Foodborne Trematodes: time to rise from neglected status
6 July 2022
Last update: 06/07/22 14:20
As the global human population approaches the 8 billion mark, it is sobering to think that around one third of these people will be carrying a parasitic helminth (worm) infection. Most of these infections occur in low and middle-income countries where they cause significant health, social and economic problems for those already living in poverty. Amongst the most widespread helminth infections in these areas are the foodborne trematodes (FBTs), also known as flatworms or flukes. These include a striking array of species that, despite showing considerable variation in their life-cycles, pathology and symptoms of disease, share one common feature – they are transmitted via the food we eat. The infectious stage of FBTs is called a metacercaria which is essentially a dormant cyst that is present on or within various foods that humans like to eat. These include freshwater fish, crabs and vegetation and when these are consumed raw, or undercooked (as often occurs with traditional food practices in endemic regions) the cysts are activated leading to infection via the gut.
Despite significant prevalence and a global burden of disease that rivals some better-known conditions (such as tuberculosis and malaria), the FBTs remain understudied, and underfunded, compared with other infectious diseases. Indeed, they are listed amongst the most neglected tropical diseases by the World Health Organisation. Some flukes (e.g., Fasciola sp.) are important parasites of farmed livestock and are also considered zoonotic infections (can spread from animals to humans). Moreover, some FBT infections are linked to the development of cancer which further adds to their impact on human health.
*Dr. Robinson and Dr. Sotillo are Guest Editors on the upcoming Special Issue of Parasitology on foodborne trematodes, expected to publish in September 2022.
Thus, the aim of the special issue* of Parasitology was to illuminate current research on FBT infections. With contributions from leading researchers, many from endemic regions, we revisit some old foes, uncover emerging infections and discover how current research may lead to new ways of controlling FBTs in the future. We hope that this article collection will stimulate discussion and further research on the FBTs and help raise them from their neglected status.
The life-cycle of Fasciola hepatica
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