Study sheds light on snail fever

Scientists have identified a key part of the immune response to snail fever, an infection common in developing countries.

Researchers studied this response in mice infected with snail fever parasites.

They found that a particular type of immune cell, known as the dendritic cell, is responsible for triggering the immune system’s defence against the invading parasite.

Snail fever, also known as bilharzia, is a water-borne potentially fatal disease caused by flukes, or parasitic worms, found in freshwater snails in the tropics.

The development, by scientists at the University, could point towards new avenues of research into treatments for the long term infection caused by the condition.
Chronic disease

Common in Asia, Africa and South America, the condition causes chronic illness that can damage internal organs and impair growth and brain development in children.

The disease commonly affects tourists who kayak or swim in infected waters.

Snail fever is second only to malaria in terms of its devastating social and economic impact.

The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, was carried out in collaboration with the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg.

It was funded by the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust.

"Until now, we were unsure which of the many cells found in the immune system were crucial to fighting this parasite. We now know that dendritic cells are key to the process. If we can manipulate this immune response, we stand a chance of targeting the widespread suffering and chronic illness caused by this infection" says Dr Andrew MacDonald.
 
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