Schistosomiasis: progress and problems

摘要: Schistosomiasis, also commonly known as bilharziasis, is one of the most significant parasitic diseases humans. A report World Health Organization in 1996 estimated that over 200 million people were infested worldwide, mainly rural agricultural and periurban areas. Of these, 20 suffer severe consequences from disease 120 are symptomatic. Symptoms range fever, headache lethargy, to sequelae including ascites, hepatosplenomegaly even death[1]. More than 600 tropics at risk for developing schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis major public health problem Egypt, with almost six Egyptians infested[2]. Schistosomiasis caused by digenetic trematodes belong phylum platyhelminthes, super family schistosmatoida, genus schistosoma. It usually attributed three species, subdivided into intestinal Schistosoma mansoni Schist osoma japonicum or urinary hematobium types, according site preferred adult worms. In two species bilharziasis whose intermediate hosts fresh s nails, Biomphalaria alexandra, Bulinus trancatus respectively[3]. In humans, these blood flukes reside mesenteric vesical venules. They have a life span many years daily produce large numbers eggs, which must traverse gut bladder tissues on their way lumens excretory organs. Many eggs remain host tissues, inducing immunologically mediated granulomatous inflammation fibrosis. Heavy worm burdens may hepatosplenic schistosomiasis japonica tract hematobia. Because both schistosomes utilize metabolites, because responses parasite affected its nutritional status, malnutrition strongly affect complex host-parasite relationship[4].