Early warning signs of potential drug resistance in schistosomiasis parasite revealed
Scientists have discovered genetic markers in Schistosoma mansoni parasites that indicate potential resistance to praziquantel, the primary treatment for schistosomiasis. This genomic surveillance provides a critical early warning for global disease control programs.
Why it matters
As praziquantel is the only available treatment for this widespread neglected tropical disease, monitoring resistance is vital for public health.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source Life Cycle of Schistosoma mansoni. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Guido4. Creative Commons Attribution- Share Alike 4.0 International license. http://www.hegasy.de/ Scientists have identified genetic changes in wild populations of the parasitic worm that causes schistosomiasis that may reduce its response to praziquantel, the only available treatment. The study provides an early warning for disease control and elimination programs.
Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) led a large-scale international collaboration analyzing hundreds of Schistosoma mansoni genomes collected from people in several African and Caribbean countries. The study is the largest genomic analysis of the parasite from human infections to date.
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