Authors

Discussion

Using the term schistosomiasis to describe disease caused by schistosomes can conceal the variation in cause, pathology and epidemiology encompassed by what are in truth several different, albeit closely-related, parasitic diseases. In addition to variation and local adaptation within the human infecting schistosome species, inter-species hybrids have been identified whose introgression may introduce hitherto unknown zoonotic reservoirs and bring in new genetic components. Therefore, to understand schistosomes we need to capture their diversity by collecting what we find out there in the field. Research at the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London has focused on the diversity of schistosome parasites and their snail hosts. Now we are facilitating the genetic monitoring of the parasites and snails by providing a repository with expertise and support for field collecting under the remit of SCAN, the Schistosomiasis Collections at NHM. We need support from the schistosomiasis research and control community so that we can help to deliver the necessary resources to understand the shifting patterns of schistosomiasis transmission in a changing world. In turn the SCAN facility can provide immediate expertise and project support for our partners in addition to our longer-term goals.