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Agrochemicals increase risk of human schistosomiasis by supporting higher densities of intermediate hosts

Author

Listed:
  • Neal T. Halstead

    (University of South Florida
    Wildlands Conservation, Inc.)

  • Christopher M. Hoover

    (University of California, Berkeley)

  • Arathi Arakala

    (Monash University
    RMIT University)

  • David J. Civitello

    (Emory University)

  • Giulio A. Leo

    (Stanford University
    Stanford University)

  • Manoj Gambhir

    (Monash University
    Global Services Australia Pvt. Ltd.)

  • Steve A. Johnson

    (University of Florida)

  • Nicolas Jouanard

    (Centre de Recherche Biomédicale Espoir pour la Santé)

  • Kristin A. Loerns

    (University of South Florida)

  • Taegan A. McMahon

    (University of Tampa)

  • Raphael A. Ndione

    (Centre de Recherche Biomédicale Espoir pour la Santé)

  • Karena Nguyen

    (University of South Florida)

  • Thomas R. Raffel

    (Oakland University)

  • Justin V. Remais

    (University of California, Berkeley)

  • Gilles Riveau

    (Centre de Recherche Biomédicale Espoir pour la Santé
    CIIL – Institut Pasteur de Lille)

  • Susanne H. Sokolow

    (Stanford University
    Stanford University)

  • Jason R. Rohr

    (University of South Florida)

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a snail-borne parasitic disease that ranks among the most important water-based diseases of humans in developing countries. Increased prevalence and spread of human schistosomiasis to non-endemic areas has been consistently linked with water resource management related to agricultural expansion. However, the role of agrochemical pollution in human schistosome transmission remains unexplored, despite strong evidence of agrochemicals increasing snail-borne diseases of wildlife and a projected 2- to 5-fold increase in global agrochemical use by 2050. Using a field mesocosm experiment, we show that environmentally relevant concentrations of fertilizer, a herbicide, and an insecticide, individually and as mixtures, increase densities of schistosome-infected snails by increasing the algae snails eat and decreasing densities of snail predators. Epidemiological models indicate that these agrochemical effects can increase transmission of schistosomes. Identifying agricultural practices or agrochemicals that minimize disease risk will be critical to meeting growing food demands while improving human wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Neal T. Halstead & Christopher M. Hoover & Arathi Arakala & David J. Civitello & Giulio A. Leo & Manoj Gambhir & Steve A. Johnson & Nicolas Jouanard & Kristin A. Loerns & Taegan A. McMahon & Raphael A, 2018. "Agrochemicals increase risk of human schistosomiasis by supporting higher densities of intermediate hosts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03189-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03189-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrea J. Lund & David Lopez-Carr & Susanne H. Sokolow & Jason R. Rohr & Giulio A. De Leo, 2021. "Agricultural Innovations to Reduce the Health Impacts of Dams," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-8, February.

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