Design of hydraulic structures to prevent the spread of intermediate snails hosts of schistosomiasis

Abstract

In China, schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease mostly found in areas along the ChangJiang River. Transmission of the parasite essentially requires the species intermediate mollusc species Oncomelania, thus one option to control the spread of schistosomiasis is to properly design water intakes that prevent Oncomelania from entering farming land or residential areas. This paper reports a successful design process and a new Oncomelania-proof intake device. The design of the new intake is based on a sound research program in which extensive experimental studies were carried out to gain knowledge of Oncomelania eco-hydraulic behavior and detailed flow field information through CFD simulation.