Schistosomiasis: Life Cycle, Diagnosis, and Control

Highlights • Three main schistosomiasis species can infect humans; S. haematobium, S. japonicum, and S. mansoni.• The parasites life cycle includes two kind of reproduction; asexual reproduction in snails and sexual reproduction in mammals.• Multiple diagnostic techniques are used.• Currently praziquantel is the only drug therapy approved for control of schistosomiasis but other promising candidate drugs (e.g. SpAE, and ruthenium compounds) are being tested.• A number of vaccine candidates exist including SmCB1, SjAChE, and SmCB.• Genetic manipulations are being investigated.