title: Development and Application of Diagnostics in the National Schistosomiasis Control Programme in The People's Republic of China.
abstract: Schistosomiasis, caused by Schistosoma japonicum infection to human, has a documented history of more than 2100years in The People's Republic of China. In spite of great progress in controlling the disease, it is still one of the most serious parasitic diseases in the country. The study and use of diagnostic techniques play an important role in the targeting of chemotherapy that has been continuously applied in the national schistosomiasis control programme for several decades. This paper reviews the development and application of parasitological, immunodiagnostic and molecular diagnostic technology for S. japonicum in The People's Republic of China with a brief mention of diagnostic imagery, such as ultrasound and radiology. When analysing the efficacy and performance characteristics of the main diagnostic techniques in current use, it becomes apparent that approaches that worked well in the past are less suitable now as successful control has shifted the endemic situation towards control and interruption of transmission. The conclusion is that a mutable approach must be adopted choosing the most appropriate diagnostic technique for each control stage (and area), thus modifying the methodology according to the prevailing diagnostic needs in terms of sensitivity and specificity.
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, The People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention (Ministry of Health), Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Wuxi, The People's Republic of China; Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, The People's Republic of China; WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, The People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Geospatial Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergquist
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: L-L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: X-L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, The People's Republic of China; WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, The People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: H-Q
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, The People's Republic of China; Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: L-Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission
keywords: Chemotherapy; Diagnosis; Infection; Morbidity; Programme; Schistosoma japonicum; The People's Republic of China; Transmission