Strengthening the control of goat schistosomiasis to facilitate the progress towards elimination of schistosomiasis in China

Abstract

Although great success has been achieved in schistosomiasis control, schistosomiasis japonica remains a publichealth concern in China. Schistosoma japonicum is found to naturally infect over 40 mammalian animals. The implementation of the integrated schistosomiasis control strategy emphasizing infectious source control since 2004, which integrates replacement of bovines with machines, breeding domestic animals in fences, building safe pastures and chemotherapy of infected bovines, results in a clear-cut reduction in the prevalence of S. japonicum infection in both humans and bovines, as well as the areas of infected snail habitats, and the national schistosomiasis control program is moving from transmission control towards transmission interruption and elimination. It has been found that goat is highly susceptible to S. japonicum infection, and previous epidemiological data have shown a high prevalence of infection in goat. However, the role of goat in the transmission of schistosomiasis japonica has not been paid much attention, and there are few systematic surveys to evaluate the role of goat in schistosomiasis transmission in China to date. Professor Liang Yousheng's group investigated S. japonicum development and reproduction (egglaying) in goat body, environmental contamination by goat feces, and the effect of temperature and humidity on the survival of S. japonicum eggs in goat feces. Their findings further demonstrate the role of goat in the transmission of schistosomiasis japonica. In addition, they proposed, based on their findings and previous reports, that the management of goat should be integrated into the national schistosomiasis control program in China, since goat is virtually one of the major infectious sources of schistosomiasis japonica in China. Moreover, this group improved the fecal hatching test and optimized the parasitological technique for diagnosis of S. japonicum infection in goats. These innovative studies fill in the gaps of goat schitsosomiasis japonica research in China, and the research outcomes will enrich the currently implemented integrated schistosomiasis control strategy emphasizing infectious source control, and are believed to play a critical role in schistosomiasis elimination in China. Since schistosomiasis seriously affects goat husbandry development and local famer income, and goat has become a major infectious source of schistosomiasis japonica in China, the control of goat schistosomiaiss will facilitate the progress towards the elimination of schistosomiasis in China, and the following research priorities are suggested: (1) to emphasize the control of goat schistosomiasis, and to integrate the comprehensive management of goat into the national schistosomiasis control program in China; and (2) to develop new techniques, products and interventions for the control of goat schistosomiasis.