Schistosomes and Snails in Egypt
Schistosomiasis has been a significant public health problem in Egypt since the time of the Pharaohs, and today in the Nile Delta Schistosoma mansoni is still commonly transmitted by Biomphalaria alexandrina (Schistosome basics). Recent years have witnessed the introduction of B. glabrata into the Delta, very likely as a result of an accidental introduction from a schistosomiasis research laboratory. In collaboration with Dr. Wael Lotfy of the Medical Research Institute in Alexandria, we recently have used molecular techniques to sample several populations of Biomphalaria snails recovered all the way from the Delta south to Aswan. All of these populations proved to show molecular markers considered typical of the indigenous B. alexandrina, suggesting that B. glabrata has not become common in Egypt (Abstract) (Abstract).
We will be examining populations of S. mansoni recovered from Egypt to determine if there are any signs of emerging resistance to praziquantel. We will use an in vitro assay to assess the responses of miracidia of S. mansoni to the drug.
We thank the U.S.–Egypt Joint Science and Technology Fund for their support of this work.
Updated June 2006
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