. The principal strategy for schistosomiasis in Nigeria is a control and elimination program which comprises a school-based Mass Drug Administration (MDA) with limitations of high re-infection rates and the exclusion of high-risk populations. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends guided case management of schistosomiasis (diagnostic tests or symptom-based detection plus treatment) at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level to ensure more comprehensive morbidity control. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 May 18;21(10). Epub 2020 May 18.

Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane 4006, Australia.

Chronic infection with or results in hepatic fibrosis of the human host. The staging of fibrosis is crucial for prognosis and to determine the need for treatment of patients with schistosomiasis. This study aimed to determine whether there is a correlation between the levels of serum exosomal micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) (exomiRs) and fibrosis progression in schistosomiasis. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2020 Jun;26(6):1234-1242

In West Africa, Schistosoma spp. are capable of infecting multiple definitive hosts, a lifecycle feature that may complicate schistosomiasis control. We characterized the evolutionary relationships among multiple Schistosoma mansoni isolates collected from snails (intermediate hosts), humans (definitive hosts), and rodents (definitive hosts) in Senegal. Read More

Virulence 2020 12;11(1):568-579

Molecular Helminthology Laboratory, Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University , North Grafton, MA, USA.

Infection with intravascular platyhelminths of the genus can result in the debilitating disease schistosomiasis. Schistosomes (blood flukes) can survive in the host for many years. We hypothesize that proteins on their host-interactive surface modify the worm's external environment to help insure worm survival. Read More

Surg Endosc 2020 May 21. Epub 2020 May 21.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.

Background: Patients with hepatic schistosomiasis are at high risk of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding, which is highly torrential and life threatening. This study aimed to assess the effects of splenectomy on patients with schistosomiasis-induced variceal bleeding, especially those influences related to overall survival (OS) rate.

Methods: From January 2005 to December 2018, 112 patients with schistosomiasis-induced varices were enrolled. Read More