title: Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS): from case reports to a call for concerted action against this neglected gynaecological disease.
abstract: In recent years, control of neglected tropical diseases has been increasingly gaining momentum and interventions against schistosomiasis are being progressively scaled-up through expansion of donated praziquantel and preventive chemotherapy campaigns. However, the public health importance of female genital schistosomiasis is not fully recognised nor its control is adequately addressed. Taking a clinical and anatomopathological perspective, we evaluated the available literature to highlight the importance of female genital schistosomiasis and its connections with two sexually transmitted infections of global importance, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Human Papilloma Virus. Outside the long list of clinical descriptive reports beginning in 1899, there is presently a shocking gap in epidemiological assessment and a significant underestimation of the burden of FGS remains. The scarcity of integrated approaches to address female genital schistosomiasis calls for more concerted action in its detection, treatment and prevention alongside other concomitant women's health issues, otherwise female genital schistosomiasis will remain a neglected gynaecological disease.
authors.affiliation: Centre International de Recherches, d'Enseignements et de Soins en Milieu Tropical (CIRES), Akonolinga, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Christinet
authors.affiliation: Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Janis K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lazdins-Helds
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.
authors.forename: J Russell
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stothard
authors.affiliation: Merck, Coinsins, Switzerland. Electronic address: jutta.reinhard-rupp@merckgroup.com.
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reinhard-Rupp
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: FGS; Female genital schistosomiasis; Gynaecology; HIV/AIDS; Praziquantel; Urogenital schistosomiasis