Change patterns of oncomelanid snail burden in areas within the Yangtze River drainage after the three gorges dam operated
Abstract
An “integrated control” strategy has been implemented within 7 provinces at highest risk for schistosomiasis along Yangtze River in Peoples’ Republic of China (P. R. China) since 2004. Since Oncomelania hupensis is the only intermediate host of the blood fluke (Schistosoma japonicum), controlling the distribution of snails is considered an essential and effective way to reduce the risk of schistosomiasis infection. The study aimed to determine the snail area burden and annual trend among provinces with potential risk for schistosomiasis along the Yangtze River, above and below the Three Gorges Dam (TGD). This research was supported by the UK Department for International Development’s Operational Research Capacity Building Programme led by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union)