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Evaluating the risk of Schistosoma mansoni transmission in mainland China

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Abstract

Biomphalaria straminea, an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni, is predominantly distributed in the South Americas and Caribbean; however, this snail, as an invasive species, was introduced to Shenzhen, southern China, in 1981, and recent epidemiologic surveys demonstrate that the distribution of B. straminea has expanded across the Zhujiang River Basin, South China. In the presence of continuous importation of S. mansoni-infected cases, there is a growing concern about the transmission of S. mansoni in China. To evaluate the risk of S. mansoni transmission in China, we tested the compatibility of B. straminea captured from the snail habitats in southern China with S. mansoni in laboratory. We detected no S. mansoni infections in B. straminea following exposure to the parasite larvae at snail/miracidium ratios of 1:5, 1:10, 1:20, 1:40, and 1:80, while 6.7 to 66.7 % infections occurred in the control Biomphalaria glabrata depending on the ratio. The results of the present study demonstrate that the invasive B. straminea snails seem to be incompatible with S. mansoni, suggesting a low risk of S. mansoni transmission in mainland China.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Research and Development Plan of China (grant no. 2016YFC1200500), the Scientific Research Project of Jiangsu Department of Health (grant no. Q201404), Guangdong Provincial Scientific Research Project for Medical Sciences (grant no. A2014647), and Shenzhen Municipal Science and Technology Project (grant no. JCYJ20150402102135507).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China

    Guoli Qu, Wei Wang, Jianrong Dai & Yousheng Liang

  2. Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasites and Vector Control Technology, 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China

    Guoli Qu, Wei Wang, Jianrong Dai & Yousheng Liang

  3. Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China

    Guoli Qu, Wei Wang, Jianrong Dai & Yousheng Liang

  4. Wuxi No. 2 People’s Hospital, No. 68 Zhongshan Road, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214002, China

    Xiaomin Lu

  5. Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 8 Longyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, 518055, China

    Xiaoheng Li

Authors
  1. Guoli Qu
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  2. Wei Wang
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  3. Xiaomin Lu
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  4. Jianrong Dai
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  5. Xiaoheng Li
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  6. Yousheng Liang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Wei Wang or Yousheng Liang.

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Qu, G., Wang, W., Lu, X. et al. Evaluating the risk of Schistosoma mansoni transmission in mainland China. Parasitol Res 115, 4711–4713 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-5243-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-5243-7

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