Abstract
BackgroundSnail control is an important component in the national schistosomiasis control programme in China, by application of chemical molluscicides, forestry projects, agriculture projects and water conservancy projects in recent decades. However, there are still wide areas of snail inhabited in China which remains a great challenge to achieve the goal of schistosomiasis elimination by 2025. Therefore, a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis on snail control measures is required for precision schistosomiasis control.MethodsThe SWOT approach, which is a well-known structured analysis tool, was used to identify and evaluate the specific characteristics of four types of snail control measures in China, including chemical mollusciciding, forestry, agriculture, and water conservancy projects. The analysis were carried out based on the information collection from literature review, of research papers, books, annual report database of national schistosomiasis control programme in China, reports from the academic forums, and so on.ResultsFor chemical mollusciciding, application strategy needs to focus on specific local settings, such as stage of schistosomiasis control, environmental factors, and limitations from external policies and internal deficiencies. Regarding forestry projects, the optimal strategies are to cooperate with other national forestry programmes to share the investment costs and pay attention on wetland protection. In agriculture projects, it is necessary to develop related cash crop industries and combine with national farmland consolidation projects simultaneously to increase the total economic benefits. Concerning water conservancy projects, the main purpose is to control snail migration from snail area to snail-free areas nationwide.ConclusionsIntegrated strategies for various measures application and a top-level designed cooperation mechanism will be the necessary to eliminate snail and schistosomiasis in China.
Highlights
Snail control is an important component in the national schistosomiasis control programme in China, by application of chemical molluscicides, forestry projects, agriculture projects and water conservancy projects in recent decades
Niclosamide is the unique molluscicides recommended by World Health Organization [37]
Strengths Chemical molluscicides such as niclosamide can be applied in various forms according to different snail distribution characteristics
Summary
Snail control is an important component in the national schistosomiasis control programme in China, by application of chemical molluscicides, forestry projects, agriculture projects and water conservancy projects in recent decades. There are still wide areas of snail inhabited in China which remains a great challenge to achieve the goal of schistosomiasis elimination by 2025. One acute schistosomiasis case reported in 2017, imported from Jiangxi to Zhejiang has indicated that the schistosomiasis epidemic situation remains transmission risks in some areas of China [3] (Table 1). The goal of schistosomiasis elimination in China The sixty-fifth World Health Assembly passed resolution WHA65.21, which proposed to eliminate schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease, in low-transmission areas of the world [4]. The conference on national schistosomiasis control in 2014 concluded that schistosomiasis transmission will be interrupted in all endemic counties in China by 2025 [3]. Due to Oncomelania spp. is the unique snail intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum distributed in Asia, which is an amphibious snail, so snail control is the essential factor in the process of schistosomiasis elimination, which requires a multidisciplinary cooperative mechanism and integrated implementation strategy [5, 6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
