title: Three Gorges Dam and its impact on the potential transmission of schistosomiasis in regions along the Yangtze River.
abstract: Large-scale hydroprojects have a propensity for incurring schistosomiasis epidemics by altering the environments of their vicinities. As the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, one of the world's largest hydroprojects to date, draws near its conclusion, an assessment of the dam's capacity in causing schistosomiasis becomes more urgent and pressing. This article reviews recent investigations into the possible effects of the dam on schistosomiasis in the Three Gorges region and areas along the Yangtze downstream from the dam. Data used in this article were extracted from peer-reviewed papers found in PubMed, Chinese Journal of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, and Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control. Results indicate that the Three Gorges Dam is capable of inducing a wide variety of environmental and ecological changes both within the Three Gorges region and in downstream areas. These changes, however, carry ambivalent implications for the reproduction of Oncomelania snails and the spreading of schistosome infections. Furthermore, major changes in the demographics and agricultural practices of the Three Gorges and downstream Yangtze areas caused by the dam could also exert significant influence on the transmission of schistosomiasis in these regions. Major conclusions of this review include the need for further ecological simulations of the Three Gorges Dam and the need for deploying monitoring and intervention systems to provide successful prophylaxis of the Three Gorges Dam-associated schistosomiasis emergence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Etiologic Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Huai-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiao-Nong
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004779:Environment Design; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D005843:Geography; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D045483:Rivers / Q000469:parasitology*; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000254:growth & development*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D012908:Snails / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*; D014887:Weather
references.citation: Int J Parasitol. 2000 Mar;30(3):273-81
references.pmid: 10719120
references.citation: Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 2004 Jul;25(7):559-63
references.pmid: 15308032
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1982 Jan;31(1):92-9
references.pmid: 7058983
references.citation: J Trop Med Hyg. 1990 Feb;93(1):12-21
references.pmid: 2106038
references.citation: Sci Am. 2005 Jul;293(1):21-2
references.pmid: 16008285
references.citation: Sci Total Environ. 1998 May 27;216(3):193-203
references.pmid: 9646528
references.citation: Parasitol Today. 1997 Apr;13(4):152-5
references.pmid: 15275103
references.citation: Zhongguo Ji Sheng Chong Xue Yu Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi. 2006 Jun;24(3):236-40
references.pmid: 17094632
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1997 Sep;57(3):302-8
references.pmid: 9311640
references.citation: Zhongguo Ji Sheng Chong Xue Yu Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi. 2001;19(4):225-8
references.pmid: 12571971
references.citation: Zhongguo Ji Sheng Chong Xue Yu Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi. 1999;17(4):252-5
references.pmid: 12563781
references.citation: Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2000 Jun;94(4):333-41
references.pmid: 10945043
references.citation: Acta Trop. 2001 Apr 27;79(1):97-106
references.pmid: 11378146
references.citation: Acta Trop. 2005 Nov-Dec;96(2-3):67-8
references.pmid: 16125656