Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus schistosoma. It primarily affects individuals in tropical and subtropical regions with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. The disease is transmitted when infected individuals release urine or faeces containing parasite eggs into water bodies, which then hatch and release free-swimming cercariae.
The interaction between the host and schistosomes is complex, the parasitic flatworms employ strategies to evade the host’s immune system, enabling them to establish long-term infections. They achieve this by producing immunomodulatory molecules that hinder immune response effectiveness. Additionally, the parasite forms a protective tegument layer, allowing it to survive within the human bloodstream and evade host attacks.
Prevention efforts for schistosomiasis primarily revolve around reducing exposure to contaminated water sources. This involves providing access to clean drinking water, improving sanitation facilities, and educating individuals about avoiding infected water bodies. Control programs targeting snails, which act as intermediate hosts for the parasite, may also be implemented in endemic areas.
There are continuous and ongoing efforts to understand the complex host-parasite-environmental dynamics, vital in driving scientific discovery toward prevention and treatment strategies against this parasitic infection. Through this Research Topic, we aim to explore the scientific gaps associated with our understanding of Schistosoma species and its importance in designing better drug and treatment modalities.
The current Research Topic aims to highlight the latest scientific findings on this pathogen in the following areas:
-Transmission patterns between hosts.
-Dynamic interactions between the host, parasite, and environment using modeling techniques
-Prevention strategy models to stem the infection
-Treatment strategy models against the infection.
This research topic aims to collect various articles on the areas above. We will accept all article types permissible in the Frontiers in Parasitology submission guidelines. This includes Reviews, Original Research Articles, and Brief Research Report.
Keywords:
Schistosomiasis, Disease Modeling, Transmission Dynamics, Integrated Approaches
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus schistosoma. It primarily affects individuals in tropical and subtropical regions with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. The disease is transmitted when infected individuals release urine or faeces containing parasite eggs into water bodies, which then hatch and release free-swimming cercariae.
The interaction between the host and schistosomes is complex, the parasitic flatworms employ strategies to evade the host’s immune system, enabling them to establish long-term infections. They achieve this by producing immunomodulatory molecules that hinder immune response effectiveness. Additionally, the parasite forms a protective tegument layer, allowing it to survive within the human bloodstream and evade host attacks.
Prevention efforts for schistosomiasis primarily revolve around reducing exposure to contaminated water sources. This involves providing access to clean drinking water, improving sanitation facilities, and educating individuals about avoiding infected water bodies. Control programs targeting snails, which act as intermediate hosts for the parasite, may also be implemented in endemic areas.
There are continuous and ongoing efforts to understand the complex host-parasite-environmental dynamics, vital in driving scientific discovery toward prevention and treatment strategies against this parasitic infection. Through this Research Topic, we aim to explore the scientific gaps associated with our understanding of Schistosoma species and its importance in designing better drug and treatment modalities.
The current Research Topic aims to highlight the latest scientific findings on this pathogen in the following areas:
-Transmission patterns between hosts.
-Dynamic interactions between the host, parasite, and environment using modeling techniques
-Prevention strategy models to stem the infection
-Treatment strategy models against the infection.
This research topic aims to collect various articles on the areas above. We will accept all article types permissible in the Frontiers in Parasitology submission guidelines. This includes Reviews, Original Research Articles, and Brief Research Report.
Keywords:
Schistosomiasis, Disease Modeling, Transmission Dynamics, Integrated Approaches
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.