A systematic literature review of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings.
<h4>Background</h4>Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma and belongs to the neglected tropical diseases. The disease has been reported in 78 countries, with around 290.8 million people in need of treatment in 2018. Schistosomiasis is pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-02-01
|
| Series: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008995 |
| _version_ | 1818966825799516160 |
|---|---|
| author | Katharina Klohe Benjamin G Koudou Alan Fenwick Fiona Fleming Amadou Garba Anouk Gouvras Emma M Harding-Esch Stefanie Knopp David Molyneux Susan D'Souza Jürg Utzinger Penelope Vounatsou Johannes Waltz Yaobi Zhang David Rollinson |
| author_facet | Katharina Klohe Benjamin G Koudou Alan Fenwick Fiona Fleming Amadou Garba Anouk Gouvras Emma M Harding-Esch Stefanie Knopp David Molyneux Susan D'Souza Jürg Utzinger Penelope Vounatsou Johannes Waltz Yaobi Zhang David Rollinson |
| author_sort | Katharina Klohe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma and belongs to the neglected tropical diseases. The disease has been reported in 78 countries, with around 290.8 million people in need of treatment in 2018. Schistosomiasis is predominantly considered a rural disease with a subsequent focus of research and control activities in rural settings. Over the past decades, occurrence and even expansion of schistosomiasis foci in peri-urban and urban settings have increasingly been observed. Rural-urban migration in low- and middle-income countries and subsequent rapid and unplanned urbanization are thought to explain these observations. Fifty-five percent (55%) of the world population is already estimated to live in urban areas, with a projected increase to 68% by 2050. In light of rapid urbanization and the efforts to control morbidity and ultimately achieve elimination of schistosomiasis, it is important to deepen our understanding of the occurrence, prevalence, and transmission of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings. A systematic literature review looking at urban and peri-urban schistosomiasis was therefore carried out as a first step to address the research and mapping gap.<h4>Methodology</h4>Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic computer-aided literature review was carried out using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and the World Health Organization Database in November 2019, which was updated in March 2020. Only papers for which at least the abstract was available in English were used. Relevant publications were screened, duplicates were removed, guidelines for eligibility were applied, and eligible studies were reviewed. Studies looking at human Schistosoma infections, prevalence, and intensity of infection in urban and peri-urban settings were included as well as those focusing on the intermediate host snails.<h4>Principal findings</h4>A total of 248 publications met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies confirm that schistosomiasis is prevalent in peri-urban and urban areas in the countries assessed. Earlier studies report higher prevalence levels in urban settings compared to data extracted from more recent publications, yet the challenge of migration, rapid uncontrolled urbanization, and resulting poor living conditions highlight the potential for continuous or even newly established transmission to take place.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The review indicates that schistosomiasis has long existed in urban and peri-urban areas and remains a public health problem. There is, however, a challenge of comparability of settings due to the lack of a clear definition of what constitutes urban and peri-urban. There is a pressing need for improved monitoring of schistosomiasis in urban communities and consideration of treatment strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T13:39:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-67e246eacc8b4c3ba6f9fe1b5c7f9dd6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1935-2727 1935-2735 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T13:39:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-67e246eacc8b4c3ba6f9fe1b5c7f9dd62022-12-21T19:38:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352021-02-01152e000899510.1371/journal.pntd.0008995A systematic literature review of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings.Katharina KloheBenjamin G KoudouAlan FenwickFiona FlemingAmadou GarbaAnouk GouvrasEmma M Harding-EschStefanie KnoppDavid MolyneuxSusan D'SouzaJürg UtzingerPenelope VounatsouJohannes WaltzYaobi ZhangDavid Rollinson<h4>Background</h4>Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma and belongs to the neglected tropical diseases. The disease has been reported in 78 countries, with around 290.8 million people in need of treatment in 2018. Schistosomiasis is predominantly considered a rural disease with a subsequent focus of research and control activities in rural settings. Over the past decades, occurrence and even expansion of schistosomiasis foci in peri-urban and urban settings have increasingly been observed. Rural-urban migration in low- and middle-income countries and subsequent rapid and unplanned urbanization are thought to explain these observations. Fifty-five percent (55%) of the world population is already estimated to live in urban areas, with a projected increase to 68% by 2050. In light of rapid urbanization and the efforts to control morbidity and ultimately achieve elimination of schistosomiasis, it is important to deepen our understanding of the occurrence, prevalence, and transmission of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings. A systematic literature review looking at urban and peri-urban schistosomiasis was therefore carried out as a first step to address the research and mapping gap.<h4>Methodology</h4>Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic computer-aided literature review was carried out using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and the World Health Organization Database in November 2019, which was updated in March 2020. Only papers for which at least the abstract was available in English were used. Relevant publications were screened, duplicates were removed, guidelines for eligibility were applied, and eligible studies were reviewed. Studies looking at human Schistosoma infections, prevalence, and intensity of infection in urban and peri-urban settings were included as well as those focusing on the intermediate host snails.<h4>Principal findings</h4>A total of 248 publications met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies confirm that schistosomiasis is prevalent in peri-urban and urban areas in the countries assessed. Earlier studies report higher prevalence levels in urban settings compared to data extracted from more recent publications, yet the challenge of migration, rapid uncontrolled urbanization, and resulting poor living conditions highlight the potential for continuous or even newly established transmission to take place.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The review indicates that schistosomiasis has long existed in urban and peri-urban areas and remains a public health problem. There is, however, a challenge of comparability of settings due to the lack of a clear definition of what constitutes urban and peri-urban. There is a pressing need for improved monitoring of schistosomiasis in urban communities and consideration of treatment strategies.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008995 |
| spellingShingle | Katharina Klohe Benjamin G Koudou Alan Fenwick Fiona Fleming Amadou Garba Anouk Gouvras Emma M Harding-Esch Stefanie Knopp David Molyneux Susan D'Souza Jürg Utzinger Penelope Vounatsou Johannes Waltz Yaobi Zhang David Rollinson A systematic literature review of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| title | A systematic literature review of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings. |
| title_full | A systematic literature review of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings. |
| title_fullStr | A systematic literature review of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings. |
| title_full_unstemmed | A systematic literature review of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings. |
| title_short | A systematic literature review of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings. |
| title_sort | systematic literature review of schistosomiasis in urban and peri urban settings |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008995 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katharinaklohe asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT benjamingkoudou asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT alanfenwick asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT fionafleming asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT amadougarba asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT anoukgouvras asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT emmamhardingesch asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT stefanieknopp asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT davidmolyneux asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT susandsouza asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT jurgutzinger asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT penelopevounatsou asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT johanneswaltz asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT yaobizhang asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT davidrollinson asystematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT katharinaklohe systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT benjamingkoudou systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT alanfenwick systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT fionafleming systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT amadougarba systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT anoukgouvras systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT emmamhardingesch systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT stefanieknopp systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT davidmolyneux systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT susandsouza systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT jurgutzinger systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT penelopevounatsou systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT johanneswaltz systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT yaobizhang systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings AT davidrollinson systematicliteraturereviewofschistosomiasisinurbanandperiurbansettings |