Prediction of the potential global distribution for Biomphalaria straminea, an intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Schistosomiasis is a snail-borne parasitic disease and is endemic in many tropical and subtropical countries. Biomphalaria straminea, an intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni, is native to the southeastern part of South America and has established in other regions of South America, Central America and southern China during the last decades. S. mansoni is endemic in Africa, the Middle East, South America and the Caribbean. Knowledge of the potential global distribution of this snail is essential for risk assessment, monitoring, disease prevention and control.

Methods and findings

A comprehensive database of cross-continental occurrence for B. straminea was compiled to construct ecological models. We used several approaches to investigate the distribution of B.

SUBMITTER: Yang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5993297 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature