Gastropod-Borne Helminths: A Look at the Snail–Parasite Interplay

More than 300 million people suffer from a range of diseases caused by gastropod-borne helminths, predominantly flatworms and roundworms, whose life cycles are characterized by a diversified ecology and epidemiology. Despite the plethora of data on these parasites, very little is known of the fundamental biology of their gastropod intermediate hosts, or of the interactions occurring at the snail–helminth interface. In this article, we focus on schistosomes and metastrongylids of human and animal significance, and review current knowledge of snail–parasite interplay. Future efforts aimed at elucidating key elements of the biology and ecology of the snail intermediate hosts, together with an improved understanding of snail–parasite interactions, will aid to identify, plan, and develop new strategies for disease control focused on gastropod intermediate hosts.

TrendsGastropod-borne parasites are agents of illness in animals and humans. The number of case reports is likely to increase in the near future owing to global travel and climate change.A wealth of data is currently available on the relationships between key trematode parasites and their snail hosts. Conversely, the fundamental biological relationships between gastropods and nematode parasites are increasingly being elucidated.The application of advanced omics technologies, together with data on snail–helminth fundamental biology, could lead to the development of integrated strategies for the control of gastropod-borne diseases.