Mefloquine, which has previously been used to treat and prevent malaria, was recognised in 2008–2009 to be effective against Schistosoma.Historically, antimony potassium tartrate remained the treatment of choice for schistosomiasis until the development of praziquantel in the 1980s.Post-treatment monitoring
Osteopontin (OPN)  is a promising tool for monitoring Praziquantel efficacy and post-treatment fibrosis regression as (OPN) expression is modulated by Schistosoma mansoni egg antigens and its levels correlate with severity of schistosomiasis fibrosis and portal hypertension in mice and humans. Praziquantel (PZQ) pharmacotherapy reduces systemic OPN levels and liver collagen content in mice. Epidemiology
The disease is found in tropical countries in Africa, the Caribbean, eastern South America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. S. mansoni is found in parts of South America and the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East; S. haematobium in Africa and the Middle East; and S. japonicum in the Far East. S. mekongi and S. intercalatum are found locally in Southeast Asia and central West Africa, respectively.The disease is endemic in about 75 developing countries and mainly affects people living in rural agricultural and peri-urban areas. Infection estimates
In 2010, approximately 238 million people were infected with schistosomiasis, 85 percent of whom live in Africa. An earlier estimate from 2006 had put the figure at 200 million people infected. As of the latest WHO record, 236.6 million people were infected in 2019. In many of the affected areas, schistosomiasis infects a large proportion of children under 14 years of age.
Outcomes
The rate of progression varies significantly from person to person.There is not good data on outcomes; it appears that APBD likely leads to earlier death, but people with APBD can live many years after diagnosis with relatively good quality of life. Epidemiology
The prevalence is unknown; about 70 cases had been reported in the medical literature as of 2016. As of 2016 the largest set of case studies included 50 people; about 70% of them were of Ashkenazic Jewish descent. Society and culture
A person with APBD named Gregory Weiss created a foundation, the Adult Polyglucosan Body Disease Research Foundation, to fund research into the disease and its management. Research directions
In 2015 the first transgenic mouse that appeared to be a useful model organism for studying APBD was published. References

 This article incorporates public domain material from Adult polyglucosan body disease. United States Department of Health and Human Services. == External links ==