BACKGROUND Oncomelania hupensis is the unique intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, which causes schistosomiasis endemic in the Far East, and especially in mainland China. O. hupensis largely determines the parasite's geographical range. How O. hupensis's genetic diversity is distributed geographically in mainland China has never been well examined with DNA sequence data. METHODOLOGY/PR...

Antigenic communities were studied with sera from rabbits immunized with the Yamanashi and Chinese strains of Schistosoma japonicum eggs, and the antigens of five subspecies of Oncomelania snails, by immunoelectrophoresis. With regard to antigenic communities defined by the Yamanashi strain of S. japonicum eggs and Oncomelania snails, the schistosome egg produced 5 to 6 bands with Oncomelania h...

A strong molluscicidal effect of sanguinarine against Oncomelania hupensis snails was demonstrated by immersion test in the present study. A positive relationship between doses, immersion time and the mortality of the snails was exhibited, while the optimal dose and immersion time of application towards the field eradication of snails were suggested. The possible mechanisms of effects were expl...

Remote sensing is a promising technique for monitoring the distribution and dynamics of various vector-borne diseases. In this study, we used the multi-temporal CBERS images, obtained free of charge, to predict the habitats of the snail Oncomelania hupensis, the sole intermediate host of schistosomiasis japonica, a snail-borne parasitic disease of considerable public health in China. Areas of s...

The development of predictive models of the spatial distribution of schistosomiasis are hampered by the existence of different regional subspecies of the Oncomelania hupensis snail that serve as intermediate hosts for the disease in China. The habitats associated with these different subspecies vary considerably, with mountainous habitats in the west and floodplain habitats in the east. Despite...

BACKGROUND The South-to-North Water Diversion (SNWD) project is designed to channel fresh water from the Yangtze River north to more industrialized parts of China. An important question is whether future climate change and dispersal via the SNWD may synergistically favor a northward expansion of species involved in hosting and transmitting schistosomiasis in China, specifically the intermediate...

Political and health sector reforms, along with demographic, environmental and socio-economic transformations in the face of global warming, could cause the re-emergence of schistosomiasis in areas where transmission has been successfully interrupted and its emergence in previously non-endemic areas in China. In the present study, we used geographic information systems and remote sensing techni...

BACKGROUND Trematodes belonging to the genus Schistosoma cause schistosomiasis. The relationship between schistosomes and their intermediate hosts varies among snails. This study investigated the effects of S. japonicum on its snail host, Oncomelania hupensis, and cercarial release rythmicity of S. japonicum and the effects of light on it. METHODS Seven groups of O. hupensis (n = 40 each) wer...

background: trematodes belonging to the genus schistosoma cause schistosomiasis. the relationship between schistosomes and their intermediate hosts varies among snails. this study investigated the effects of s. japonicum on its snail host, oncomelania hupensis, and cercarial release rythmicity of s. japonicum and the effects of light on it. methods: : seven groups of o. hupensis (n = 40 each) w...

The freshwater snail Oncomelania hupensis is the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, which causes schistosomiasis. This disease is endemic in the Far East, especially in mainland China. Because niclosamide is the only molluscicide recommended by the World Health Organization, 50% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt (WPN), the only chemical molluscicide available in Chi...