Clinical and Historical Perspectives of Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is one of the parasitic infections caused by flukes of the genus Schistosoma, which cause the acute or chronic form of the disease in humans. The alternative name of the disease is bilharziasis. The disease is transmitted by specific amphibious or aquatic snails that are found in a wide variety of freshwater habitats. Five different species of schistosomes are responsible for infecting human beings; these are: Shistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma intercalatum and Schistosoma mekongi. Beside learning the basics of schistosomiasis among other diseases, it is important for all categories of learners to appreciate that although control of schistosomiasis has considerably improved in many parts of the world, challenges still exist and the war against the disease is far from over. The information in this book will enable the reader to appreciate the contemporary efforts towards understanding transmission, clinical manifestations, complications, treatment and prevention of schistosomiasis.