Schistosomiasis

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a mammalian blood fluke that causes profound pathology through specific snails in freshwater environments. Sixteen species are capable of infecting humans, however only five produce the majority of mortality and morbidity. Schistosomiasis has a long history of human pathology. S. hematobium has been demonstrated in Egyptian mummies and continues to cause bladder and renal disease in Egypt. S. mansoni was described in 1902 by Manson in a West Indian patient in London and still is a major cause of hepatic failure worldwide. S. japonicum was described in the Katayama Memoir in 1847 and since has continued to be a major cause of seizures in Southeast Asia. S. intercalatum, not described until 1934, causes bloody diarrhea. Other human schistosomes such as avium flukes, Trichobilharzia, Ornithobilharszia and Gigantobilharzia are ubiquitous even in temperate climates but only cause transient irritation to swimmers. This is a review of recent literature that clarifies understanding of these ubiquitous flukes.