Das Projekt "Ueberwachung von Wasser auf Kontamination durch Schistosome: Entwicklung und Felderprobung neuer Verfahren und Ansaetze" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Heidelberg, Südasieninstitut, Institut für Tropenhygiene und Öffentliches Gesundheitswesen durchgeführt. Objective: - Monitoring schistosome-polluted water by PCR; - Monitoring of schistosome-infected snails by detecting schistosomal antigens and by PCR; - Monitoring the ratio of prepatent/patent infections in snails for rapid preliminary assessment of schistosomiasis prevalence in humans; - Monitoring of snails prepatent/patent infections after mass-treatment for possible timing of retreatment; - Develop DNA and antigen-based technologies for monitoring Sm and Sh in water and in snails. General Information: - Preparation of monoclonal antibodies (Mab) for detection of S. haematobium infected snails; - Monitoring snails for infection by detecting schistosomal antigens; - Developing PCR-based tools for monitoring schistosomes in water and snails; - Monitoring of schistosome infestation of water by PCR; - Collection of biological materials in the field for development of the monitoring tools; - Evaluation the relation between human infection and prepatent/patent infection in snails; - Examining the fall and rise of prepatent/patent ratio of snail infection after mass treatment; - Preparation for an organisation of field studies involved in tasks no 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Achievements: Expected Outcome: - Development of a rapid testing system for identification of schistosome infected snails.