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. 2019:41:e2019001.
doi: 10.4178/epih.e2019001. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Freshwater snails as the intermediate host of trematodes in Iran: a systematic review

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Freshwater snails as the intermediate host of trematodes in Iran: a systematic review

Samira Dodangeh et al. Epidemiol Health. 2019.

Abstract

Freshwater snails, as the first intermediate hosts of trematodes, can cause health hazards in animals and humans. Recently, the World Health Organization has included Iran in a list of 6 countries known to have serious problems with fascioliasis. In addition, cercarial dermatitis is a job-related disease that is seen often in paddy workers, agricultural labourers, and fishermen in Iran, particularly in Mazandaran Province. Many studies have been conducted in Iran to survey larval trematodes in freshwater snails. However, to the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive data exist regarding infections in gastropods. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to estimate the types and prevalence of cercarial infections in snails in Iran. Electronic English-language and Persian-language databases were searched to identify 24 published articles reporting the prevalence of trematode infections in snails (9 species from 6 families) in various provinces of Iran. In total, 4.4% of gastropods were infected with the larval stages of trematodes. According to the studies reviewed in this meta-analysis' the highest infection prevalence was found in Radix auricularia (9.9%). Twelve larval species of trematodes were identified, and the highest prevalence of cercariae was found for Echinostomatidae cercariae (4.3%). Among the provinces explored, West Azerbaijan had the highest prevalence of infected snails (16.9%). The presence of trematodes in snails could pose a serious health problem in Iran. Thus, further studies are necessary to characterize these infections in other provinces.

Keywords: Iran; Meta-analysis; Prevalence; Snail; Trematodes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare for this study.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flowchart describing the study design.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Forest plot diagram of studies showing the prevalence of trematode infections in the examined snails in Iran.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Funnel plot analysis for finding bias.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Forest plot diagram of studies showing the prevalence of trematode infections in the examined snails (A) Radix auricularia, (B) Lymnaea stagnalis, and (C) Lymnaea palustris in Iran.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Forest plot diagram of studies showing infections of gastropods in, (A) West Azerbaijan; (B) Khuzestan; (C) Mazandaran.

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