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. 2020 Jul 2;14(7):e0008201.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008201. eCollection 2020 Jul.

Future schistosome hybridizations: Will all Schistosoma haematobium hybrids please stand-up!

J Russell Stothard  1 , Sekeleghe A Kayuni  1   2 , Mohammad H Al-Harbi  1   3 , Janelisa Musaya  4   5 , Bonnie L Webster  6
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Future schistosome hybridizations: Will all Schistosoma haematobium hybrids please stand-up!

J Russell Stothard et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .
No abstract available

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Reconciling schistosome hybridization with epidemiological models of schistosomiasis transmission.
(A) The current model of urogenital schistosomiasis in Malawi involves discrete transmission cycles and does not formally take into account the importance of multi-species coinfections. (B) A revised model of urogenital schistosomiasis with overlapping transmission potentials with schistosome worms also being influenced or interacting with other species present (e.g., S. mansoni within coinfected people or S. bovis in cattle). Note *S. mansoni–intestinal schistosomiasis is now emerging along the Lake Malawi shoreline and is transmitted by Biomphalaria (which is not depicted here for brevity), *B. africanus has now been detected in the lake (MH Al-Harbi personal observation) and is a known intermediate host of several other S. haematobium group species, which might drive novel environmental transmission opportunities.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Highlighting knowledge gaps in the epidemiology and distribution of hybrid coinfections across a “typical’ community as current age-prevalence profiles are not known.
This hypothetical scenario raises important epidemiological questions in the short- and long-term infection dynamics and needs for any future targeting of preventive chemotherapy control to any specific demographic groups (e.g., preschool-aged children) where hybrids may be, for example, more common. PZQ treatment campaigns typically commence in primary school, where the youngest children to receive treatment are usually older than five years of age. Thereafter, provision of PZQ treatment then follows either annual or biennial administration cycles. PZQ, praziquantel.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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