The economic impact of schistosomiasis

Rinaldo, Daniele; Perez-Saez, Javier; Vounatsou, Penelope; Utzinger, Jürg; Arcand, Jean‐Louis

doi:10.1186/s40249-021-00919-z

Cited by 30 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(35 reference statements)

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“…Throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, the underlying conditions that have always favored the transmission of schistosomiasis remain prevalent. Poverty, associated with poor sanitation, use of surface waters from natural habitats for basic needs, and limited access to health services, continue to enable the transmission of schistosomiasis [ 7 ]. Although complex, the life cycle of schistosome parasites is inherently difficult to perturb.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A genome sequence for Biomphalaria pfeifferi, the major vector snail for the human-infecting parasite Schistosoma mansoni

Laidemitt

et al. 2023

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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Background Biomphalaria pfeifferi is the world’s most widely distributed and commonly implicated vector snail species for the causative agent of human intestinal schistosomiasis, Schistosoma mansoni. In efforts to control S. mansoni transmission, chemotherapy alone has proven insufficient. New approaches to snail control offer a way forward, and possible genetic manipulations of snail vectors will require new tools. Towards this end, we here offer a diverse set of genomic resources for the important African schistosome vector, B. pfeifferi. Methodology/Principal findings Based largely on PacBio High-Fidelity long reads, we report a genome assembly size of 772 Mb for B. pfeifferi (Kenya), smaller in size than known genomes of other planorbid schistosome vectors. In a total of 505 scaffolds (N50 = 3.2Mb), 430 were assigned to 18 large linkage groups inferred to represent the 18 known chromosomes, based on whole genome comparisons with Biomphalaria glabrata. The annotated B. pfeifferi genome reveals a divergence time of 3.01 million years with B. glabrata, a South American species believed to be similar to the progenitors of B. pfeifferi which undertook a trans-Atlantic colonization < five million years ago. Conclusions/Significance The genome for this preferentially self-crossing species is less heterozygous than related species known to be preferential out-crossers; its smaller genome relative to congeners may similarly reflect its preference for selfing. Expansions of gene families with immune relevance are noted, including the FReD gene family which is far more similar in its composition to B. glabrata than to Bulinus truncatus, a vector for Schistosoma haematobium. Provision of this annotated genome will help better understand the dependencies of trematodes on snails, enable broader comparative insights regarding factors contributing to susceptibility/ resistance of snails to schistosome infections, and provide an invaluable resource with respect to identifying and manipulating snail genes as potential targets for more specific snail control programs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A genome sequence for Biomphalaria pfeifferi, the major vector snail for the human-infecting parasite Schistosoma mansoni

Laidemitt

et al. 2023

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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“…Schistosoma mansoni is a parasitic flatworm that causes Schistosomiasis, also known as Bilharzia in humans, which has been categorised as a neglected tropical disease. More than 250 million people are infected, with 85 % occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa (Rinaldo et al, 2021). Their presence in lobsters and prawns could also be a contributing factor for the highly prevalent parasitic infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Infestation in prawns and lobsters could be by penetration of free swimming cercariae through the skin as observed in humans or when snails, which miracidia develops in, are eaten by prawns (Sokolow et al, 2017). Symptoms of Schistosomiasis in humans include abdominal pain, blood in stool, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly (Rinaldo et al, 2021). Lobsters infested with microsporidian parasites have been found to be lethargic, with atypical external appearances like altered coloration and increased carapace opacity (Stentiford et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoonotic helminths and protozoa infesting commercially important marine crustaceans along the Kenyan coast

Silali¹,

Maloba²,

Mkare³

2023

WIO J. Mar. Sci.

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Marine crustaceans support important small-scale fisheries along the Kenyan coast. Annual catches have been declining, with climate change, pollution, overfishing and parasites proposed as causes. It is unknown whether parasite intensity and diversity change between locations, sea - sons and host species. The current study aimed to address this by analysing gastro-intestinal (GIT) parasites of two prawn species, Penaeus indicus and Metapenaeus monoceros, and two lobster species, Panulirus ornatus and P. homarus. A total of 240 prawns and 240 lobsters were collected from Malindi, Kilifi and Gazi, and intestinal contents microscopically examined for the presence of parasites. Observed parasites included Schistosoma mansoni (mean egg per gram (EPG) of 112.33), Strongyloides spp. (mean EPG of 94.80), Hymenolepis diminuta (mean EPG of 104.55), and Hymenolepis nana (mean EPG of 104.85). The Protozoa Entamoeba coli (mean EPG of 75.76) was observed. There was a significant difference in parasite intensity among host species (p < 0.00) as well as intensity between seasons. There was no significant difference in intensity among landing sites, except in E. coli (p = 0.05). Parasite diversity was not dependent on sites or seasons but varied with host species. The current study found that all the GIT parasites identified are zoonotic and could present a human health threat.

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“…Thus, urogenital schistosomiasis is caused by S. haematobium , whereas S. mansoni and S. japonicum are responsible for intestinal schistosomiasis. Furthermore, the advanced forms of schistosomiases lead to insufficiencies in other organs, bladder cancer, and ectopic pregnancies due to an increased susceptibility to other infections [ 43 , 44 ].…”

Section: Helminths and Neglected Tropical Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

microRNAs: Critical Players during Helminth Infections

et al. 2022

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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally through their interaction with the 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTR) of target mRNAs, affecting their stability and/or translation. Therefore, miRNAs regulate biological processes such as signal transduction, cell death, autophagy, metabolism, development, cellular proliferation, and differentiation. Dysregulated expression of microRNAs is associated with infectious diseases, where miRNAs modulate important aspects of the parasite–host interaction. Helminths are parasitic worms that cause various neglected tropical diseases affecting millions worldwide. These parasites have sophisticated mechanisms that give them a surprising immunomodulatory capacity favoring parasite persistence and establishment of infection. In this review, we analyze miRNAs in infections caused by helminths, emphasizing their role in immune regulation and its implication in diagnosis, prognosis, and the development of therapeutic strategies.

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The economic impact of schistosomiasis

Cited by 30 publications

References 40 publications

A genome sequence for Biomphalaria pfeifferi, the major vector snail for the human-infecting parasite Schistosoma mansoni

A genome sequence for Biomphalaria pfeifferi, the major vector snail for the human-infecting parasite Schistosoma mansoni

Zoonotic helminths and protozoa infesting commercially important marine crustaceans along the Kenyan coast

microRNAs: Critical Players during Helminth Infections

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