Past Event! Note: this event has already taken place.
George R. Carmody Lecture with Dr. Joanne P. Webster
March 17, 2017 at 5:30 PM
| Location: | 2200 (Formerly River Building) Richcraft Hall |
| Cost: | Free |
| Audience: | Alumni, Anyone, Carleton Community, Current Students, Faculty, Media, Prospective Students, Staff, Staff and Faculty |
| Key Contact: | Andrew Simons |
| Contact Email: | AndrewMSimons@cunet.carleton.ca |
| Contact Phone: | 613-520-2600 Ex. 3869 |
Epidemiology and evolution of zoonotic schistosomiasis in a changing world
with Dr. Joanne P. Webster
Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Abstract: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease of profound medical and veterinary importance, which has attracted increased focus and funding for control since the Millennium. However, despite shifts in global health policy towards the implementation of mass chemotherapeutic control programmes (aimed at school-aged children) at the national scale in sub-Saharan Africa, including those expanding out from morbidity control to potential ‘elimination as a public health problem’ in selected countries or regions, challenges remain and novel challenges have emerged. Knowledge on how the phenotype and genotype of Schistosoma spp. populations change in response to praziquantel pressure has important implications for the success of control programmes wherever mass chemotherapy is implemented. A major concern is the potential for reduced drug efficacy and/or the evolution of praziquantel resistance. However, changes in drug efficacy may not be the only explanation for apparent treatment failures and ongoing high transmission in areas of high drug coverage. Here I present data from a series of field and laboratory research on schistosomes of humans, livestock and wildlife across Africa and Asia under contrasting treatment histories and habitat selection pressures. Such research incorporates cutting edge developments in parasitological diagnostic tools and statistical analyses, and from parasite population genetics to genomics. I discuss the results to date in terms of their theoretical and applied implications and applications.