Schistosomiasis and Schistosome Diversity in Nepal

Nepal is in the center of two large countries for which we have some information about schistosomiasis and the diversity of schistosomes found in mammals and birds, but not in Nepal. Nepal remains understudied, despite a putative case of human schistosomiasis in an area where neither the worm nor the snail is found. Nepal and India in particular have a diversity of mammalian schistosomes, but typically not those that infect humans, dues to the absence of the intermediate host of human transmitted schistosomes. The aim of this study is to collect snails from several localities around Nepal, both in protected parks and rural areas to determine the major diversity of schistosomes. Thus far there have been 2 avian schistosome and 4 mammalian schistosome species collected. MSB Parasites at the completion of this study will have the largest holding of a diversity of central Asian schistosomes.