An integrated environmental improvement of marshlands: impact on control and elimination of schistosomiasis in marshland regions along the Yangtze River, China.
BACKGROUND
Schistosomiasis is a global snail-transmitted infectious disease of poverty. Transmission control had been achieved in China in 2015 after the control efforts for over 60 years. Currently, the remaining core regions endemic for Schistosoma japonicum are mainly located in the marshland and lake regions along the Yangtze River basin.


METHODS
During the period from 2001 through 2015, an integrated environmental improvement of the marshlands was carried out through the implementation of industrial, agricultural and resources development projects in Yizheng County along the Yangtze River. S. japonicum infection in humans, livestock and snails was estimated by serology, stool examination, hatching technique and microscopy during the 15-year study period to evaluate the effect of the integrated environmental improvement on control and elimination of schistosomiasis.


RESULTS
A 0.05% overall rate of S. japonicum infection was observed in snails during the 15-year study period, and no infected snails were detected since 2012. The overall prevalence of S. japonicum infection was 0.09% in humans during the study period, and no human infection was found since 2012. In addition, only 13 bovines were identified with S. japonicum infection in 2003 during the 15-year study period, and since 2004, no infection was found in livestock.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study demonstrate that the implementation of industrial, agricultural and water resources development projects, not only alters snail habitats in marshland regions, and promotes local economic development, which appears a win-to-win strategy to block the transmission of S. japonicum and accelerate socio-economic development along the Yangtze River.
Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasites and Vector Control Technology, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.
Le-Ping
LP
Sun
Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China. wangwei@jipd.com.|Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasites and Vector Control Technology, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China. wangwei@jipd.com.|Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China. wangwei@jipd.com.
Wei
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5709-981X
W
Wang
Yangzhou Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 36 Yanfu East Road, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, 225000, China.
Yin-Ping
YP
Zuo
Yizheng County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, NO. 1 Jiankang Road, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, 211440, China.
Zheng-Qiu
ZQ
Zhang
Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasites and Vector Control Technology, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.
Qing-Biao
QB
Hong
Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasites and Vector Control Technology, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.
Guo-Jing
GJ
Yang
Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasites and Vector Control Technology, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.
Hong-Ru
HR
Zhu
Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasites and Vector Control Technology, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.
You-Sheng
YS
Liang
Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasites and Vector Control Technology, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.|Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214064, China.
Hai-Tao
HT
Yang
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D060740:Disease Eradication; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000469:parasitology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock / Q000469:parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D045483:Rivers; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology; D053833:Wetlands
China; Environmental improvement; Marshland regions; Oncomelania hupensis; Schistosomiasis; Yangtze River basin