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Three Gorges Dam and Its Impact on the Potential Transmission of Schistosomiasis in Regions along the Yangtze River

EcoHealth volume 5, pages 137–148 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Large-scale hydroprojects have a propensity for incurring schistosomiasis epidemics by altering the environments of their vicinities. As the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, one of the world’s largest hydroprojects to date, draws near its conclusion, an assessment of the dam’s capacity in causing schistosomiasis becomes more urgent and pressing. This article reviews recent investigations into the possible effects of the dam on schistosomiasis in the Three Gorges region and areas along the Yangtze downstream from the dam. Data used in this article were extracted from peer-reviewed papers found in PubMed, Chinese Journal of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, and Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control. Results indicate that the Three Gorges Dam is capable of inducing a wide variety of environmental and ecological changes both within the Three Gorges region and in downstream areas. These changes, however, carry ambivalent implications for the reproduction of Oncomelania snails and the spreading of schistosome infections. Furthermore, major changes in the demographics and agricultural practices of the Three Gorges and downstream Yangtze areas caused by the dam could also exert significant influence on the transmission of schistosomiasis in these regions. Major conclusions of this review include the need for further ecological simulations of the Three Gorges Dam and the need for deploying monitoring and intervention systems to provide successful prophylaxis of the Three Gorges Dam-associated schistosomiasis emergence.

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Acknowledgments

We have no competing financial interests to declare. The National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention sponsored this research. This work received financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30590373), UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) (No. A30298), the Ministry of Science and Technology, China (Grants No. 2001BA705B08, 2004BA718B12, and 2005DKA21104), and the Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Ministry of Health, China. Thanks to colleagues from Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, and Sichuang, Chongjing Center for Disease Control and Prevention for their help on the field research activities and data collections.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Etiologic Biology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiang Yin Road, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Huai-Min Zhu

  2. Bioinformatics Group, David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Shuo Xiang

  3. Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Meiyuan, Jiangsu, 214064, China

    Kun Yang

  4. National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 207 Rui Jin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China

    Kun Yang, Xiao-Hua Wu & Xiao-Nong Zhou

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  1. Huai-Min Zhu
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  2. Shuo Xiang
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  3. Kun Yang
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  4. Xiao-Hua Wu
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  5. Xiao-Nong Zhou
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Correspondence to Xiao-Nong Zhou.

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Zhu, HM., Xiang, S., Yang, K. et al. Three Gorges Dam and Its Impact on the Potential Transmission of Schistosomiasis in Regions along the Yangtze River. EcoHealth 5, 137–148 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-008-0168-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-008-0168-y

Keywords

  • Schistosoma japonicum
  • Oncomelania hupensis
  • Three Gorges Dam
  • Yangtze River
  • hydroproject
  • China