Advancing schistosomiasis surveillance: standardization and application of an environmental DNA (eDNA)-based approach for detecting Schistosoma mansoni in Brazil.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Schistosoma sp. transmission is linked to water bodies, poor sanitation, and the presence of intermediate hosts. Nevertheless, parasite detection in snails is hampered by challenges in snail sampling and low infection rates, mainly in moderate and low-endemic areas, as well as requiring specialized personnel and being time-consuming. Thus, there is a need to improve tools to assist schistosomiasis surveillance and an environmental DNA (eDNA) approach may help to overcome these limitations. Here, we standardized and used an eDNA-based approach to monitor Schistosoma mansoni occurrence in two schistosomiasis endemic areas from Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Methods

The eDNA approach was standardized for local conditions by evaluating the specificity of the qPCR assay in dete

SUBMITTER: Gava SG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12079815 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature