Reaching the World Health Organization elimination targets for schistosomiasis: the importance of a One Health perspective

Abstract

The past three years has seen the launch of a new World Health Organization (WHO) neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) roadmap, together with revised control and elimination guidelines. Across all, there is now a clear emphasis on the need to incorporate a One Health approach, recognizing the critical links between human and animal health and the environment. Schistosomiasis, caused by Schistosoma spp. trematodes, is a NTD of global medical and veterinary importance, with over 220 million people and untold millions of livestock currently infected. Its burden remains extremely high in certain regions, particularly within sub-Saharan Africa, despite over two decades of mass preventive chemotherapy (mass drug administration), predominantly to school-aged children. In Africa, in contrast to Asia, any zoonotic component of schistosomiasis transmission and its implications for disease control has, until recently, been largely ignored. Here, we review recent epidemiological, clinical, molecular, and modelling work across both Asia and Africa. We outline the evolutionary history and transmission dynamics of Schistosoma species, and emphasize the emerging risk raised by both wildlife reservoirs and viable hybridization between human and animal schistosomes. To achieve the 2030 WHO roadmap elimination targets, a truly multi-disciplinary One Health perspective must be implemented. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Challenges and opportunities in the fight against neglected tropical diseases: a decade from the London Declaration on NTDs’.

Exploring the Role of Community Involvement in Reducing the Burden of Schistosomiasis and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases in Malawi: Where are We in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases?

“…A recent study also demonstrated possible intermixing between human and animal schistosomes. 47 The potential interaction of human and animal species with possible hybridization calls for a one health approach toward disease mitigation. 48 However, little is known about one health approach toward controlling NTDs in Malawi.…”

Metalloenzyme Inhibitors against Zoonotic Infections: Focus on Leishmania and Schistosoma

“…This results in approximately 24,000 fatalities and at least 2.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) annually. 9,10 This parasitic infection is caused by Schistosoma haematobium, S. japonicum, and S. mansoni, and the only available treatment is the anthelmintic drug praziquantel (1, Figure 1). 11,12 The lack of alternative treatments, together with the schistosomial biphasic sensitivity to 1 over its life cycle, emphasizes parasite resistance as a major cause of concern, considering the different susceptibility to the drug during juvenile and adult infections.…”

One Health monitoring reveals invasive freshwater snail species, new records, and undescribed parasite diversity in Zimbabwe

“…Hybridization between human and animal schistosome species has also been reported [ 12 – 14 ], demonstrating the importance of animal reservoirs in disease ecology. Therefore, it is recommended to study trematodiases within a One Health framework, where the health of humans, livestock, and wildlife is considered intrinsically linked and equally important for mapping, detecting high-risk locations, and improving disease control [ 13 , 15 – 17 ].…”