Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39593081›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2024

Impact of chemical snail control on intermediate host snail populations for urogenital schistosomiasis elimination in Pemba, Tanzania: findings of a 3-year intervention study.

Lydia Trippler, Said Mohammed Ali, Msanif Othman Masoud, Zahor Hamad Mohammed, Amour Khamis Amour, Khamis Rashid Suleiman, Shaali Makame Ame, Fatma Kabole, Jan Hattendorf, Stefanie Knopp

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Parasites & vectors, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. An alien intermediate host snail,International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Lydia TripplerSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Said Mohammed AliPublic Health Laboratory-Ivo de Carneri, Chake-Chake, Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania.
Msanif Othman MasoudDepartment of Preventive Services and Health Education, Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Chake-Chake, Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania.
Zahor Hamad MohammedNeglected Diseases Program, Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Chake-Chake, Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania.
Amour Khamis AmourPublic Health Laboratory-Ivo de Carneri, Chake-Chake, Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania.
Khamis Rashid SuleimanPublic Health Laboratory-Ivo de Carneri, Chake-Chake, Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania.
Shaali Makame AmeNeglected Diseases Program, Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Zanzibar Town, Unguja, United Republic of Tanzania.
Fatma KaboleNeglected Diseases Program, Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Zanzibar Town, Unguja, United Republic of Tanzania.
Jan HattendorfSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Stefanie KnoppSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland. s.knopp@swisstph.ch.

Funding

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung PR00P3_179753 / 1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) has set the goal of eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem globally by 2030 and to interrupt transmission in selected areas. Chemical snail control is one important measure to reduce transmission and achieve local elimination. We aimed to assess the impact of several rounds of chemical snail control on the presence and number of the Schistosoma haematobium intermediate snail host (Bulinus spp.) in water bodies (WBs) on Pemba Island, Tanzania, a setting targeted for elimination of urogenital schistosomiasis.

methodsDuring the three annual intervention periods of the SchistoBreak study implemented in the north of Pemba from 2020 to 2024, malacological surveys were conducted up to four times per period in WBs of hotspot implementation units (IUs). Present freshwater snail species, vegetation, and WB characteristics were recorded. If Bulinus were found, the snails were inspected for Schistosoma infection and snail control with niclosamide was conducted.

resultsAcross the three intervention periods, a total of 112 WBs were identified in 8 hotspots IUs. The spatial distribution of WBs with Bulinus per IU was heterogeneous, ranging from 0.0% (0/15) of WBs infested in one IU in 2022 to 80.0% (8/10) of WBs infested in one IU in 2021. Bulinus presence was significantly associated with lower pH values in WBs (odds ratio: 0.2, 95% confidence interval 0.1-0.4). A total of 0.2% (6/2360) of collected Bulinus were shedding Schistosoma cercariae. Following snail control, the number of Bulinus decreased or remained absent in 56.7% (38/67) of visits at WBs when compared with the previous visit in 2021, 54.9% (28/51) in 2022, and 33.3% (32/96) in 2023. In a total of 43.1% (22/55) of initially infested WBs, no Bulinus were found in the survey round conducted a few weeks after the first application of niclosamide. However, 25.4% (14/55) of WBs showed a pattern of recurring Bulinus presence.

conclusionsThe distribution of WBs containing Bulinus was very heterogeneous. The percentage of Bulinus with patent Schistosoma infection in our study area was extremely low. Repeated niclosamide application reduced the number of Bulinus in WBs, but snails often recurred after one or multiple treatments. While chemical mollusciciding can reduce snail numbers, to fully break the S. haematobium transmission cycle, timely diagnosis and treatment of infected humans, access to clean water, sanitation, and health communication remain of prime importance.

trial registrationISRCTN, ISRCTN91431493. Registered 11 February. 2020, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN91431493.

Indexed as

BulinusNiclosamideSchistosoma haematobiumSchistosomiasis haematobiaAnimalsDisease EradicationFresh WaterHumansSnailsTanzaniaNiclosamideBulinusControlEliminationMolluscicideNiclosamideSchistosomaSnailTanzania

Identifiers

PMID39593081
PMCPMC11590614

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.