Prevention and control of schistosomiasis: a current perspective

• Main Authors: Inobaya MT, Olveda RM, Chau TN, Olveda DU, Ross AGP
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2014
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Griffith; Flinders
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/358ebbbdfc1d485db954c3013620d296

Marianette T Inobaya,1 Remigio M Olveda,1 Thao NP Chau,3 David U Olveda,2 Allen GP Ross21Department of Health, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines; 2Griffith Health Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, Australia; 3Discipline of Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, AustraliaAbstract: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that ranks second only to malaria in terms of human suffering in the tropics and subtropics. Five species are known to infect man and there are currently over 240 million people infected worldwide. The cornerstone of control to date has been mass drug administration with 40 mg/kg of praziquantel but there are problems with this approach. Human and bovine vaccines are in various stages of development. Integrated control, targeting the life cycle, is the only approach that will lead to sustainability and future elimination.Keywords: schistosomiais, morbidity, treatment and control, mass drug administration