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- Title
Livestock Reservoir Hosts: An Obscured Threat to Control of Human Schistosomiasis in Nigeria.
- Authors
Mogaji, Hammed Oladeji; Omitola, Olaitan Olamide; Bayegun, Adedotun Ayodeji; Ekpo, Uwem Friday; Taylor-Robinson, Andrew W.
- Abstract
Simple Summary: Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a major parasitic disease caused by blood flukes (trematode worms) of the genus Schistosoma that live in fresh water in tropical and subtropical zones. Over 200 million people are infected globally, 90% of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria has the highest burden of schistosomiasis in this region. Elimination programmes have focused on human infections, with limited attention on infections in livestock that could be transmissible to humans. Recent empirical evidence suggests that in addition to Schistosoma species for which humans are the recognized mammalian host, livestock schistosomes are infective to us. This may lead to genetic material of animal and human schistosomes becoming mixed, a phenomenon known as hybridization. In this review, we highlight current research on schistosome hybridization in Nigeria and explain its negative impact on elimination efforts. Factors promoting livestock/human schistosome interactions and strategies for addressing these are also discussed. Schistosomiasis is one of the leading neglected tropical diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Recorded case numbers of this chronic and debilitating helminth disease indicate Nigeria to be the most endemic country within this region. National control efforts have focused intensively on restricting human contact with freshwater sources of intermediate host snails. However, limited attention has been paid to the role of livestock as reservoir hosts and the prevalence of transmission of schistosomes to humans via farmed animals. The West African nations of Mali, Senegal, and the neighbouring Niger, Benin, and Cameroon have all reported the hybridization of the closely related species of Schistosoma haematobium, which infects humans, and S. bovis, which infects cattle. As these countries share the Niger and Benue rivers, with their tributaries, there is a distinct possibility of aquatic snails infected with hybrid schistosomes migrating to become established in the Nigerian river system. Here, we report on the current state of research in Nigeria that aims to elucidate key aspects of zoonotic schistosomiasis epidemiology. Factors promoting the hybridization of Schistosoma species are highlighted, and how available control measures can be optimized to address the emergence of schistosome hybrids is discussed.
- Subjects
NIGERIA; LIVESTOCK; SCHISTOSOMIASIS; TROPICAL medicine; FRESH water
- Publication
Zoonotic Diseases (2813-0227), 2023, Vol 3, Issue 1, p52
- ISSN
2813-0227
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/zoonoticdis3010006