Schistosomiasis: nutritional implications

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Nutritional Science
• Immunology

Background:

• Studies on nutrition and schistosomiasis often use animal models.
• Severe malnutrition, particularly calorie deprivation, can alleviate schistosomiasis in experimental animals during acute infection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of nutritional status on schistosomiasis pathogenesis in humans.
• To determine the safety and efficacy of nutritional interventions in individuals with schistosomiasis.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on nutrition and schistosomiasis interactions.
• Analysis of disease presentation and nutritional status in different age groups affected by schistosomiasis.

Main Results:

• Severe malnutrition is rare in heavily infected adult populations, unlike in young individuals.
• Nutritional rehabilitation in malnourished children with schistosomiasis is unlikely to exacerbate immune-mediated disease.
• Heavy Schistosoma mansoni infection causes nutritional losses and severe disease.

Conclusions:

• Nutritional interventions for schistosomiasis can be implemented independently of infection prevalence.
• Reducing infection intensity, not necessarily achieving a complete cure, can correct adverse effects of schistosomiasis.
• Mass chemotherapy is recommended for heavily infected populations to mitigate nutritional and disease burdens.