History of schistosomiasis (bilharziasis) in humans: from Egyptian medical papyri to molecular biology on mummies

Pathogens and Global Health
Stefano Di BellaRoberto Luzzati

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection that has evolved together with the humankind. Evidence in ancient Egyptian medical papyri or Assyrian medical texts reported signs and symptoms that could resemble schistosomiasis; similarly, some biblical passages describe an epidemic (depicted as a 'curse') that has been hypothesized to be associated with schistosomiasis' spread in Mesopotamia. In the modern era, Theodor Maximilian Bilharz and Patrick Manson (the 'father of tropical medicine') gave an impetus to the knowledge about the parasite and its spread until the present time, when immunoassays and molecular biology on mummies allowed retracing important milestones regarding schistosomiasis' evolution. Schistosomiasis affects more than 200 millions of people worldwide and it is an emblem of how hard it is to prevent, control and treat neglected tropical diseases. Our work reviews the history of schistosomiasis with regard to human infections.

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Citations

Aug 31, 2020·Virulence·Dietmar Steverding
Feb 23, 2021·Frontiers in Immunology·Jacob R Hambrook, Patrick C Hanington
Mar 24, 2021·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Kássia K MaltaRossana C N Melo
Sep 25, 2020·Endoscopy·Alanna EbigboHelmut Messmann
May 4, 2021·Journal of Parasitic Diseases : Official Organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology·Aya Al-NaseriNoha Mahana
May 25, 2021·Gastroenterology Clinics of North America·Annie L BrasethM Nedim Ince
Jul 3, 2021·Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease·Oyime Poise AulaCatherine A Gordon
Jul 3, 2021·Biology·Muhammad Nur Adam HattaHui-Min Neoh
Jul 17, 2021·Clinical Case Reports·Gawahir A AliHamad Abdel Hadi

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