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Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum is a public health concern in China, and Hubei is one of the most affected provinces. Although the routine surveillance since the mid 1950s has generated substantial data pertaining to the habitats of the intermediate snail host, Oncomelania hupensis, its spatiotemporal distribution is not known. A review of local chronicles on the annual records of schistosomiasis control program was conducted to retrospectively collect information about O. hupensis habitats. The habitats were mapped by a field survey in 2016. We categorized the habitats into five evolutionary types, namely, Type I, current habitat; Types II-IV, historical habitat; and Type V, suspected habitat according to habitat development. The shape of habitats was determined using geographical information systems. A visual database was established and managed on the ArcGIS platform. A total of 43 472 O. hupensis habitats, covering an area of approximately 430 000 hectares, were identified through the study. Over 60% of these habitats have been eliminated. The highest number of O. hupensis habitats was recorded in 1975; however, most of them were preserved until 1995. Our study, for the first time, sheds light on the spatiotemporal distribution of O. hupensis in the most affected province in China. The data will be valuable for policy making and for formulating strategies to eliminate schistosomiasis in Hubei Province. Author summary: Schistosomiasis is a major infectious disease of humans and animals, and is a global concern. In China, it is endemically found across 12 provinces along the Yangtze River and in the area south of the river. According to the "13th Five-Year Plan for National Schistosomiasis Control", by the end of 2020, schistosomiasis epidemic will continue to decline towards eradication throughout China. However, the control and elimination of its intermediate snail host, Oncomelania hupensis, is crucial for blocking schistosomiasis transmissions in China. Therefore, further understanding, surveillance, and control of O. hupensis distribution is critical to protect the health of individuals in endemic areas and to formulate relevant prevention and control strategies in order to reduce the burden of schistosomiasis, and ultimately overcome this epidemic. In this study, we reviewed local chronicles and annual records and extensively surveyed Hubei Province to collect information on the historical, current, and suspected habitats of O. hupensis. Subsequently, we used various geospatial tools (ArcGIS and Google Earth) to visualize the spatial distributions of habitats. Our study provides valuable data that will facilitate more effective habitat management of this intermediate host species and contribute to more precise management of schistosomiasis in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• More infected mice were detected in June samples than in September samples. • The sentinel mice infection pattern showed aggregation when the distance was less than or equal to 34.52 km. • Hotspots were detected especially in areas along the Yangtze River, such as the Fu-Lun, Dongjing-Tongshun, and Juzhang River basins. Progress in national schistosomiasis control in China has successfully reduced disease transmission in many districts. However, a low transmission rate hinders conventional snail surveys in identifying areas at risk. In this study, Schistosoma japonicum- infected sentinel mice surveillance was conducted to identify high-risk areas of schistosomiasis transmission in Hubei province, China. The risk of schistosomiasis transmission was assessed using sentinel mice monitoring in Hubei province from 2010 to 2018. Field detections were undertaken in June and September, and the sentinel mice were kept for approximately 35 days in a laboratory. They were then dissected to determine whether schistosome infection was present. Ripley's K -function and kernel density estimation were applied to analyze the spatial distribution and positive point pattern of schistosomiasis transmission. In total, 190 sentinel mice surveillance sites were selected to detect areas of schistosomiasis infection from 2010 to 2018, with 29 (15.26%) sites showing infected mice. Of 4723 dissected mice, 256 adult worms were detected in 112 infected mice. The infection rate was 2.37%, with an average of 2.28 worms detected per infected mouse. Significantly more infected mice were detected in the June samples than in the September samples (χ 2 = 12.11, p < 0.01). Ripley's L (d) index analysis showed that, when the distance was ≤34.52 km, the sentinel mice infection pattern showed aggregation, with the strongest aggregation occurring at 7.86 km. Three hotspots were detected using kernel density estimation: at the junction of Jingzhou District, Gong'an County, and Shashi District in Jingzhou City; in Wuhan City at the border of the Huangpi and Dongxihu Districts, and in the Hannan and Caidian Districts. The results showed that sentinel mice surveillance is useful in identifying high-risk areas, and could provide valuable information for schistosomiasis prevention and control, especially concerning areas along the Yangtze River, such as the Fu-Lun, Dongjing-Tongshun, and Juzhang River basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]