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Background: The control of schistosomiasis is particularly difficult in sub-Saharan Africa, which currently harbours 95% of this disease. The target population for preventive chemotherapy (PC) is expanded to all age group at risk of infection, thus increasing the demands of praziquantel (PZQ) tablets according to the new released guideline by World Health Organization. Due to the gap between available PZQ for PC and requirements, alternative approaches to assess endemicity of schistosomiasis in a community, are urgently needed for more quick and precise methods. We aimed to find out to which degree the infection status of snails can be used to guide chemotherapy against schistosomiasis. Methods: We searched literature published from January 1991 to December 2022, that reported on the prevalence rates of Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium in the intermediate snails Biomphalaria spp. and Bulinus spp., respectively, and in humans. A random effect model for meta-analyses was used to calculate the pooled prevalence estimate (PPE), with heterogeneity assessed using I-squared statistic (I2), with correlation and regression analysis for the exploration of the relationship between human S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections and that in their specific intermediate hosts. Results: Forty-seven publications comprising 59 field investigations were included. The pooled PPE of schistosomiasis, schistosomiasis mansoni and schistosomiasis haematobium in humans were 27.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 24.0–31.1%], 25.6% (95% CI: 19.9–31.3%), and 28.8% (95% CI: 23.4–34.3%), respectively. The snails showed an overall infection rate of 8.6% (95% CI: 7.7–9.4%), with 12.1% (95% CI: 9.9–14.2%) in the Biomphalaria spp. snails and 6.9% (95% CI: 5.7–8.1%) in the Bulinus spp. snails. The correlation coefficient was 0.3 (95% CI: 0.01–0.5%, P < 0.05) indicating that the two variables, i.e. all intermediate host snails on the one hand and the human host on the other, were positively correlated. Conclusions: The prevalence rate of S. mansoni and S. haematobium is still high in endemic areas. Given the significant, positive correlation between the prevalence of schistosomes in humans and the intermediate snail hosts, more attention should be paid to programme integration of snail surveillance in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Out of the 21 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) listed by the World Health Organization, 15 affect the People's Republic of China. Despite significant achievements in controlling NTDs, comprehensive assessments of the disease burden based on actual case data and detailed information on spatial and temporal dynamics are still lacking. This study aims to assess the disease burden and spatial–temporal distribution of NTDs in China from 2005 to 2020, to provide a reference for the formulation of national health agendas in line with the global health agenda, and guide resource allocation. Methods: The number of cases and deaths of major NTDs in China from 2005 to 2020 were downloaded from the China Public Health Science Data Center (https://www.phsciencedata.cn/Share/index.jsp) of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and relevant literatures. Simplified formulas for disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) helped estimate the years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and total DALYs. Spatial autocorrelation analysis of the average NTDs burden data for the years 2005 to 2020 was evaluated using Moran's I statistic. Results: China's overall NTDs burden decreased significantly, from 245,444.53 DALYs in 2005 to 18,984.34 DALYs in 2020, marking a reduction of 92.27%. In 2005, the DALYs caused by schistosomiasis and rabies represent a substantial proportion of the total disease burden, accounting for 65.37% and 34.43% respectively. In 2015, Hunan and Sichuan provinces had the highest diversity of NTDs, with 9 and 8 number of different NTDs reported respectively. And the highest disease burden was observed in Sichuan (242,683.46 DALYs), Xizang Zizhiqu (178,318.99 DALYs) and Guangdong (154,228.31 DALYs). The "high-high" clustering areas of NTDs were mainly in China's central and southern regions, as identified by spatial autocorrelation analysis. Conclusions: China has made unremitting efforts in the prevention and control of NTDs, and the disease burden of major NTDs in China has decreased significantly. Using the One Health concept to guide disease prevention and control in the field to effectively save medical resources and achieve precise intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is altering precipitation regimes that amplify hydrological extremes and increase vulnerability to schistosomiasis, a water‐related parasitic disease with hundreds of millions at risk globally. Explicit recognition of the elements of hydrological variability and linkages with extreme precipitation is necessary to combat the spread of schistosomiasis. We call for the use of a vulnerability framework to account holistically for the dynamic interplay among environmental and human factors that influence susceptibility to schistosomiasis infection across spatial scales. Plain Language Summary: Worldwide there are 700–800 million people at risk to schistosomiasis, a neglected water‐related parasitic disease. No known work has employed a vulnerability framework to comprehensively examine how climate change and the amplification of hydrological variability and extremes may influence a population's vulnerability to schistosomiasis. Recognizing the coupled nature of human‐environment interactions across spatial scales, we argue for the use of a vulnerability framework to characterize the multi‐faceted and interrelated drivers and consequences of hydrological extremes that may help lessen vulnerability to schistosomiasis. Key Points: Hydrological extremes will become more frequent and intense due to climate change, heightening human vulnerability to schistosomiasisExplicit recognition of the elements of hydrological variability and linkages with extreme precipitation is key to combat schistosomiasisImplementation of a vulnerability framework to account holistically for hydrological extremes can help reduce schistosomiasis transmission [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]