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Schistosomiasis, also known as snail fever, bilharzia, and Katayama fever [1] [2] [9] is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms called schistosomes. [5] It affects the urinary tract or the intestines. [5] Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stool, or blood in the urine. [5]
Schistosoma japonicum is an important parasite and one of the major infectious agents of schistosomiasis.This parasite has a very wide host range, infecting at least 31 species of wild mammals, including nine carnivores, 16 rodents, one primate (human), two insectivores and three artiodactyls and therefore it can be considered a true zoonosis.
Schistosomiasis is a significant public health problem in many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is endemic. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) over 240 million people worldwide are infected with schistosomiasis and it is responsible for over 20–200,000 deaths annually. [24]
Schistosomiasis was first reported in the Mekong River's Lower Basin region in 1957, from Laotian island of Khong to Cambodian province of Kratié, specifically. [2] It was believed that the cause of these cases was Schistosoma japonicum until 1978, when Neotricula aperta was discovered and it was determined that the Schistosome was a unique species, Schistosoma mekongi. [2]
As of 2021, 251.4 million people worldwide are having schistosomiasis due to different species of Schistosoma. [1] More than 75 million people were given medical treatment. [1] S. mansoni is the major species causing an annual death of about 130,000. [66]
Work on schistosomiasis showed that water-resistant topical applications of the common insect repellent DEET prevented schistosomes from penetrating the skin of mice. [16] Public education of risk factors, a good alternative to the aforementioned interventionist strategies, can also reduce human exposure to cercariae.
Schistosoma intercalatum is a parasitic worm found in parts of western and central Africa. There are two strains: the Lower Guinea strain and the Zaire strain. S. intercalatum is one of the major agents of the rectal form of schistosomiasis, also called bilharzia.
It is found in Africa and the Middle East. It is the major agent of schistosomiasis, the most prevalent parasitic infection in humans. [1] It is the only blood fluke that infects the urinary tract, causing urinary schistosomiasis, and is a leading cause of bladder cancer (only next to tobacco smoking). [2] [3] The diseases are caused by the eggs.