Schistosomiasis research at the NHM

Research at the NHM
Schistosomiasis research at the Natural History Museum originated with the seminal work of the malacologist Chris Wright, who studied the systematics of African freshwater snails, including species which are intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis. This research base continues today, and has widened to cover research questions such as host-parasite interactions, parasite genetics and hybridisation between schistosome species.

The relationship between schistosomes and snails is very specific and therefore accurate identifications of both host and parasite are vital to understand both the epidemiology of the disease and where transmission is occurring. One of the main foci of our research is into host–parasite relationships and how they impact upon patterns of infection. The NHM group currently is collaborating with local agency teams in Sub-saharan Africa who carry out research alongside control programmes. Much of the research is focussed on which control methods (or treatment regimes) are most effective in countries endemic for the disease.