Schistosomiasis: Current and future perspectives

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTD) that has challenged the medical community and affects 200 million people annually. Despite early appreciation of the schistosomal life cycle, breaking transmission is very difficult due to deficiencies in sanitation, presence of animal reservoirs and chronicity of disease in the absence of symptoms. New and effective methods to control schistosomiasis are required to counteract the dire consequences it poses and reduce associated morbidity and disability adjusted life years (DALYs).