Schistosoma mekongi

Schistosoma mekongi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Trematoda
Subclass: Digenea
Order: Strigeidida
Genus: Schistosoma
Species: S. mekongi
Binomial name
Schistosoma mekongi
Voge, Bruckner & Bruce, 1978

Schistosoma mekongi is a trematode, also known as a flatworm or fluke. It is one of the five major schistosomes that account for all human infections, the other four being S. haematobium, S. mansoni, S. japonicum, and S. intercalatum. This trematode causes schistosomiasis in humans.

Freshwater snail Neotricula aperta serves as an intermediate host for Schistosoma mekongi.[1]

History

Schistosomiasis was first reported in the Mekong river basin region in 1957.[2]  It was believed that the cause of these cases was Schistosoma japonicum until 1978, when Neotricula aperta was discovered and it was determined that the Schistosome was a unique species, Schistosoma mekongi.[2]

Characteristics

S. mekongi shares many general characteristics with other schistosomes, particularly S. japonicum, but it does have crucial differences.  S. mekongi eggs are 30-55 μm and have a diminutive spine, and only 95 per mating pair are produced per day, whereas S. japonicum eggs are larger, have no spine, and produce on average 250 per day.  N. aperta infected release on 42 cercaria per day, far lower than other Schistosomes.[3]

Region

Endemic region

S. mekongi is found in the Mekong river basin region, from Kratie province, Cambodia, to Khong Island, Laos.[1]

Control Efforts

In 1989 a universal mass treatment with praziqauntel of the people of Khong Island, Laos was performed.  In 1995 a similar treatment was performed in Cambodia.  In some areas this treatment was highly effective, eliminating S. mekongi. In other regions, particularly Khong Island, there was little effect.[2]

Attempting to control the intermediate host with a molluscicides also had no long-term effectiveness.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Attwood SW, Fatih FA, Upatham ES (2008). "DNA-sequence variation among Schistosoma mekongi populations and related taxa; phylogeography and the current distribution of Asian schistosomiasis". PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2 (3): e200. PMC 2265426 Freely accessible. PMID 18350111. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000200.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ohmae, Hiroshi; Sinuon, Muth; Kirinoki, Masashi; Matsumoto, Jun; Chigusa, Yuichi; Socheat, Duong; Matsuda, Hajime (2004-06-01). "Schistosomiasis mekongi: from discovery to control". Parasitology International. Centenary Symposium to Celebrate the Discovery of Schistosoma japonicum Part II. 53 (2): 135–142. PMID 15081945. doi:10.1016/j.parint.2004.01.004.
  3. ↑ Hebner, Rebecca. "Schistosoma mekongi". Parasites and Pestilence. Stanford University. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
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