Schistosomiasis Chemotherapy, Chemoprevention, and Vaccines: History, Progress, and Priorities

• Published in: Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Inflammation and Disease, 2024-11, Vol.12 (11), p.e70054-n/a
• Main Authors: Alibrahim, Alaa Oqalaa E., Elkholy, Walaa A., El‐Derbawy, Mona M., Zahran, Noha F., Alexiou, Athanasios, Papadakis, Marios, Batiha, Gaber El‐Saber
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anthelmintics - therapeutic use; Bioavailability; Chemoprevention - methods; chemoprophylaxis; Chemotherapy; Drug administration; Drug resistance; Enzymes; Granulomas; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Illnesses; Immunization; Infections; Medical Subject Headings-MeSH; Metabolism; Nanoparticles; praziquantel; Praziquantel - therapeutic use; Public health; Review; Schistosoma - drug effects; Schistosoma - immunology; schistosomiasis; Schistosomiasis - drug therapy; Schistosomiasis - immunology; Schistosomiasis - parasitology; Schistosomiasis - prevention & control; Tropical diseases; Vaccines; Vaccines - immunology; Vaccines - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 2050-4527; 2050-4527
• DOI: 10.1002/iid3.70054

ABSTRACT Background Schistosomiasis is a major human disease of public health importance. Freshwater snails serving as intermediary hosts and human interaction with surface water tainted by feces or urine are both necessary components of the transmission cycle. Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma mansoni, and Schistosoma japonicum are the primary pathogen species. Over 250 million individuals are infected globally, according to the World Health Organization, causing significant morbidity and an estimated loss of 1.9 million disability‐adjusted life years, a number that is probably underestimated. Immunological protection is slowly built up through complex immunological systems, although innate factors also play a role. Chronic schistosomiasis affects mainly individuals residing in poor rural area. Vaccination is considered as one of the most sustainable options for the control of any pathogen, but schistosomiasis vaccine for humans or animals is not available till now despite the discovery of numerous potentially promising schistosome vaccine antigens. Objective To provide an overview of the schistosomiasis chemotherapy, chemoprevention, and vaccines history and progress. Design Review article. Data Sources PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Science Direct, and the World Health Organization database. Conclusion Favorably praziquantel (PZQ) is a medication with excellent chemopreventive treatment compliance. Due to the extensive usage of PZQ, there is a great deal of debate surrounding the emergence of drug resistance. PZQ is effective against all species of schistosomes, schistosomiasis prevalence has remained largely unaffected, due to reinfection in high transmission areas and growing juvenile worms that were not affected by the drug, even though the need for a schistosomiasis vaccine is even more pressing. Schistosomiasis is a major human disease of public health importance. The goal is to provide an overview of the history and advancements in schistosomiasis chemotherapy, chemoprevention, and vaccine research. Praziquantel is effective against all species of schistosomiasis, but schistosomiasis prevalence has largely remained unaffected, due to reinfection in high transmission areas and growing juvenile worms that were not affected by the drug, even though the need for a schistosomiasis vaccine is made even more pressing.