Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future | Environmental Health | Full Text

  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7

  Cercarial dermatitis, colloquially swimmers itch, is a rash contracted in natural bodies of water, when people are exposed to skin-penetrating, larval flatworm parasites of the family Schistosomatidae, that emerge from aquatic snails. […] Swimmers itch is a globally-distributed, allergic condition, of which we know very little regarding local dynamics of transmission. […] Over 3800 cases of swimmers itch were captured across Canada by the self-reporting surveillance system. […] Swimmers itch cases were reported from every province except Prince Edward Island. […] A review and comparison to the literature has highlighted several knowledge gaps surrounding schistosome species, host species and their distributions and contributions towards swimmers itch. […] Swimmers itch is a greater environmental health hazard across Canada than previous literature would have alluded.

• #2 Swimmer’s itch: What causes this neglected snail-borne disease? | ScienceDaily

  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/09/220914102234.htm

  Cercarial dermatitis, also known as swimmer’s itch or clam-digger’s itch, is caused by the larvae of blood flukes that are parasites of birds or mammals. […] Between August and October 2020, a cercarial dermatitis outbreak with 359 confirmed cases occurred in Chana district, Songkhla Province, South Thailand. […] „The study of intermediate host and definitive host in the outbreak area are important for the control program of snail-borne disease,” the researchers argue in their research paper, which was published in the open-access scientific journal Evolutionary Systematics. […] „Additionally, these species of the S. indicum group primarily cause cercarial dermatitis in humans, which has become an important public health issue for people living in endemic regions.” […] „The results of this study will provide insights into the parasite species that cause cercarial dermatitis and may improve our understanding of public health problems in the outbreak and agricultural vicinity areas,” the authors of the study say.

• #3 Swimmer’s Itch: Incidence and Risk Factors

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1448328/

  Swimmers itch (cercarial dermatitis) affects people engaged in open-water activities. We report incidence and risk factors for a US lake. Incidence of swimmers itch was 6.8 episodes per 100 water exposure days. Further epidemiological studies will help public health agencies address this bothersome problem at recreational lakes. […] Epidemiological studies are rare. We conducted a prospective study at a Michigan lake to obtain an incidence rate and identify risk factors for swimmers itch. […] The swimmers itch incidence rate was 6.8 episodes per 100 water-exposure days (89 episodes; 95% confidence interval = 5.5, 8.2). […] Significant factors for incidence of swimmers itch for water-exposure days (n = 1300) are shown in Table 1. Key bivariate risks were any shallow-water use, location, and preventive action.

• #4 Prospective study of swimmer’s itch incidence and severity – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15357056/

  This epidemiologic study reports incidence, severity, and risk factors of swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis). […] Incidence of swimmer’s itch was 6.8 episodes per 100 water-exposure days. […] In sum, onset and severity of swimmer’s itch are affected by how people interact with the lake, not by their demographic features. […] More studies of human incidence and severity are needed to convince public health agencies to address this problem at recreational lakes. […] Study designs that combine epidemiologic and biological data will simultaneously inform public health education and biological control programs.

• #5 Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future | Environmental Health | Full Text

  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7

  The current study confirms and significantly expands upon our understanding of the distribution of swimmers itch across Canada. […] Swimmers itch, today, remains a non-reportable condition by national health authorities. […] This issue highlights an important knowledge gap that should be considered in the future for swimmers itch surveillance efforts and policy: we need a better understanding of the true prevalence of swimmers itch and how that translates into effects on the recreational choices individuals make and potential downstream effects on cultural values that may have important economic impacts. […] There are several areas in need of further research and development. First is the need for an accurate and sensitive method to monitor for the presence of schistosome cercariae in the water, as snail collections have proven to be an inefficient and ineffective method for surveillance.

• #6 Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection | Parasites & Vectors | Full Text

  https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-024-06218-4

  Swimmer’s itch, an allergic contact dermatitis caused by avian and mammalian blood flukes, is a parasitic infection affecting people worldwide. […] In the last few decades, there has been an increase in case reports across Europe, making it an emerging zoonosis. […] The presence of T. regenti in Belgium might have severe clinical implications and its finding highlights the need for increased vigilance and diagnostic awareness among medical professionals. […] Overall, these findings demonstrate the need for a Belgian framework to rapidly detect and monitor zoonotic outbreaks of trematode parasites within the One Health context. […] Swimmers itch is considered an emerging cosmopolitan condition affecting human health and leading to economic losses due to the closing of recreational areas.

• #7 Swimmer’s itch – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimmer%27s_itch

  Swimmer’s itch is common in freshwater, brackish and marine habitats worldwide. The incidence of this condition may be increasing, although this may be attributed to better monitoring and reporting. Nevertheless, the condition is considered to be an emerging infectious disease. […] Studies of infested lakes and outbreaks in Europe and North America have found cases where infection risk appears to be evenly distributed around the margins of water bodies as well as instances where risk increases in endemic swimmer’s itch „hotspots”. […] Public education of risk factors, a good alternative to the aforementioned interventionist strategies, can also reduce human exposure to cercariae.

• #8 Swimmer’s Itch (Cercarial Dermatitis) – MN Dept. of Health

  https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/swimitch/index.html

  Swimmer’s itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months. […] Anyone who swims or wades in infested water may be at risk. […] Swimmer’s itch is not contagious and cannot be spread from one person to another. […] To reduce the likelihood of developing swimmer’s itch: Do not swim in areas where swimmer’s itch is a known problem or where signs have been posted warning of unsafe water.

• #9 About Swimmer’s Itch | Swimmer’s Itch (Cercarial Dermatitis) | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/swimmers-itch/about/index.html

  Swimmers itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months. […] Anyone who swims or wades in infested water may be at risk. […] Many factors must be present for swimmers itch to become a problem in water. […] However, there is no way to know how long water may be unsafe. […] The adult parasite lives in the blood of infected animals such as ducks, geese, gulls, swans, and certain mammals such as muskrats and raccoons. […] If the eggs land in or are washed into the water, the eggs hatch, releasing small, free-swimming microscopic larvae. […] If the larvae find one of these snails, they infect the snail, multiply and undergo further development. […] Infected snails release a different type of microscopic larvae (or cercariae, hence the name cercarial dermatitis) into the water.

• #10 Swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis) – Dermatology Advisor

  https://www.dermatologyadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/dermatology/swimmers-itch-cercarial-dermatitis/

  Frequency and duration of open-water activity increases the incidence of swimmers itch. One study reports 6.8 episodes per 100 water exposure days. Swimmers itch occurs worldwide and is commonly observed in bodies of water with on-shore winds. Cases primarily occur in shallow freshwater; however, cases associated with saltwater exposure have also been reported. […] Time of year also affects risk. Warm months may increase intermediate host snail populations leading to increased transmission. Presence of hosts is also an important factor. Resident or migratory birds (definitive hosts), snails (intermediate host), and humans (incidental host) must all be present in order for a person to contract swimmers itch. Children may be at a higher risk due to more exposure to shallow water and they may be less likely to towel dry.

• #11 Swimmer’s Itch – Green Lake County, WI

  https://www.greenlakecountywi.gov/swimmers-itch/

  There have been some reports of swimmers itch from individuals swimming in Green Lake over the 4th of July. […] Swimmers itch may be prevalent among bathers in lakes in many parts of the world, including the Great Lakes region of North America and certain coastal beaches. […] The first outbreaks usually occur in late May or early June. The outbreaks in Wisconsin may last from 2-weeks in the northern lakes to a month in the southern lakes. In some lakes it may last the entire summer. […] Toweling off immediately after swimming or wading in infested water can be very helpful in preventing rash development.

• #12

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-016-5060-z

  After numerous reports the local press about the stinging water in created on the Dziercinka RiverWater Valley reservoir and recognizing in bathers the symptoms of swimmers itch, environmental study on the presence of bird schistosome larvae in snail hosts was conducted. […] It is worth underlining that despite the low prevalence of bird schistosomes, the high number of released cercariae was sufficient to create a real threat of swimmers itch in bathers. […] In view of the real risk of people using the waters, tests on presence of the parasites in snail hosts should be included to the standard procedure of security control in bathing places. […] Swimmers itch in Europe is mostly recorded in anthropogenic basins and eutrophic lakes. […] One of the adverse effects of changes in the environment may be the emergence of swimmers itch in people using new recreational waters.

• #13 Swimmer’s itch – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimmer%27s_itch

  Swimmer’s itch is common in freshwater, brackish and marine habitats worldwide. The incidence of this condition may be increasing, although this may be attributed to better monitoring and reporting. Nevertheless, the condition is considered to be an emerging infectious disease. […] Studies of infested lakes and outbreaks in Europe and North America have found cases where infection risk appears to be evenly distributed around the margins of water bodies as well as instances where risk increases in endemic swimmer’s itch „hotspots”. […] Public education of risk factors, a good alternative to the aforementioned interventionist strategies, can also reduce human exposure to cercariae.

• #14 Swimmer’s Itch: Incidence and Risk Factors

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1448328/

  This study found the following risk factors for onset of swimmers itch: amount of water exposure, especially shallow-water use; exposure in several lake zones; and taking preventive action. […] The onset of swimmers itch depends on how humans interact with the lake. Exposures to shallow water and areas with onshore winds are key risks for swimmers itch.

• #15 Researcher Studies Swimmer’s Itch Incidence And Risk Factors | ScienceDaily

  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040520061706.htm

  Exposure to shallow water and areas with onshore winds are key risks for swimmer’s itch, a University of Michigan has concluded. […] Verbrugge examined the incidence and risk factors of swimmer’s itch, the lay term for cercarial dermatitis, caused by parasites in the water. […] When Verbrugge began exploring the epidemiology of swimmer’s itch, she found that most existing research looked at ducks and snails, because the parasite that causes the itch has a two-host life cycle, first involving snails, and later ducks. […] Verbrugge conducted her research at the U-M Biological Station on the shores of Douglas Lake near Pellston. […] Ultimately, Verbrugge found that the more days people spent in the water, the more likely they were to develop swimmer’s itch. […] Also, time spent in water waist deep or shallower increased likelihood of irritation, as did time spent in areas of the lake with onshore, or receiving windswinds that blow in toward shore. […] She hopes additional epidemiological studies will learn what preventive actions are successful.

• #16 Direct onshore wind predicts daily swimmer’s itch (avian schistosome) incidence at a Michigan beach | Parasitology | Cambridge Core

  https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/parasitology/article/direct-onshore-wind-predicts-daily-swimmers-itch-avian-schistosome-incidence-at-a-michigan-beach/926700741BE1DF54B39529120156466B

  Swimmer’s itch (SI) is a painful rash caused by skin penetration by free-swimming infectious cercariae of avian schistosomes, snail-borne helminth parasites related to the causative agents of human schistosomiasis. […] Mixed-effects binomial regression revealed that wind direction, wind speed and time of day were the best predictors of daily SI risk. […] These results suggest that at this beach, direct onshore winds generate a surface-water current that causes SI cercariae to aggregate in the shallow waters used by swimmers. […] Data are needed from additional sites to confirm whether the onshore wind is a generally important driver of SI incidence.

• #17 PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF SWIMMER’S ITCH INCIDENCE AND SEVERITY

  https://bioone.org/journals/Journal-of-Parasitology/volume-90/issue-4/GE-237R/PROSPECTIVE-STUDY-OF-SWIMMERS-ITCH-INCIDENCE-AND-SEVERITY/10.1645/GE-237R.short

  This epidemiologic study reports incidence, severity, and risk factors of swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis). […] Incidence of swimmer’s itch was 6.8 episodes per 100 water-exposure days. […] Probability of an episode increased with more days of water use and at locations with onshore winds. […] Episode severity increased with more time in the water and at the same locations. […] In sum, onset and severity of swimmer’s itch are affected by how people interact with the lake, not by their demographic features. […] More studies of human incidence and severity are needed to convince public health agencies to address this problem at recreational lakes. […] Study designs that combine epidemiologic and biological data will simultaneously inform public health education and biological control programs.

• #18 Swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis) – Dermatology Advisor

  https://www.dermatologyadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/dermatology/swimmers-itch-cercarial-dermatitis/

  Frequency and duration of open-water activity increases the incidence of swimmers itch. One study reports 6.8 episodes per 100 water exposure days. Swimmers itch occurs worldwide and is commonly observed in bodies of water with on-shore winds. Cases primarily occur in shallow freshwater; however, cases associated with saltwater exposure have also been reported. […] Time of year also affects risk. Warm months may increase intermediate host snail populations leading to increased transmission. Presence of hosts is also an important factor. Resident or migratory birds (definitive hosts), snails (intermediate host), and humans (incidental host) must all be present in order for a person to contract swimmers itch. Children may be at a higher risk due to more exposure to shallow water and they may be less likely to towel dry.

• #19 Swimmer’s Itch: Incidence and Risk Factors

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1448328/

  This study found the following risk factors for onset of swimmers itch: amount of water exposure, especially shallow-water use; exposure in several lake zones; and taking preventive action. […] The onset of swimmers itch depends on how humans interact with the lake. Exposures to shallow water and areas with onshore winds are key risks for swimmers itch.

• #20 Researcher Studies Swimmer’s Itch Incidence And Risk Factors | ScienceDaily

  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040520061706.htm

  Exposure to shallow water and areas with onshore winds are key risks for swimmer’s itch, a University of Michigan has concluded. […] Verbrugge examined the incidence and risk factors of swimmer’s itch, the lay term for cercarial dermatitis, caused by parasites in the water. […] When Verbrugge began exploring the epidemiology of swimmer’s itch, she found that most existing research looked at ducks and snails, because the parasite that causes the itch has a two-host life cycle, first involving snails, and later ducks. […] Verbrugge conducted her research at the U-M Biological Station on the shores of Douglas Lake near Pellston. […] Ultimately, Verbrugge found that the more days people spent in the water, the more likely they were to develop swimmer’s itch. […] Also, time spent in water waist deep or shallower increased likelihood of irritation, as did time spent in areas of the lake with onshore, or receiving windswinds that blow in toward shore. […] She hopes additional epidemiological studies will learn what preventive actions are successful.

• #21 Swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis) – Dermatology Advisor

  https://www.dermatologyadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/dermatology/swimmers-itch-cercarial-dermatitis/

  Frequency and duration of open-water activity increases the incidence of swimmers itch. One study reports 6.8 episodes per 100 water exposure days. Swimmers itch occurs worldwide and is commonly observed in bodies of water with on-shore winds. Cases primarily occur in shallow freshwater; however, cases associated with saltwater exposure have also been reported. […] Time of year also affects risk. Warm months may increase intermediate host snail populations leading to increased transmission. Presence of hosts is also an important factor. Resident or migratory birds (definitive hosts), snails (intermediate host), and humans (incidental host) must all be present in order for a person to contract swimmers itch. Children may be at a higher risk due to more exposure to shallow water and they may be less likely to towel dry.

• #22

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-016-5060-z

  After numerous reports the local press about the stinging water in created on the Dziercinka RiverWater Valley reservoir and recognizing in bathers the symptoms of swimmers itch, environmental study on the presence of bird schistosome larvae in snail hosts was conducted. […] It is worth underlining that despite the low prevalence of bird schistosomes, the high number of released cercariae was sufficient to create a real threat of swimmers itch in bathers. […] In view of the real risk of people using the waters, tests on presence of the parasites in snail hosts should be included to the standard procedure of security control in bathing places. […] Swimmers itch in Europe is mostly recorded in anthropogenic basins and eutrophic lakes. […] One of the adverse effects of changes in the environment may be the emergence of swimmers itch in people using new recreational waters.

• #23 Swimmer’s Itch | Wisconsin Department of Health Services

  https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/swimmers-itch.htm

  Outbreaks occur when the weather and water gets warmer. They are most common in May to early July in southern Wisconsin lakes and late June to early July in northern Wisconsin lakes. […] Anyone can get swimmer’s itch. Children are more likely to have swimmers itch than adults because they are more likely to air dry or spend more time close to shore where the parasite tends to be. […] Waterfowl, such as ducks or geese, are a common source of the parasite and should be kept away from swimming beaches. […] The first time a person swims in contaminated water, they may not get swimmer’s itch. Having repeated exposure to contaminated water can increase your chances of developing a rash. […] Spending more time in the water increases your chances of getting swimmers itch.

• #24 Researcher Studies Swimmer’s Itch Incidence And Risk Factors | ScienceDaily

  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040520061706.htm

  Exposure to shallow water and areas with onshore winds are key risks for swimmer’s itch, a University of Michigan has concluded. […] Verbrugge examined the incidence and risk factors of swimmer’s itch, the lay term for cercarial dermatitis, caused by parasites in the water. […] When Verbrugge began exploring the epidemiology of swimmer’s itch, she found that most existing research looked at ducks and snails, because the parasite that causes the itch has a two-host life cycle, first involving snails, and later ducks. […] Verbrugge conducted her research at the U-M Biological Station on the shores of Douglas Lake near Pellston. […] Ultimately, Verbrugge found that the more days people spent in the water, the more likely they were to develop swimmer’s itch. […] Also, time spent in water waist deep or shallower increased likelihood of irritation, as did time spent in areas of the lake with onshore, or receiving windswinds that blow in toward shore. […] She hopes additional epidemiological studies will learn what preventive actions are successful.

• #25 Swimmer’s Itch | Wisconsin Department of Health Services

  https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/swimmers-itch.htm

  Outbreaks occur when the weather and water gets warmer. They are most common in May to early July in southern Wisconsin lakes and late June to early July in northern Wisconsin lakes. […] Anyone can get swimmer’s itch. Children are more likely to have swimmers itch than adults because they are more likely to air dry or spend more time close to shore where the parasite tends to be. […] Waterfowl, such as ducks or geese, are a common source of the parasite and should be kept away from swimming beaches. […] The first time a person swims in contaminated water, they may not get swimmer’s itch. Having repeated exposure to contaminated water can increase your chances of developing a rash. […] Spending more time in the water increases your chances of getting swimmers itch.

• #26 Swimmer’s Itch – Green Lake County, WI

  https://www.greenlakecountywi.gov/swimmers-itch/

  There have been some reports of swimmers itch from individuals swimming in Green Lake over the 4th of July. […] Swimmers itch may be prevalent among bathers in lakes in many parts of the world, including the Great Lakes region of North America and certain coastal beaches. […] The first outbreaks usually occur in late May or early June. The outbreaks in Wisconsin may last from 2-weeks in the northern lakes to a month in the southern lakes. In some lakes it may last the entire summer. […] Toweling off immediately after swimming or wading in infested water can be very helpful in preventing rash development.

• #27 Swimmer’s Itch | Disease Outbreak Control Division

  https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/swimmers-itch/

  Swimmers itch is a rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasites that infect birds and animals. […] The infection is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months. […] Although anyone can get swimmers itch, children are infected more often since they tend to swim, wade, and play in the shallow water more than adults. […] Swimmers itch is not reportable in Hawaii, but it is known to occur.

• #28 DNR Information – FAQ – Questions?

  http://wblla.mnlakesandrivers.org/dnr-information-faq-questions/

  Swimmers itch (cercarial dermatitis) is a common condition. It happens around the world and is more frequent in summer months when people are more likely to swim. […] Swimmers itch can happen to anyone who swims in water that is infested with the parasites that cause swimmers itch. Young children are more likely to get swimmers itch because they are more likely to wade and play in shallow water where the parasites are more likely to be found. […] See more information and advice on preventing swimmers itch contact the Minnesota Department of Health, Acute Disease Epidemiology at 612-676-5414.

• #29 Prospective study of swimmer’s itch incidence and severity – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15357056/

  This epidemiologic study reports incidence, severity, and risk factors of swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis). […] Incidence of swimmer’s itch was 6.8 episodes per 100 water-exposure days. […] In sum, onset and severity of swimmer’s itch are affected by how people interact with the lake, not by their demographic features. […] More studies of human incidence and severity are needed to convince public health agencies to address this problem at recreational lakes. […] Study designs that combine epidemiologic and biological data will simultaneously inform public health education and biological control programs.

• #30 Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future | Environmental Health | Full Text

  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7

  The current study confirms and significantly expands upon our understanding of the distribution of swimmers itch across Canada. […] Swimmers itch, today, remains a non-reportable condition by national health authorities. […] This issue highlights an important knowledge gap that should be considered in the future for swimmers itch surveillance efforts and policy: we need a better understanding of the true prevalence of swimmers itch and how that translates into effects on the recreational choices individuals make and potential downstream effects on cultural values that may have important economic impacts. […] There are several areas in need of further research and development. First is the need for an accurate and sensitive method to monitor for the presence of schistosome cercariae in the water, as snail collections have proven to be an inefficient and ineffective method for surveillance.

• #31 Swimmers Itch – Vector Control Services

  https://acvcsd.org/swimmers-itch/

  Cercarial dermatitis (swimmer’s itch) is caused by the penetration of human skin by cercariae (larva) of schistosome parasites that develop in and are released from snail hosts. […] In 2004, cases of swimmer’s itch among beach visitors at Robert Crown Memorial Beach in Alameda were subsequently found to be caused by an invasive, previously un-described marine parasite. […] Presently, there is a “Beach Water/Swimmer’s Itch Hotline” (510.567.6706) to enable the public to report swimmer’s itch cases. Once a case is reported and verified, warning posters are posted at the site to inform swimmers and beach comers of the potential risk and precautions they should take.

• #32 Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future | Environmental Health | Full Text

  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7

  Cercarial dermatitis, colloquially swimmers itch, is a rash contracted in natural bodies of water, when people are exposed to skin-penetrating, larval flatworm parasites of the family Schistosomatidae, that emerge from aquatic snails. […] Swimmers itch is a globally-distributed, allergic condition, of which we know very little regarding local dynamics of transmission. […] Over 3800 cases of swimmers itch were captured across Canada by the self-reporting surveillance system. […] Swimmers itch cases were reported from every province except Prince Edward Island. […] A review and comparison to the literature has highlighted several knowledge gaps surrounding schistosome species, host species and their distributions and contributions towards swimmers itch. […] Swimmers itch is a greater environmental health hazard across Canada than previous literature would have alluded.

• #33 Swimmer’s itch: What causes this neglected snail-borne disease? | ScienceDaily

  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/09/220914102234.htm

  Cercarial dermatitis, also known as swimmer’s itch or clam-digger’s itch, is caused by the larvae of blood flukes that are parasites of birds or mammals. […] Between August and October 2020, a cercarial dermatitis outbreak with 359 confirmed cases occurred in Chana district, Songkhla Province, South Thailand. […] „The study of intermediate host and definitive host in the outbreak area are important for the control program of snail-borne disease,” the researchers argue in their research paper, which was published in the open-access scientific journal Evolutionary Systematics. […] „Additionally, these species of the S. indicum group primarily cause cercarial dermatitis in humans, which has become an important public health issue for people living in endemic regions.” […] „The results of this study will provide insights into the parasite species that cause cercarial dermatitis and may improve our understanding of public health problems in the outbreak and agricultural vicinity areas,” the authors of the study say.

• #34

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-016-5060-z

  Our thesis concerns potential health risks accompanied by water ecosystem transformation and addresses the need to take those risks into account in future hydro plans. […] The occurrence of swimmers itch in the child and adult bathers in the artificial reservoir is the first well-documented case in this region, although another one associated with anthropogenic reservoir used for recreation in the world. […] The real threat of swimmers itch in the basin lies in a dissonance with a low prevalence of bird schistosomes in snail host populations, however the recorded values did not differ from the results of other authors conducting research in the regions of frequent occurrence of this kind of dermatosis. […] The real danger of the invasion can be affected by three important factors: (i) high productivity of cercariae inside snail host, (ii) extended life of the infected snails, and (iii) high survival of invasive cercariae in an environment. […] Environmental monitoring and molecular diagnostics of bird schistosome larvae in snail host population from bathing places will be conducted in the coming period of active vegetation.

• #35 Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future | Environmental Health | Full Text

  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7

  This study provides proof-of-concept for the utility of a self-reporting surveillance system for swimmers itch in Canada. […] Despite the widespread, global distribution of swimmers itch, there remains limited understanding of many factors that pertain to the life cycles of schistosome species, their hosts, and what might be limiting their distributions. […] The potential for swimmers itch to occur as suggested by the presence of schistosome cercariae emerging from snail hosts, or adult worms found in definitive hosts has been indicated for most of Canada. […] However, because of the lack of epidemiological data, we have poor estimates of people affected. […] This lack of specific demographic information eliminates the possibility of calculating the true prevalence of swimmers itch or back-translating the demographics of our survey responses into representative prevalence.

• #36 Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future | Environmental Health | Full Text

  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7

  The current study confirms and significantly expands upon our understanding of the distribution of swimmers itch across Canada. […] Swimmers itch, today, remains a non-reportable condition by national health authorities. […] This issue highlights an important knowledge gap that should be considered in the future for swimmers itch surveillance efforts and policy: we need a better understanding of the true prevalence of swimmers itch and how that translates into effects on the recreational choices individuals make and potential downstream effects on cultural values that may have important economic impacts. […] There are several areas in need of further research and development. First is the need for an accurate and sensitive method to monitor for the presence of schistosome cercariae in the water, as snail collections have proven to be an inefficient and ineffective method for surveillance.

• #37 Health Department News | McHenry County, IL

  https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/Home/Components/News/News/16549/1026?arch=1&npage=3

  The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) has received recent reports of swimmer’s itch from Lake Park Beach (Crystal Lake Main Beach), 300 Lakeshore Drive in Crystal Lake. The MCDH and Crystal Lake Park District are monitoring for additional complaints. A Swimmer’s Advisory has been posted at the beach. […] Swimmer’s itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months. Swimmer’s itch is not contagious and cannot be spread from one person to another. […] Anyone who swims or wades in infested water may be at risk. […] This advisory will remain posted until such time no additional complaints are received for a minimum of 10 days.

• #38 About Swimmer’s Itch | Swimmer’s Itch (Cercarial Dermatitis) | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/swimmers-itch/about/index.html

  This larval form then swims about searching for a suitable host (bird, muskrat) to continue the lifecycle. […] Although humans are not suitable hosts, the microscopic larvae burrow into the swimmers skin, and may cause an allergic reaction and rash. […] To reduce the likelihood of developing swimmers itch. […] Encourage health officials to post signs on shorelines where swimmer’s itch is a current problem.

• #39 Health Department News | McHenry County, IL

  https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/Home/Components/News/News/16549/1026?arch=1&npage=3

  The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) has received recent reports of swimmer’s itch from Lake Park Beach (Crystal Lake Main Beach), 300 Lakeshore Drive in Crystal Lake. The MCDH and Crystal Lake Park District are monitoring for additional complaints. A Swimmer’s Advisory has been posted at the beach. […] Swimmer’s itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months. Swimmer’s itch is not contagious and cannot be spread from one person to another. […] Anyone who swims or wades in infested water may be at risk. […] This advisory will remain posted until such time no additional complaints are received for a minimum of 10 days.

• #40 Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future | Environmental Health | Full Text

  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7

  Second, and perhaps the most important, is the need for better communication and education for lake users, lake managers, and health authorities on swimmers itch as a risk in natural water bodies. […] A national web-based surveillance system could help us better track swimmers itch, organize the information, and help us understand where and when it is occurring in a real-time format.

• #41 Swimmer’s itch control: Timely waterfowl brood relocation significantly reduces an avian schistosome population and human cases on recreational lakes | PLOS One

  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0288948

  Swimmers itch (SI) is a dermatitis in humans caused by cercariae of avian and mammalian schistosomes which emerge from infected snails on a daily basis. […] The relevance of reducing snail infection prevalence is demonstrated by a large seven-year data set of SI incidence in swimmers at a high-use beach, which showed a substantial reduction in SI cases in two successive years after relocation began. […] Using a BeforeAfterControlImpact/Intervention (BACI) study design, we tested whether relocating common merganser broods is an effective method to reduce the presence of T. stagnicolae and the incidence of SI on two Michigan lakes. […] The data from CSA beach on Crystal Lake is a 7-year data set of almost 37,000 swimmer sessions that provides an excellent measure of whether the decrease in snail infection rates translates into fewer SI cases. The number of SI cases at CSA beach dropped significantly in the two years following common merganser brood relocation, correspondent to reduced snail infection.

• #42 Simplifying Schistosome Surveillance: Using Molecular Cercariometry to Detect and Quantify Cercariae in Water | CoLab

  https://colab.ws/articles/10.3390%2Fpathogens11050565

  Avian schistosomes are considered a public health nuisance due to their ability to cause swimmers itch when accidentally encountering humans rather than their intended avian hosts. Researchers have been monitoring their presence and abundance through snail collections and cercariometry. […] It also can be used in complement with snail collections to understand the composition of avian schistosomes in an environment.

• #43 Swimmer’s itch control: Timely waterfowl brood relocation significantly reduces an avian schistosome population and human cases on recreational lakes | PLOS One

  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0288948

  Swimmers itch (SI) is a dermatitis in humans caused by cercariae of avian and mammalian schistosomes which emerge from infected snails on a daily basis. […] The relevance of reducing snail infection prevalence is demonstrated by a large seven-year data set of SI incidence in swimmers at a high-use beach, which showed a substantial reduction in SI cases in two successive years after relocation began. […] Using a BeforeAfterControlImpact/Intervention (BACI) study design, we tested whether relocating common merganser broods is an effective method to reduce the presence of T. stagnicolae and the incidence of SI on two Michigan lakes. […] The data from CSA beach on Crystal Lake is a 7-year data set of almost 37,000 swimmer sessions that provides an excellent measure of whether the decrease in snail infection rates translates into fewer SI cases. The number of SI cases at CSA beach dropped significantly in the two years following common merganser brood relocation, correspondent to reduced snail infection.

• #44 Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future | Environmental Health | Full Text

  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7

  The current study confirms and significantly expands upon our understanding of the distribution of swimmers itch across Canada. […] Swimmers itch, today, remains a non-reportable condition by national health authorities. […] This issue highlights an important knowledge gap that should be considered in the future for swimmers itch surveillance efforts and policy: we need a better understanding of the true prevalence of swimmers itch and how that translates into effects on the recreational choices individuals make and potential downstream effects on cultural values that may have important economic impacts. […] There are several areas in need of further research and development. First is the need for an accurate and sensitive method to monitor for the presence of schistosome cercariae in the water, as snail collections have proven to be an inefficient and ineffective method for surveillance.

• #45 Simplifying Schistosome Surveillance: Using Molecular Cercariometry to Detect and Quantify Cercariae in Water | CoLab

  https://colab.ws/articles/10.3390%2Fpathogens11050565

  Avian schistosomes are considered a public health nuisance due to their ability to cause swimmers itch when accidentally encountering humans rather than their intended avian hosts. Researchers have been monitoring their presence and abundance through snail collections and cercariometry. […] It also can be used in complement with snail collections to understand the composition of avian schistosomes in an environment.

• #46 Platte Lake Improvement Association – Swimmers Itch

  https://www.plattelake.org/Swimmers-Itch

  The schistosome that causes swimmers itch has two hosts that it cycles between, birds and snails. […] For now, there are only strategies you can employ to reduce your risk. However, because this is such an important issue, with new methodologies like qPCR DNA testing, etc. being employed, the PLIA will continue its partnership with Freshwater Solutions to help our members stay on the cutting edge on the status of our lake and Swimmer Itch.

• #47

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-016-5060-z

  After numerous reports the local press about the stinging water in created on the Dziercinka RiverWater Valley reservoir and recognizing in bathers the symptoms of swimmers itch, environmental study on the presence of bird schistosome larvae in snail hosts was conducted. […] It is worth underlining that despite the low prevalence of bird schistosomes, the high number of released cercariae was sufficient to create a real threat of swimmers itch in bathers. […] In view of the real risk of people using the waters, tests on presence of the parasites in snail hosts should be included to the standard procedure of security control in bathing places. […] Swimmers itch in Europe is mostly recorded in anthropogenic basins and eutrophic lakes. […] One of the adverse effects of changes in the environment may be the emergence of swimmers itch in people using new recreational waters.

• #48

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-016-5060-z

  After numerous reports the local press about the stinging water in created on the Dziercinka RiverWater Valley reservoir and recognizing in bathers the symptoms of swimmers itch, environmental study on the presence of bird schistosome larvae in snail hosts was conducted. […] It is worth underlining that despite the low prevalence of bird schistosomes, the high number of released cercariae was sufficient to create a real threat of swimmers itch in bathers. […] In view of the real risk of people using the waters, tests on presence of the parasites in snail hosts should be included to the standard procedure of security control in bathing places. […] Swimmers itch in Europe is mostly recorded in anthropogenic basins and eutrophic lakes. […] One of the adverse effects of changes in the environment may be the emergence of swimmers itch in people using new recreational waters.

• #49 Swimmer’s itch – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimmer%27s_itch

  Swimmer’s itch is common in freshwater, brackish and marine habitats worldwide. The incidence of this condition may be increasing, although this may be attributed to better monitoring and reporting. Nevertheless, the condition is considered to be an emerging infectious disease. […] Studies of infested lakes and outbreaks in Europe and North America have found cases where infection risk appears to be evenly distributed around the margins of water bodies as well as instances where risk increases in endemic swimmer’s itch „hotspots”. […] Public education of risk factors, a good alternative to the aforementioned interventionist strategies, can also reduce human exposure to cercariae.

• #50 Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection | Parasites & Vectors | Full Text

  https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-024-06218-4

  Swimmer’s itch, an allergic contact dermatitis caused by avian and mammalian blood flukes, is a parasitic infection affecting people worldwide. […] In the last few decades, there has been an increase in case reports across Europe, making it an emerging zoonosis. […] The presence of T. regenti in Belgium might have severe clinical implications and its finding highlights the need for increased vigilance and diagnostic awareness among medical professionals. […] Overall, these findings demonstrate the need for a Belgian framework to rapidly detect and monitor zoonotic outbreaks of trematode parasites within the One Health context. […] Swimmers itch is considered an emerging cosmopolitan condition affecting human health and leading to economic losses due to the closing of recreational areas.

• #51 Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection | Parasites & Vectors | Full Text

  https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-024-06218-4

  The first scientifically recorded outbreak of swimmers itch in Belgium occurred in 2012 and was attributed to T. franki infections. […] At present, T. regenti is the second Trichobilharzia species reported in Belgium, after the swimmers itch outbreak caused by T. franki in 2012 in the Plate Taille Lake. […] Improved public awareness and a centralized contact point to report such cases could aid in the identification of transmission sites. […] Such a barcoding gap is problematic as it inhibits fast and accurate epidemiological studies due to incomplete disease transmission patterns. […] We argue that the sudden appearance of T. regenti in the study area may be attributable to global change and local environmental change. […] With the projected future temperature increase, swimmers itch incidence will most likely also continue to increase. […] We suggest that an improved patient reporting system combined with transmission site localization and monitoring efforts will prove invaluable assets to prepare for potential snail-borne parasite outbreaks in Belgium.

• #52 Reporting system for ‘swimmer’s itch’ could help prevent nuisance skin infection, researchers argue | LSTM

  https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/news-events/news/reporting-system-for-%E2%80%98swimmer%E2%80%99s-itch%E2%80%99-could-help-prevent-nuisance-skin-infection

  And as we approach summer, when open water swimming tends to rise in popularity, they suggest that a reporting system, similar to what is in place in the US for HCD and in the UK for ticks, would help to identify disease hotspots, how prevalent it is, and increase public awareness of ways to prevent the infection. […] It highlights the need for an official reporting and monitoring system to better understand the prevalence of HCD. […] Owing to the climate crisis and as temperatures increase, a national monitoring system would therefore be even more sensible.

• #53 Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection | Parasites & Vectors | Full Text

  https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-024-06218-4

  The first scientifically recorded outbreak of swimmers itch in Belgium occurred in 2012 and was attributed to T. franki infections. […] At present, T. regenti is the second Trichobilharzia species reported in Belgium, after the swimmers itch outbreak caused by T. franki in 2012 in the Plate Taille Lake. […] Improved public awareness and a centralized contact point to report such cases could aid in the identification of transmission sites. […] Such a barcoding gap is problematic as it inhibits fast and accurate epidemiological studies due to incomplete disease transmission patterns. […] We argue that the sudden appearance of T. regenti in the study area may be attributable to global change and local environmental change. […] With the projected future temperature increase, swimmers itch incidence will most likely also continue to increase. […] We suggest that an improved patient reporting system combined with transmission site localization and monitoring efforts will prove invaluable assets to prepare for potential snail-borne parasite outbreaks in Belgium.

• #54 Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future | Environmental Health | Full Text

  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7

  Second, and perhaps the most important, is the need for better communication and education for lake users, lake managers, and health authorities on swimmers itch as a risk in natural water bodies. […] A national web-based surveillance system could help us better track swimmers itch, organize the information, and help us understand where and when it is occurring in a real-time format.

• #55 Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection | Parasites & Vectors | Full Text

  https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-024-06218-4

  The first scientifically recorded outbreak of swimmers itch in Belgium occurred in 2012 and was attributed to T. franki infections. […] At present, T. regenti is the second Trichobilharzia species reported in Belgium, after the swimmers itch outbreak caused by T. franki in 2012 in the Plate Taille Lake. […] Improved public awareness and a centralized contact point to report such cases could aid in the identification of transmission sites. […] Such a barcoding gap is problematic as it inhibits fast and accurate epidemiological studies due to incomplete disease transmission patterns. […] We argue that the sudden appearance of T. regenti in the study area may be attributable to global change and local environmental change. […] With the projected future temperature increase, swimmers itch incidence will most likely also continue to increase. […] We suggest that an improved patient reporting system combined with transmission site localization and monitoring efforts will prove invaluable assets to prepare for potential snail-borne parasite outbreaks in Belgium.

• #56 Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future | Environmental Health | Full Text

  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7

  Second, and perhaps the most important, is the need for better communication and education for lake users, lake managers, and health authorities on swimmers itch as a risk in natural water bodies. […] A national web-based surveillance system could help us better track swimmers itch, organize the information, and help us understand where and when it is occurring in a real-time format.

• #57 Scratching the Itch: Updated Perspectives on the Schistosomes Responsible for Swimmer’s Itch around the World

  https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/5/587

  Swimmer’s itch is a complex zoonotic disease manifested through several different routes of transmission involving a diversity of different host species. […] Epidemiological studies to gauge the prevalence and health costs of swimmer’s itch are relatively few and are confined to developed countries. […] A significant but rarely quantified cost of swimmer’s itch is borne by the summer recreation industry, especially around freshwater lakes popular for swimming.

• #58 Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection | Parasites & Vectors | Full Text

  https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-024-06218-4

  Swimmer’s itch, an allergic contact dermatitis caused by avian and mammalian blood flukes, is a parasitic infection affecting people worldwide. […] In the last few decades, there has been an increase in case reports across Europe, making it an emerging zoonosis. […] The presence of T. regenti in Belgium might have severe clinical implications and its finding highlights the need for increased vigilance and diagnostic awareness among medical professionals. […] Overall, these findings demonstrate the need for a Belgian framework to rapidly detect and monitor zoonotic outbreaks of trematode parasites within the One Health context. […] Swimmers itch is considered an emerging cosmopolitan condition affecting human health and leading to economic losses due to the closing of recreational areas.

• #59 PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF SWIMMER’S ITCH INCIDENCE AND SEVERITY

  https://bioone.org/journals/Journal-of-Parasitology/volume-90/issue-4/GE-237R/PROSPECTIVE-STUDY-OF-SWIMMERS-ITCH-INCIDENCE-AND-SEVERITY/10.1645/GE-237R.short

  This epidemiologic study reports incidence, severity, and risk factors of swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis). […] Incidence of swimmer’s itch was 6.8 episodes per 100 water-exposure days. […] Probability of an episode increased with more days of water use and at locations with onshore winds. […] Episode severity increased with more time in the water and at the same locations. […] In sum, onset and severity of swimmer’s itch are affected by how people interact with the lake, not by their demographic features. […] More studies of human incidence and severity are needed to convince public health agencies to address this problem at recreational lakes. […] Study designs that combine epidemiologic and biological data will simultaneously inform public health education and biological control programs.

• #60 Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future | Environmental Health | Full Text

  https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7

  The current study confirms and significantly expands upon our understanding of the distribution of swimmers itch across Canada. […] Swimmers itch, today, remains a non-reportable condition by national health authorities. […] This issue highlights an important knowledge gap that should be considered in the future for swimmers itch surveillance efforts and policy: we need a better understanding of the true prevalence of swimmers itch and how that translates into effects on the recreational choices individuals make and potential downstream effects on cultural values that may have important economic impacts. […] There are several areas in need of further research and development. First is the need for an accurate and sensitive method to monitor for the presence of schistosome cercariae in the water, as snail collections have proven to be an inefficient and ineffective method for surveillance.

• #61 Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection | Parasites & Vectors | Full Text

  https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-024-06218-4

  The first scientifically recorded outbreak of swimmers itch in Belgium occurred in 2012 and was attributed to T. franki infections. […] At present, T. regenti is the second Trichobilharzia species reported in Belgium, after the swimmers itch outbreak caused by T. franki in 2012 in the Plate Taille Lake. […] Improved public awareness and a centralized contact point to report such cases could aid in the identification of transmission sites. […] Such a barcoding gap is problematic as it inhibits fast and accurate epidemiological studies due to incomplete disease transmission patterns. […] We argue that the sudden appearance of T. regenti in the study area may be attributable to global change and local environmental change. […] With the projected future temperature increase, swimmers itch incidence will most likely also continue to increase. […] We suggest that an improved patient reporting system combined with transmission site localization and monitoring efforts will prove invaluable assets to prepare for potential snail-borne parasite outbreaks in Belgium.

• #62 Prospective study of swimmer’s itch incidence and severity – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15357056/

  This epidemiologic study reports incidence, severity, and risk factors of swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis). […] Incidence of swimmer’s itch was 6.8 episodes per 100 water-exposure days. […] In sum, onset and severity of swimmer’s itch are affected by how people interact with the lake, not by their demographic features. […] More studies of human incidence and severity are needed to convince public health agencies to address this problem at recreational lakes. […] Study designs that combine epidemiologic and biological data will simultaneously inform public health education and biological control programs.

Zobacz więcej