22nd August,2013
Sharon, MA ,USA
Sharon, MA ,USA
Work on schistosomiasis ,under tropical diseases, was carried out since discovery of its etiological agent in 1851 by Theoder Bilharz .However, a great impetus was given to research in 1975 when World Health Organization took the disease in its umbrella under TDR program and encouraged scientists to find out effective diagnosis and treatment of the ailment . Sadly, no attention was paid on animal schistosomiasis except considering them as transmitters.
India was the place where work on schistosomiasis was started in 1982 when Cobbold reported its presence in two bullocks in Calcutta and work continued ,thereafter.
I was trained by late Professor S C Dutt on Schistosomes in 1970s in the department of Parasitology, Veterinary College, Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture University, Jabalpur hence I decided to work on heterologous schistosome immunity for my doctorate program and this was completed in 1978. During this period, I noticed every student in the department is taking thesis problem on schistosome immunity by altering one or other parameter without having concern with other schistosome problems .Till that time, nasal schistosomiasis was considered main problem, widely prevalent throughout India (an all India coordinated project on nasal schistosomiasis was operating in Chennai under late Dr VS Alwar) while hepatic form was neglected with the presumption of its lower prevalence and minor pathology . This neglect was based, wrongly , on the grounds that Schistosoma incognitum is non- pathogenic even to its main host-pig , S.indicum causes liver nodules only in equines -the species having little social significance- while not much was known of S.spindale ,S.nairi, Orientobilharzia dattai ,O. bomfordi .
India was the place where work on schistosomiasis was started in 1982 when Cobbold reported its presence in two bullocks in Calcutta and work continued ,thereafter.
I was trained by late Professor S C Dutt on Schistosomes in 1970s in the department of Parasitology, Veterinary College, Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture University, Jabalpur hence I decided to work on heterologous schistosome immunity for my doctorate program and this was completed in 1978. During this period, I noticed every student in the department is taking thesis problem on schistosome immunity by altering one or other parameter without having concern with other schistosome problems .Till that time, nasal schistosomiasis was considered main problem, widely prevalent throughout India (an all India coordinated project on nasal schistosomiasis was operating in Chennai under late Dr VS Alwar) while hepatic form was neglected with the presumption of its lower prevalence and minor pathology . This neglect was based, wrongly , on the grounds that Schistosoma incognitum is non- pathogenic even to its main host-pig , S.indicum causes liver nodules only in equines -the species having little social significance- while not much was known of S.spindale ,S.nairi, Orientobilharzia dattai ,O. bomfordi .
Under these circumstances , I decided to understand Indian Schistosomes and schistosomiasis more comprehensibly by tackling different problems, related to it .Fortunately, Jabalpur is possessing good slaughter houses- one for large animals and other for small animals- these greatly helped my work.
Interest in schistosomiasis was fading in medical fraternity assuming it a problem ,confined to Gimvi village of Ratnagiri district. However,with advancing the work, I developed the opinion, that it is not correct to consider man refractory to existing Indian species of Schistosomes as reports were coming of finding its eggs in man in some parts of the country. If we add hybridization and emergence of new strains/sub-species among Schistosomes, with the possibility of lowering immune status of man due to ailments like tuberculosis,HIV ,malnutrition ,it is unwise not to attend this problem particularly when cercarial dermatitis was observed a common rural health problem all over India .
But, the greatest problem was lying in livestock industry where every domestic species ,in every state of India, was found infected with one or other schistosome species ,causing not only production losses but considerable mortality. Outbreaks due to schistosomiasis were recorded in cattle and sheep , leading to 50% mortality -a great loss by all means . Even sudden death was recorded in piglets due to immature Schistosomes refuting earlier reports. Obviously, the question was why previous workers could not appreciate the problem (hepatic form) or why it is neglected by the field veterinarians. A simple answer emerged in the way of diagnosing hepatic schistosomiasis ; its symptoms (diarrhea, dysentery, anemia ,bottle jaw ,weight loss etc) are non-specific and fecal examination (direct smear or salt flotation ) did not reveal schistosome eggs . We showed that such fecal examination may reveal only 1-2% infections (hatching method 8-20%) while in realty the prevalence rate might be 70-90% . The routine post-mortem also fails to recover blood flukes from dead animals. This prompted me to write how hepatic schistosomiasis has been underestimated in whole of South Asia .To complicate present problem, Praziquentel, the trusted drug, is not only expensive but proved not significantly effective against Indian schistosomes . There were other problems also in dealing schistosomiasis. In short :-
- Its intriguing that international Schistosome laboratories are located in some European countries with absence of the infection ,while India with maximum mammalian schistosome species, has no such facility thereby curtailing research funding and man power .
- No data on schistosomiasis could be obtained from State Veterinary Departments or Central Government , as it is not compiled at any level .
- Analysis of patient record sheet in veterinary hospitals for occurrence of schistosomiasis or any disease for that matter, is difficult due to faulty recording and required changes .
- Research on schistosomiasis required development of more accurate and specific techniques . We developed techniques for breeding snails in large number, infecting them and animals. recovering flukes by new methods of perfusion technique etc which may be followed by any laboratory with minimum finances.
- Ironically ,it is the poor, rural persons who are suffering most in both ways- himself and because of his animals- and they have least to say in policy matters.
- So far, only human schistosomiasis is paid due attention .Why animal schistosomiasis is neglected globally though it is causing considerable animal losses-so important to poor rural persons.
- Though work on schistosomes and schistosomiasis was being carried out in whole of South Asia since more than 100 years, yet there was no book on this topic.
What is the way out to attract attention of international scientists, administrators ,policy makers on Schistosomes and schistosomiasis of this region for a scientist with no political or financial clout ? Particularly when he is presuming same happenings in other infected African and Asian countries ? The best way was to write a book covering all these and other aspects and this is what exactly I did. I selected a global publisher Springer who came forward to spread my message in the book form (ISBN 9788132205388) and the book is available in every country (www.springer.com) . I am confident that this book will be of tremendous help to all as it not only contains enormous information on Schistosomes and schistosomiasis of South Asia but also a critical analysis and dealing pertinent problems I am not aware if there is any other book on Veterinary schistosomiasis dealing any other geographical region (please inform,if any). It will be my pleasure if any Government ,Organisation, University of any country is willing to take my services for understanding schistosomiasis in their country so that the infection may be understood well in that country.
