Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Children's National Medical Center, United States.

Chemotherapy-induced hemorrhagic cystitis is characterized by bladder pain and voiding dysfunction caused by hemorrhage and inflammation. Novel therapeutic options to treat hemorrhagic cystitis are needed. We previously reported that systemic administration of the Schistosomiasis haematobium-derived protein H-IPSE (IL-4-inducing principle from Schistosoma mansoni eggs), is superior to 3 doses of MESNA in alleviating hemorrhagic cystitis. Read More

Eur J Med Chem 2019 Feb 8;167:357-366. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Laboratório de Cristalografia de Proteínas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil. Electronic address:

Schistosomiasis ranks second only to malaria as the most common parasitic disease worldwide. 700 million people are at risk and 240 million are already infected. Praziquantel is the anthelmintic of choice but decreasing efficacy has already been documented. Read More

Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13563-120, São Carlos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address:

Schistosoma mansoni, the parasite responsible for schistosomiasis, lacks the "de novo" purine biosynthetic pathway and depends entirely on the purine salvage pathway for the supply of purines. Numerous reports of praziquantel resistance have been described, as well as stimulated efforts to develop new drugs against schistosomiasis. Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) is a key enzyme of the purine salvage pathway. Read More

Aquat Toxicol 2018 Dec 21. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Department of Biology & Laurier Institute for Water Science, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3C5, Canada.

The invasion of the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America by sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) in the early 20th century contributed to the depletion of commercial, recreational and culturally important fish populations, devastating the economies of communities that relied on the fishery. Sea lamprey populations were subsequently controlled using an aggressive integrated pest-management program which employed barriers and traps to prevent sea lamprey from migrating to their spawning grounds and the use of the piscicides (lampricides) 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) and niclosamide to eliminate larval sea lampreys from their nursery streams. Although sea lampreys have not been eradicated from the Great Lakes, populations have been suppressed to less than 10% of their peak numbers in the mid-1900s. Read More

Front Microbiol 2019 31;10:66. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Schistosomiasis japonica is a significant health problem that leads to morbidity and mortality of humans. It is characterized by hepatic granulomatous response and fibrosis caused by eggs deposition in the liver. β-actin, a traditional housekeeping gene, is widely used as an internal control to normalize gene and protein expression. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2019 Feb 14;19(1):165. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Prevalence of schistosomiasis is high among children under five years in Uganda. Schistosomiasis control efforts over time have included periodic mass treatments in endemic areas for adults and school going children aged 5 years and above. This study explores behaviour practices of children age 2-4 years that increase the risk of schistosomiasis infection in this age group. Read More

Biomolecules 2019 Feb 5;9(2). Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.

Schistosomiasis is a major neglected tropical disease. Treatment for schistosomiasis with praziquantel (PZQ), which is effective against the parasite, by itself is not capable to counteract infection-associated disease lesions including hepatic fibrosis. There is a pressing need for novel therapies. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 Feb 5;16(3). Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Health Research Center of Angola (CISA), Caxito, Estação Central de Luanda, Apartado IV n°5547, Luanda, Angola.

Angola reports one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world, and anemia represents one of its important causes. Recent studies, in under-five children from the Bengo province of Angola, described high prevalence's, suggesting malaria, undernutrition and urogenital schistosomiasis as important contributors for the occurrence and spatial variations of anemia. Educational community-based interventions, either in Nutrition and Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Malaria are recommended to correct anemia. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 Feb 14;13(2):e0007157. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.

Background: Schistosoma infection is associated with immune modulation that can influence responses to non-schistosome antigens. Vaccine responses may be impaired in S. mansoni-infected individuals. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 30;10:26. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.

Schistosomiasis is a major helminthic disease in which damage to the affected organs is orchestrated by a pathogenic host CD4 T helper (Th) cell-mediated immune response against parasite eggs. In the case of the species , the resulting granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis takes place in the liver and intestines. The magnitude of disease varies greatly from individual to individual but in a minority of patients, there is severe disease and death. Read More

Ann Thorac Med 2019 Jan-Mar;14(1):99-100

Department of Paediatrics, Al-Kindy College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. E-mail:

Trop Med Int Health 2019 Feb 10. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

Objectives: Laboratory diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni eggs is routinely performed by conventional quantitative techniques through the parasitological examination of human feces. However, the diagnostic sensitivity of this type of exam varies from low to moderate. We aimed to develop a new parasitological technique called TF-Test Quantified (TFT-Quant), for the quantitative detection of S. Read More

Trop Med Infect Dis 2019 Feb 7;4(1). Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, PO Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland.

The areas endemic for schistosomiasis in the Lao People's Democratic Republic and in Cambodia were first reported 50 and 60 years ago, respectively. However, the causative parasite Schistosoma mekongi was not recognized as a separate species until 1978. The infection is distributed along a limited part of the Mekong River, regulated by the focal distribution of the intermediate snail host Neotricula aperta. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 Feb 8;13(2):e0007129. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Northeastern University Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Boston, MA, United States of America.

New treatments are needed for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) such as Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas disease, and schistosomiasis. Through a whole organism high-throughput screening campaign, we previously identified 797 human kinase inhibitors that grouped into 59 structural clusters and showed activity against T. brucei, the causative agent of HAT. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 24;10:27. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Program in Translational Lung Research, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States.

Approximately 5% of individuals chronically infected with develop pulmonary hypertension (PH). The disease is progressive and often fatal, and treatment options are palliative, not curative. Recent studies have unraveled major players of the Th2 inflammation axis in the -induced PH pathology using murine models and studying human samples. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 24;10:21. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Eukaryotic protein kinases (ePKs) are good medical targets for drug development in different biological systems. ePKs participate in many cellular processes, including the p38 MAPK regulation of homeostasis upon oxidative stress. We propose to assess the role of Smp38 MAPK signaling pathway in development and protection against oxidative stress, parasite survival, and also to elucidate which target genes have their expression regulated by Smp38 MAPK. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2019 Feb 7;12(1):76. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) and schistosome infections are among the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the world. School-aged children are particularly vulnerable to these chronic infections that can impair growth, nutritional status and cognitive ability. Mass drug administration (MDA) delivered either once or twice annually is a safe and effective approach recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce worm burden. Read More

Infect Dis Poverty 2019 Feb 6;8(1):13. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 200025, China.

Background: Snail control is an important component in the national schistosomiasis control programme in China, by application of chemical molluscicides, forestry projects, agriculture projects and water conservancy projects in recent decades. However, there are still wide areas of snail inhabited in China which remains a great challenge to achieve the goal of schistosomiasis elimination by 2025. Therefore, a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis on snail control measures is required for precision schistosomiasis control. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 Feb 7;13(2):e0007138. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Departamento das Doenças Tropicais Negligenciadas, Ministério de Saúde, Maputo, Mozambique.

Background: The Community Dialogue Approach is a promising social and behaviour change intervention, which has shown potential for improving health seeking behaviour. To test if this approach can strengthen prevention and control of schistosomiasis at community level, Malaria Consortium implemented a Community Dialogue intervention in four districts of Nampula province, Mozambique, between August 2014 and September 2015.

Methodology/principal Findings: Cross-sectional household surveys were conducted before (N = 791) and after (N = 792) implementation of the intervention to assess its impact on knowledge, attitudes and practices at population level. Read More

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Centre International de Recherches, d'Enseignements et de Soins en milieu tropical (CIRES), Akonolinga, Cameroon.

Evidence suggests that there are important interactions between HIV and Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) that may have significant effects on individual and population health. However, the exact way they interact and the health impacts of the interactions are not well understood. In this paper we discuss what is known about the interactions between FGS and HIV, and the potential impact of the interactions. Read More

Parasitol Res 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, People's Republic of China.

Schistosomiasis caused by different species of schistosome parasites is one of the most debilitating helminthic diseases of humans worldwide. For decades, chemotherapy is the main method of controlling schistosomiasis. However, the fear of drug resistance has motivated the search for alternatives. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 22;9:3137. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected parasitic disease that affects millions of people worldwide and is caused by helminth parasites from the genus . When caused by , it is associated with the development of a hepatosplenic disease caused by an intense immune response to the important antigenic contribution of adult worms and to the presence of eggs trapped in liver tissue. Although the importance of the spleen for the establishment of immune pathology is widely accepted, it has received little attention in terms of the molecular mechanisms operating in response to the infection. Read More

BMC Ecol 2019 Feb 6;19(1). Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.

Background: The marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) is a monoclonal, parthenogenetically reproducing freshwater crayfish species that has formed multiple stable populations worldwide. Madagascar hosts a particularly large and rapidly expanding colony of marbled crayfish in a unique environment characterized by a very high degree of ecological diversity.

Results: Here we provide a detailed characterization of five marbled crayfish populations in Madagascar and their habitats. Read More

MMW Fortschr Med 2019 Feb;161(2):51-57

beide Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine & I. Department of Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Deutschland.

Trop Med Infect Dis 2018 Jan 22;3(1). Epub 2018 Jan 22.

Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.

(1) Current international policy for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) control emphasises mass administration of deworming drugs in school-based programmes. However, this approach is insufficient to control the transmission of these diseases, and their burden in non-school cohorts is recognised, albeit under-researched. This research will investigate the feasibility and acceptability of expanding access to praziquantel (PZQ) against schistosomiasis, and albendazole (ALB) against STH, to communities in selected transmission settings in Ghana. Read More

AAS Open Res 2018 Apr 18;1. Epub 2018 Apr 18.

Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health of Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.

Controlled human infection (CHI) models are gaining recognition as an approach to accelerating vaccine development, for use in both non-endemic and endemic populations: they can facilitate identification of the most promising candidate vaccines for further trials and advance understanding of protective immunity. Helminths present a continuing health burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Vaccine development for these complex organisms is particularly challenging, partly because protective responses are akin to mechanisms of allergy. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 18;9:3158. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Parasitology, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Helminth infections and allergies are characterized by a predominant type-2 immune response. In schistosomiasis, the Th-2 response is usually accompanied by induction of immunoregulatory mechanisms that contribute to worm survival and less severe schistosomiasis. Although helminth-induced immunomodulatory mechanisms seem to affect atopy, epidemiological studies on the relationship between helminths and allergy have been inconsistent, and data suggest that the modulatory effects may be influenced by helminth species, chronicity of infection, and parasite burden. Read More

Infect Dis Clin North Am 2019 Mar;33(1):265-287

University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili, Piazza del Mercato, 15, Lombardy, Brescia 25121, Italy; UNESCO Chair "Training and Empowering Human Resources for Health Development in Resource-Limited Countries", University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.

Migration is increasing and practitioners need to be aware of the unique health needs of this population. The prevalence of infectious diseases among migrants varies and generally mirrors that of their countries of origin, but is modified by the circumstance of migration, the presence of pre-arrival screening programs and post arrival access to health care. To optimize the health of migrants practitioners; (1) should take all opportunities to screen migrants at risk for latent infections such as tuberculosis, chronic hepatitis B and C, HIV, strongyloidiasis, schistosomiasis and Chagas disease, (2) update routine vaccines in all age groups and, (3) be aware of "rare and tropical infections" related to migration and return travel. Read More

Infect Dis Clin North Am 2019 Mar;33(1):169-195

Center for Tropical Diseases, IRCSS, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Don A Sempreboni 5, Negrar, Verona 37024, Italy.

Ultrasound for diagnosis and staging of schistosomiasis and echinococcosis have paved the way over the past several decades for the application of ultrasound in tropical diseases. Until recently, the size and cost of ultrasound systems limited the application in low-resource settings. The increase in portable ultrasound systems has given more clinicians access to ultrasound, and clinically based protocols for the care of patients have emerged, such as focused assessment with sonography for HIV/TB and tropical cardiac ultrasound. Read More

Trop Med Infect Dis 2019 Jan 31;4(1). Epub 2019 Jan 31.

One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Schistosomiasis elimination status in the Caribbean is reviewed with information on historical disease background, attempts to control it and current situation for each locality in the region where transmission has been eliminated (Sint Maarten, Saint Kitts, Vieques), eliminated but not yet verified (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Antigua, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Martinique) and still ongoing (Saint Lucia, Suriname). Integrated control initiatives based on selective and mass treatment and snail control using environmental, chemical and biological methods along with public service improvements (housing, safe water, sanitation) and changes in demography (urbanization) and economy (change from sugarcane and banana production to tourism) have resulted in reduction in the burden of schistosomiasis over the past century. Introduction of -competitor snails into the region as a cost-effective, low maintenance control method appears to have had the most sustainable impact on transmission reduction. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2019 Jan 29;69:126-135. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

School of Nursing, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, Guangxi, China. Electronic address:

According to conservative estimates, >230 million people are infected with schistosomiasis,which becomes one of the most common parasitic diseases. This study focuses on investigating in vivo and in vitro effects of mmu-miR-92a-2-5p in Schistosoma japonicum-induced liver fibrosis by targeting TLR2. Through bioinformatic analysis, the overexpression of TLR2 and the down-regulation of mmu-miR-92a-2-5p were revealed in the progression of S. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1688 Meiling Road, Nanchang 330004, PR China. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine which is widely used for the treatment of schistosomiasis, inflammatory, bacterial infections. In recent years, P chinensis has been reported to exhibit antitumor activities. However, the mechanisms underlying its toxic effects remain largely unresolved. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 01 31;13(1):e0006449. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Partnership for Child Development, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.

School health and nutrition (SHN) programmes are recognized as a significant contributor to both health and education sector goals. The school system offers an ideal platform from which to deliver basic health interventions that target the most common health conditions affecting school-age children (SAC) in low-income countries, leading to improved participation and learning outcomes. However, governments require evidence to cost, design, and implement these programmes. Read More

J Helminthol 2019 Jan 31:1-12. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Pathology,Faculty of Medicine,Menoufia University,Egypt.

The tegument of schistosomes is a source of many potential anti-Schistosoma vaccine molecules. This work aimed to assess the protective effects of the adult Schistosoma mansoni tegument treated (TT) with sub-curative praziquantel (PZQ), whether in vivo (in vivo TT) or in vitro (in vitro TT), in murine schistosomiasis. In vitro TT and in vivo TT showed great similarity, and they differed from untreated tegument antigen (Teg) in terms of quantity and quality of protein bands on SDS-PAGE. Read More

Trop Med Infect Dis 2019 Jan 29;4(1). Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Institute for Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.

Ever since the first known written report of schistosomiasis in the mid-19th century, researchers have aimed to increase knowledge of the parasites, their hosts, and the mechanisms contributing to infection and disease. This knowledge generation has been paramount for the development of improved intervention strategies. Yet, despite a broad knowledge base of direct risk factors for schistosomiasis, there remains a paucity of information related to more complex, interconnected, and often hidden drivers of transmission that hamper intervention successes and sustainability. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Jan 29;9(1):829. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.

Urogenital schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Schistosoma haematobium, which resides in the vasculature surrounding the urogenital system. Previous work has suggested that helminthic infections can affect the intestinal microbiome, and we hypothesized that S. haematobium infection could result in an alteration of immune system-microbiota homeostasis and impact the composition of the gut microbiota. Read More

J Parasitol Res 2019 1;2019:7596069. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria.

This study accessed the dynamics of urogenital schistosomiasis transmission in Nkalagu Community. A total of 500 mid-day urine samples were collected and transported to Microbiology Laboratory, Ebonyi State University, for analysis. 10ml each of the urine samples was centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 5 minutes. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2019 Jan 28;12(1):63. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Janssen Diagnostics, Janssen R&D, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340, Beerse, Belgium.

Background: Ov16 serology is considered a reference method for Onchocerca volvulus epidemiological mapping. Given the suboptimal sensitivity of this test and the fact that seroconversion takes more than a year after infection, additional serological tests might be needed to guide onchocerciasis elimination programmes. Recently, two linear epitopes encoded in OvMP-1 and OvMP-23 peptides were introduced as serological markers, but the observed antibody cross-reactivity in samples originating from Onchocerca volvulus non-endemic areas required further investigation. Read More

Chemosphere 2019 Jan 21;222:56-61. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Malaria, Schistosomiasis, and Filariasis, Key Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, China; Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jiangsu 210014, China; The Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. Electronic address:

Schistosomiasis japonica caused by Schistosoma japonicum infection is recognized as a considerable economic and public health concern in Asia. Oncomelania hupensis is the sole intermediate host of S. japonicum. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 Jan 28;13(1):e0006590. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.

Background: The arsenal in anthelminthic treatment against schistosomiasis is limited and relies almost exclusively on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ). Thus, resistance to PZQ could constitute a major threat. Even though PZQ is potent in killing adult worms, its activity against earlier stages is limited. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 Jan 28;13(1):e0007061. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.

Background: Neotricula aperta is the snail-intermediate host of the parasitic blood-fluke Schistosoma mekongi which causes Mekong schistosomiasis in Cambodia and the Lao PDR. Despite numerous phylogenetic studies only one DNA-sequence based population-genetic study of N. aperta had been published, and the origin, structure and persistence of N. Read More

Lancet Glob Health 2019 Feb;7(2):e236-e248

Centre for Clinical Epidemiology of the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Epidemiology, SMBD Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Global migration from regions where strongyloidiasis and schistosomiasis are endemic to non-endemic countries has increased the potential individual and public health effect of these parasitic diseases. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of these infections among migrants to establish which groups are at highest risk and who could benefit from screening.

Methods: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of strongyloidiasis and schistosomiasis prevalence among migrants born in endemic countries. Read More

Lancet Glob Health 2019 Feb;7(2):e171-e172

Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania. Electronic address:

Clin Imaging 2019 Jan 19;54:163-171. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Dept of Radiology, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address:

Human schistosomiasis is one of the major tropical/subtropical parasitic diseases with significant morbidity and mortality. Although, the majority of the cases are seen within the endemic region, upsurge in recent immigration as well as frequent travel to endemic areas allows cases reported worldwide. Thus, it is important for radiologists and physicians be familiarized with the imaging features of schistosomiasis. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019 Feb 21;510(1):85. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 200025, China. Electronic address:

Parasit Vectors 2019 Jan 24;12(1):56. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, IHPE UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de Montpellier, F-66860, Perpignan, France.

Background: Schistosomiasis is neglected tropical parasitic disease affecting both humans and animals. Due to the human health impact, population genetic studies have focused on the three main human-infecting schistosome species: Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium and S. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 01 24;13(1):e0006946. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Department of General Internal Medicine, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Japan.

Praziquantel is widely used for treating parasitic infections globally, especially in countries with endemic schistosomiasis. However, severe hypersensitivity to praziquantel has rarely been reported. We report the case of a 30-year-old Japanese man who developed acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), which is a rare and severe cutaneous reaction usually triggered by drugs, after taking praziquantel. Read More

Trop Med Infect Dis 2019 Jan 19;4(1). Epub 2019 Jan 19.

FIOCRUZ-Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Esquistossomose Experimental, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.

The authors wish to make the following correction to this paper [... Read More

Trop Med Infect Dis 2019 Jan 18;4(1). Epub 2019 Jan 18.

National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), MSFC ST11, NSSTC, 320 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA.

The distribution of diseases caused by vector-borne viruses and parasites are restricted by the environmental requirements of their vectors, but also by the ambient temperature inside the host as it influences the speed of maturation of the infectious agent transferred. The launch of the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite in 2015, and the new ECOSTRESS instrument onboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2018, established the leadership of the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) in ecology and climate research by allowing the structural and functional classification of ecosystems that govern vector sustainability. These advances, and the availability of sub-meter resolution data from commercial satellites, contribute to seamless mapping and modelling of diseases, not only at continental scales (1 km²) and local community or agricultural field scales (15⁻30 m²), but for the first time, also at the habitat⁻household scale (<1 m²). Read More