Papers of the Week

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by blood flukes ( spp.). Schistosomatids affect a wide array of vertebrate hosts, including humans. In the present study, multiple species of schistosomatids were identified by isolating schistosomatid cercariae (SC) from naturally infected snails. We also described different biotic and abiotic factors influencing SC infections in snails and reported human cercarial dermatitis (HCD) for the first time in Bangladesh. A total of 22,012 snails of seven species: , . , , , , spp., and spp., were collected and examined. Among these snails, 581 (2.6%) belonging to five species: . , . , . , . , and . , were infected with SC. The rate of infection was the highest for . (11.1%), followed by . (5.3%), and was the lowest for . (0.4%). Prevalence in snails was the highest in September (16.8%), followed by October (9.5%) and November (8.8%), and was the lowest in colder months, such as January (1.8%) and February (2.1%). Infections with schistosomatids were more common in larger snails and snails collected from sunny areas. We confirmed the presence of , . , . , . , and by PCR and sequencing. Through a questionnaire survey, we detected HCD in 214 (53.5%) individuals, and the infection rate was almost equally distributed across all professions. Collectively, the present results suggest that lymnaeid snails are the main vector for spp. prevalent in Bangladesh, and schistosomatids with zoonotic potential are also prevalent.