Authors

E Leger⁴; C B Fall⁵; A A Hamidou³; A M Borlase⁴; S Catalano⁴; D Rollinson²; A M Emery²; M Sene-Wade⁶; N D Diouf¹; A Garba³; J P Webster⁴;  ¹ IFSAR Bambey, Universite de Thies, Senegal;  ² Natural History Museum, UK;  ³ RISEAL (Reseau International Schistosomoses Environnements Amenagements et Lutte), Niger;  ⁴ Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK;  ⁵ Universite Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Senegal;  ⁶ Universite Gaston Berger de Saint Louis, Senegal

Discussion

Schistosomiasis is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) of profound medical and veterinary importance across many parts of the world, with the greatest burden within sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It has attracted increased focus and funding for control for the past years however, challenges remain and novel challenges have emerged. Anthropogenic changes in selective pressures following, for instance, new dam constructions, altered agricultural practices, together with mass drug administration (MDA) programs, may all be predicted to further impact the availability of suitable definitive and intermediate hosts for schistosomes. Our molecular studies on schistosomes obtained from both human and animal definitive hosts and snail intermediate hosts in Senegal and Niger have shown evidence of viable hybridization within and between human and livestock schistosome species. Moreover these zoonotic hybrid schistosomes appear to be occurring at extremely high prevalence and intensity levels in continued 'hot spots' despite high coverage MDA. We discuss our results in terms of distribution and role of such novel zoonotic hybrid schistosomes on host range, drug efficacy, and hence ultimately transmission potential and implications for successful and sustainable control.