The term schistosomiasis encompasses a group of infectious disorders caused by five species of the genus Schistosoma, a blood trematode of outstanding importance in tropical areas. Some of these disorders have long been associated with malignant neoplasia, the most striking association being between disease caused by Schistosoma haematobium, the predominant etiological agent of urinary schistos...

Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis refers to the major complication of chronic infection with Schistosoma mansoni, S japonicum and S mekongi, schistosomal portal hypertension. Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is usually, but not invariably, associated with enlargement of the liver and spleen, and reversible hepatosplenomegaly may occur in early infections not complicated by the development of portal hy...

Schistosomiasis is an important parasitic disease with various clinical presentations caused by trematode blood flukes. It can present with asymptomatic, chronic colonic ulcerations, strictures, or inflammatory mass causing bowel obstruction. Intestinal polyps are uncommon and induced by antigens released from the schistosome eggs that trigger a cell-mediated inflammatory response with granulom...

Schistosomiasis is one of the world's most widely distributed and prevalent parasitic diseases. Less widely recognized is that some species of Schistosoma, including several that commonly affect humans, also cause disease in other mammalian species; in particular, infections in non-human primates are known. With interest increasing in emerging zoonotic diseases, the status of schistosomiasis as...

To evaluate cardiopulmonary involvement in schistosomiasis mansoni, 246 patients from an endemic area of Brazil were examined; 152 had been previously treated for schistosomiasis. Based on stool examination and/or abdominal ultrasonography, the patients were divided into those with schistosomiasis (69%) and those in whom the disease was not present (31%). M mode measurements were similar in the...

Schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections are widespread diseases of public health importance in Tanzania. A study on perceptions and practices related to schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections was undertaken among a community population of Kome Island in Sengerema District, north-western Tanzania, where intestinal schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections are endemic. Schisto...

The control of schistosomiasis has been spectacularly successful in terms of controlling endemicity and severity of the disease during the last 50 years. It can be categorized into two stages. From 1955 through 1980, the transmission-control strategy had been widely and successfully carried out. By the end of 1980, the epidemic of schistosomiasis was successfully circumscribed in certain core r...

Schistosomiasis japonica, caused by the human blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum, remains a major public health problem in China, although great success has been achieved. The control efforts during the past half-decade, notably the wide implementation of the new integrated strategy with emphasis on control of the source of S. japonicum infection across the country since 2004, has greatly reduce...

Interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4Rα) is critical for the initiation of type-2 immune responses and implicated in the pathogenesis of experimental schistosomiasis. IL-4Rα mediated type-2 responses are critical for the control of pathology during acute schistosomiasis. However, type-2 responses tightly associate with fibrogranulomatous inflammation that drives host pathology during chronic schistosomi...

The World Health Organization (WHO) has, for some time, encouraged countries endemic for schistosomiasis to control morbidity from this disease through mass drug administration (MDA) of the well-tolerated drug, praziquantel (PZQ). With the London Declaration in January 2012 and the promise by Merck Serono to eventually donate 250 million PZQ tablets per year, most endemic countries in sub-Sahar...