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Li FY, Hou XY, Tan HZ, Williams GM, Gray DJ, Gordon CA, Kurscheid J, Clements ACA, Li YS, McManus DP. Current Status of Schistosomiasis Control and Prospects for Elimination in the Dongting Lake Region of the People's Republic of China. Front Immunol 2020; 11:574136. [PMID: 33162989 PMCID: PMC7583462 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.574136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis japonica is an ancient parasitic disease that has severely impacted human health causing a substantial disease burden not only to the Chinese people but also residents of other countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia and, before the 1970s, Japan. Since the founding of the new People's Republic of China (P. R. China), effective control strategies have been implemented with the result that the prevalence of schistosomiasis japonica has decreased markedly in the past 70 years. Historically, the Dongting Lake region in Hunan province is recognised as one of the most highly endemic for schistosomiasis in the P.R. China. The area is characterized by vast marshlands outside the lake embankments and, until recently, the presence of large numbers of domestic animals such as bovines, goats and sheep that can act as reservoir hosts for Schistosoma japonicum. Considerable social, economic and environmental changes have expanded the Oncomelania hupensis hupensis intermediate snail host areas in the Dongting lake region increasing the potential for both the emergence of new hot spots for schistosomiasis transmission, and for its re-emergence in areas where infection is currently under control. In this paper, we review the history, the current endemic status of schistosomiasis and the control strategies in operation in the Dongting Lake region. We also explore epidemiological factors contributing to S. japonicum transmission and highlight key research findings from studies undertaken on schistosomiasis mainly in Hunan but also other endemic Chinese provinces over the past 10 years. We also consider the implications of these research findings on current and future approaches that can lead to the sustainable integrated control and final elimination of schistosomiasis from the P. R. China and other countries in the region where this unyielding disease persists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Yue Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Immunology and Diagnosis, Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Yueyang, China
| | - Xun-Ya Hou
- Department of Immunology and Diagnosis, Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Yueyang, China
| | - Hong-Zhuan Tan
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Gail M. Williams
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Darren J. Gray
- Department of Global Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Catherine A. Gordon
- Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Johanna Kurscheid
- Department of Global Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Archie C. A. Clements
- Faculty of Health Science, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Yue-Sheng Li
- Department of Immunology and Diagnosis, Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Yueyang, China
- Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Donald P. McManus
- Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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