Abstract
In light of the World Health Organization's initiative to extend schistosomiasis morbidity and mortality control programs by including a disease elimination strategy in low endemic settings, this paper reviews diagnostic tools described during the last decades and provide an overview of ongoing efforts in making an efficient diagnostic tool available worldwide. A literature search on PubMed using the search criteria schistosomiasis and diagnosis within the period from 1978 to 2013 was carried out. Articles with abstract in English and that used laboratory techniques specifically developed for the detection of schistosomiasis in humans were included. Publications were categorized according to the methodology applied (parasitological, immunological, or molecular) and stage of development (in house development, limited field, or large scale field testing). The initial research generated 4,535 publications, of which only 643 met the inclusion criteria. The vast majority (537) of the publications focused on immunological techniques; 81 focused on parasitological diagnosis, and 25 focused on molecular diagnostic methods. Regarding the stage of development, 307 papers referred to in-house development, 202 referred to limited field tests, and 134 referred to large scale field testing. The data obtained show that promising new diagnostic tools, especially for Schistosoma antigen and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) detection, which are characterized by high sensitivity and specificity, are being developed. In combination with international funding initiatives these tools may result in a significant step forward in successful disease elimination and surveillance, which is to make efficient tests accessible and its large use self-sustainable for control programs in endemic countries.
Highlights
During many decades, the schistosomiasis control strategies were based on chemotherapy and aimed to reduce morbidity, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and other high-burden areas
With the passing time, where significant progress in the control of schistosomiasis and other diseases has been achieved by national control programs integrated actions in resource capabilities, health educational activities and environmental sanitation were identified as crucial targets for the setting of disease elimination
In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases convened more than 30 international experts and representatives of countries where schistosomiasis has been controlled at varying levels to discuss tools and strategies for monitoring schistosomiasis in low-transmission areas as well as criteria for determining and validating disease elimination[1]
Summary
The schistosomiasis control strategies were based on chemotherapy and aimed to reduce morbidity, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and other high-burden areas. In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases convened more than 30 international experts and representatives of countries where schistosomiasis has been controlled at varying levels to discuss tools and strategies for monitoring schistosomiasis in low-transmission areas as well as criteria for determining and validating disease elimination[1]. The technological development of new assays has evolved slowly, partialy because of the current global strategy for schistosomiasis control that is built around preventive chemotherapy, which is the regular administration of drugs to at-risk populations without prior diagnosis[3], and partially due to the perceived lack of financial return to the diagnostic companies that contributes to making the investments insufficient and discontinuous[4]. Hardwon resources may have been spent on attempts to develop less robust assays
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
