Zhou Xiaonong1,2,  Luz Acosta3, Lydia R. Leonardo4, Chen Minggang1, Gemiliano Aligui3, Feng Zheng1, and Remigio Olveda4

  1. Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, P.R. China
  2. Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, P.R. China
  3. Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Alabang, Muntinlupa, Philippines
  4. College of Public Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines

In Asian, three species of human schistosome are epidemic in six counties, such as Schistosoma japonicum in China, the Philippines, and Indonesia, S. makongi in Laos, Cambodia, and S. malyaia in Malaysia. The unique characteristics of S.japonicum are causing the severer histopathgonsis due to infection of S. japonicum, and of difficult interruption of the transmission since existing more species of animal reservoir hosts. More attention has been paid to the control of schistosomiasis in Asian countries since last century. A lot of experiences in control, research and surveillance have gained in different environmental settles and in different countries, but lack of the exchanges or communication between countries in terms of scientific views. In order to strengthen the communication among scientists, a working group for The Regional Network on Asian Schistosomiasis (RNAS) was originally organized in the International Symposium on Schistosomiasis in September 1998 in Wuxi, China, consisting of 8 Chinese experts, 4 Philippines experts and 10 international advisors. The main tasks of RNAS working group are to 1) locate funding opportunities for research on surveillance and control of S.japonicum transmission in humans and animals; 2) disseminate information about ongoing research and training opportunities; 3) develop standardized protocols for infection and disease surveillance; 4) evaluate current control strategies; 5) share plans for new studies and explore potential for international collaborations.

With these proposed ideas, the working group was held its first meeting in the Philippines in 2000 with the support of WHO/TDR under a collaboration project on Establishment of a Regional Network for Research, Surveillance and Control of Asian Schistosomiasis (RNAS), led by principal investigator Dr Feng Zhen, Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Academy Preventive Medicine, and co-chaired by Dr Remigio Olveda, Research Institute of Tropical Medicine, the Philippines. With more progress of the RNAS, the second meeting was held in China in 2001, in which the working group was enlarged with more scientists from Asian countries involved in. The main progresses of RNAS during last 2 years are described as follows in order to attract more scientists or international agencies to contribute more to the sustained development of RNAS.