Schistosomiasis and Infertility: What Do We Know?

There is increasing attention on the complex interactions occurring between schistosome parasites and their hosts. However, little is known about the occurrence, epidemiology, and mechanisms of schistosomiasis-associated infertility. In this article, we argue that an in-depth understanding of the interplay between parasites and the host endocrine system may significantly enhance current knowledge of infertility in infected individuals. We discuss the basic hormonal mechanisms that may lead to the discovery of entirely novel anthelmintic interventions against schistosomiasis. In spite of a plethora of epidemiological evidence supporting a key role for schistosome infection for infertility, little is known about the mechanisms of their association. To date, one of the few well characterized mechanisms by which schistosomes interact with their hosts is the estrogenic imbalance and downregulation of the estrogen receptor. Remarkably, our understanding of this mechanism has already been successfully studied in cancer-associated schistosomiasis. The relentless advancement in molecular studies, together with the discovery of novel biomarkers, provide unprecedented opportunities to investigate schistosomiasis and exploit parasite–host relationships for the development of novel strategies of disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]