Biomphalaria pfeifferi Snails and Intestinal Schistosomiasis, Lake Malawi, Africa, 2017-2018.

Two surveys conducted in 2017 and 2018 demonstrated Biomphalaria pfeifferi snails in Lake Malawi in Africa. Epidemiologic examination of 175 local children at 3 primary schools confirmed emergence of intestinal schistosomiasis. These findings highlight autochthonous transmission of Schistosoma mansoni flukes in Lake Malawi and the need to revise international travel advice.

[Removal of weremit from the abdomen. Interpretation and efficacy of an ancient Egyptian prescription by the newest scientific results]. / A weremit kiuzése a hasból. Óegyiptomi recept hatásosságának értelmezése az újabb kutatási eredmények alapján.

Significant percentage of today's knowledge of ancient Egyptian medicine has been acquired from papyri left behind from various periods of Egyptian history. The longest and the most comprehensive is the Ebers papyrus, kept at the University Museum of Leipzig, which was written more than one thousand years before Hippocrates (c. 460-377 BC). One of the riddles among the prescriptions of the Ebers papyrus Eb20 has been used in order to remove the so called "wemyt" weremit from the abdomen with the help of a drink, which consists of "jnnk", Conyza dioscoridis in milk or sweet beer. The authors assume that the disease could be an infection of Schistosoma haematobium and/or Schistosoma mansoni. Nowadays the tea of Conyza dioscoridis is widely used as an important part of traditional medicine against rheumatism, intestinal distention and cramps, as well as an antiperspirant, and with external use for wound healing. The authors' intent is to interpret the efficacy of the above-mentioned ancient prescription with the help of modern medical and pharmaceutical knowledge.

Pillars article: downregulation of Th1 cytokine production accompanies induction of Th2 responses by a parasitic helminth, Schistosoma mansoni. J. Exp. Med. 1991. 173: 159-166.

In the mouse, infection with Schistosoma mansoni results in an egg-producing infection and associated disease, whereas vaccination with attenuated larval stages produces a substantial and specific immunity in the absence of egg-induced pathology. Preliminary data showing enhanced interleukin-5 (IL-5) production by T cells from infected mice and interferon γ (IFN-γ) synthesis by cells from vaccinated animals (7), suggested differential CD4(+) subset stimulation by the different parasite stimuli. To confirem this hyposthesis, lymphocytes from vaccinated or infected animals were compared for their ability to produce IFN-γ and IL-2 (secreted by Th1 cells) as compared with IL-4 and IL-5 (characteristic Th2 cytokines). After stimulation with specific antigen or mitogen, T cells from vaccinated mice or prepatently infected animals responded primarily with Th1 lymphokines, whereas lymphocytes from patenly infected mice instead produced Th2 cytokines. The Th2 response in infected animals was shown to be induced by schistosome eggs and directed largely against egg antigens, whereas the Th1 reactivity in vaccinated mice was triggered primarily by larval anigens. Interestingly, Th1 responses in mice carrying egg-producing infections were found to be profoundly downregulated. Moreover, the injection of eggs into vaccinated mice resulted in a reduction of antigen and mitogen-stimulated Th1 function accompanied by a coincident expression of Th2 responses. Together, the data suggest that coincident with the induction of Th2 responses, murine schistosome infection results in an inhibition of potentially protective Th1 function. This previously unrecognized downregulation of Th1 cytokine production may be an important immunological consequence of helminth infection related to host adaptation.

Estudo seccional comparativo de prevalência e morbidade da esquistossomose mansoni no município de Alhandra, no Estado da Paraíba (1979-2010) / Comparative cross-sectional study of prevalence and morbidity of schistosomiasis in the city of Alhambra, in the state of Paraiba (1979-2010)

Um estudo seccional foi realizado para avaliar a prevalência e morbidade da esquistossomíase mansônica em amostra aleatória da população da sede do município de Alhandra, no estado da Paraíba, comparando-se com resultados prévios obtidos por Mendonça (1979). Foram realizados exames parasitológicos de fezes, através do método de Kato modificado por Katz et al. (1972), e avaliação das formas clínicas da doença, de acordo com a classificação de Pessoa e Barros 1953, modificada por Barbosa 1966, incluindo-se os tipos: I- forma intestinal (esquistossomose infecção), II- forma hepatointestinal, e III- forma hepatoesplênica. Adicionalmente determinou-se a prevalência da infecção por ancilostomídeos, Ascaris lumbricoides, e Trichuris trichiura. Foram avaliadas as condições sócio-sanitárias da população, e a pesquisa do hospedeiro intermediário no rio Popocas, que margeia a cidade de Alhandra. Para análise estatística empregou-se o teste exato de Fisher. A prevalência da esquistossomose em 2010 foi de 10,5 por cento, enquanto em 1979 era de 24,3 por cento. Em relação às demais helmintíases, em 2010 e em 1979, as prevalências foram, respectivamente, de 15,5 por cento e 78,3 por cento para ancilostomídeos, de 9,7 por cento e 72,0 por cento para A. lumbricóides, e de 6,15 por cento e 76.4 por cento para T. trichiura. Quanto às formas clínicas de esquistossomose, em 2010, 95,3 por cento eram do tipo I, 4,6 por cento do tipo II, e 0 por cento do tipo III, e, em 1979, 94,4 por cento, pertenciam ao tipo I, 3,0 por cento ao tipo II, e 2,6 por cento ao tipo III. Em 2010, 0,81% das Biomphalarias glabratas coletadas na área eliminavam cercarias, enquanto em 1979, 6,0% as eliminavam. Em relação às condições sócio-sanitárias, no presente inquérito 90,5 por cento das residências apresentavam abastecimento de água, 94,3 por cento tinham fossas sépticas e 76,6 por cento referiram recolhimento do lixo nas residências, enquanto em 1979, o abastecimento de água não se apresentava em nenhuma das residências, 40,8 por cento tinham fossas sépticas e 15,4 por cento referiam recolhimento do lixo. Houve queda acentuada de prevalência da esquistossomose na área, provavelmente em consequência do tratamento em massa da população, a partir de 1979, e a redução da infecção dos hospedeiros intermediários. Foi observada queda em relação às demais helmintíases intestinais, provavelmente decorrente de tratamentos realizados e da melhoria das condições sanitárias da área.

Clinical therapy of schistosomiasis mansoni: the Brazilian contribution.

The review gives a detailed account of the history of drug development, treatment and drug resistance for clinical therapy of schistosomiasis mansoni, specially emphasizing the importance of Brazilian contribution on antischistosomal chemotherapy, as well as on the control of this parasitic disease.

First recovery of Schistosoma mansoni eggs from a latrine in Europe (15-16th centuries).

Schistosoma mansoni eggs were found in a latrine dated AD 1450-1550 in Montbéliard, France. This is the first record of intestinal schistosomiasis in archaeological material. Because the parasite has an African origin, its presence in Europe at that time may be due to African slaves. However, intestinal schistosomiasis has never been established in Europe.

[History of the discovery of Biomphalaria occidentalis Paraense, 1981]. / Historia da descoberta da Biomphalaria occidentalis Paraense, 1981.

The article addresses the discovery of Biomphalaria occidentalis Paraense, a mollusk whose shell is indistinguishable from that of B. tenagophila, natural vector of Schistosoma mansoni. This reconstruction of the history of its discovery necessarily entails reference to the professional life of malacologist Wladimir Lobato Paraense. In addition to demonstrating how essential basic biology and taxonomy are in the epidemiology of mansoni schistosomiasis, the study also focuses on the discovery process itself and the socioeconomic factors which influenced it.

Biologia básica e saúde pública: evolução do conhecimento dos Planorbídeos Neotropicais

Pesquisa a evolução do conhecimento dos planorbídeos neotropicais associada a uma trajetória profissional exemplar, criadora da tradição da escola brasileira de malacologia. Ao historiar a produção de Paraense e a construção do conhecimento da Biomphalaria occidentalis, acredito que tanto os fatores de ordem cognitiva, quanto os que se referem às circunstâncias sociais e culturais adquirem importância equivalente na explicação dos fatos científicos e suas repercussões na saúde pública. Procura demonstrar que a contribuição de Paraense pode ser entendida como uma ruptura de paradigma, pela opção da genética como critério de distinção das espécies. Através da história pode-se denunciar a dicotomia externalismo e internalismo, que tem sido tão prejudicial às relações entre os cientistas sociais e das ciências naturais. Menciona influências de tradições institucionais, modelos de pesquisadores e circunstâncias da política de desenvolvimento e financiamento da ciência relevantes paraentender a ambiência em que se conforma a produção científica de Paraense. A convivência com o erro, experiência comum na prática científica, se associa a outro componente essencial, qual seja, retirar as melhores conseqüências oferecidas pelo acaso, como ocorreu no caso da B. occidentalis.

Hay Bilharzia!, by Klock, Ildefonso, and Mateo-Serrano: medical images of poverty and development in Puerto Rico in the 1950s.

From 1940 to 1970 Puerto Rico underwent a dramatic change in its economic, social, political, and medical characteristics. Schistosomiasis (known locally as bilharzia) persisted throughout this period as a nearly intractable problem. In 1954, staff from the Puerto Rico Department of Health, and the Puerto Rico Field Station of the U.S. Communicable Disease Center (now San Juan Laboratories, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) created a set of black and white 35 mm slides as a tool for community education. The presentation, titled "Hay Bilharzia!" ("There is schistosomiasis here!") is organized in four major sections (Introduction, Disease Cycle, Disease Prevention, Treatment). Each section consists of two to four sub-themes, with three to eight slides each. The slides were used extensively in public schools and community lectures. This set of slides is worthy of preservation as evidence of the bilharzia control efforts and the dismal living conditions widely prevalent in Puerto Rico in the 1950s. It is also an example of the educational programs that were produced at the time to stimulate community development and health.

!Hay bilharzia!, by klock, and Mateo-Serrano: Medical images of poverty and development in Puerto

From 1940 to 1970 Puerto Rico underwent a dramatic change in its economic, social, political, and medical characteristics. Schistosomiasis (known locally as bilharzia) persisted throughout this period as a nearly intractable problem. In 1954, staff from the Puerto Rico Department of Health, and the Puerto Rico Field Station of the U.S. Communicable Disease Center (now San Juan Laboratories, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) created a set of black and white 35 mm slides as a tool for community education. The presentation, titled "Hay Bilharzia!" ("There is schistosomiasis here!") is organized in four major sections (Introduction, Disease Cycle, Disease Prevention, Treatment). Each section consists of two to four sub-themes, with three to eight slides each. The slides were used extensively in public schools and community lectures. This set of slides is worthy of preservation as evidence of the bilharzia control efforts and the dismal living conditions widely prevalent in Puerto Rico in the 1950s. It is also an example of the educational programs that were produced at the time to stimulate community development and health

A equistossomose no município de Campinas / The Schistosomiasis in the municipality Campinas

Esquistossomose e urbanização: evolução da esquistossomose mansônica no município de Campinas, Estado de São Paulo-Brasil. A distribuição e a transmissão da esquistossomose mansônica no município de Campinas, SP (Brasil) são correlacionadas com o processo de urbanização. O município de Campinas apresenta elevadas taxas de urbanização e industrialização, sendo a maior cidade de uma região do Estado de São Paulo aonde a esquistossomose se encontra em expansão. A autora faz uma reconstrução histórica da esquistossomose do município, desde a descrição dos primeiros casos autóctones, em 1960. A possibilidade da ocorrência de casos autóctones, não detectada, anteriormente a 1960 é analisada, discutindo-se a hipótese de que a doença ocorresse já no século XIX. As migrações e a evolução urbana de Campinas são discutidas em relação à distribuição das áreas de transmissão da esquistossomose. Estes fenômenos são analisados no contexto do padrão de desenvolvimento sócio-econômico mais geral do país. A transmissão da esquistossomose no município de Campinas pode ser relacionada com o modo de vida de um determinado estrato da sua população provavelmente mais intimamente ligado às suas opções de lazer, como também com a forma de urbanização do município e por fim, com a heterogeneidade da sociedade brasileira.

Brazilian contributions to epidemiological aspects of schistosomiasis mansoni.

A review of epidemiological aspects of endemic areas for schistosomiasis, especially in Brazil, will be presented. These studies, performed by several authors from different states of the country, have been very useful in indicating the relative efficacy of control measures. For example quoting only one aspect, specific treatment was demonstrated by Brazilian researchers to be the most important individual tool for morbidity control. More recently the study of risk factors in endemic areas has been seen to be a very important approach when transmission control is the final goal.

Harmonization of research and control in schistosomiasis.

I have been employed by several different organizations during over 30 years working on schistosomiasis, the majority spent in endemic areas of the Caribbean, South America, Africa and the Western Pacific. Much of the work is best classified as applied research but sometimes it strayed to the extremes of either public health control programmes or pure research. Over this period, there have been several significant research developments that have altered our whole approach to control. Ideally, research and control should complement each other but, in reality, they sometimes have conflicting objectives. Public health workers understandably wish to provide immediate, short-term protection to the communities in their care, but research workers may, within ethical limits, reasonably want to observe untreated communities for extended periods in order to understand the underlying processes of transmission, disease pathogenesis and immunity to help develop more effective control measures. An example of this situation has occurred recently in Senegal where water development projects seem to have favoured the introduction and spread of Schistosoma mansoni in the Senegal River Basin. I have been asked to be the scientific consultant to the newly formed ESPOIR programme, linking European research organizations and the Senegal Ministry of Health, to reconcile the conflicting aims of public health workers, wishing to use whatever funds can be obtained for an immediate chemotherapy to try to eliminate the focus, at present confined to the vicinity of a relatively small, commercially run sugar irrigation scheme; and research workers who see a rare chance to study the development of immune mechanisms in a adults in a community not previously exposed to the infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)