Environmental RNA improves detection and surveillance of schistosomiasis transmission

Abstract

Environmental diagnosis of schistosomiasis, a tropical disease affecting more than 250 million people globally, is still challenging, which limits efficient eradication plans. There is a crucial need for resolutive and highly sensitive environmental tools to improve disease control. However, a major obstacle is the inability of current methods, including environmental DNA (eDNA), to distinguish infectious parasite life stages. Here, we develop and validate an environmental RNA (eRNA) approach that enables the detection and absolute quantification of Schistosoma mansoni miracidia and cercariae directly from water samples. After identifying life stage-specific transcripts, we design specific ddPCR assays which are strongly specific to S. mansoni and to each life stage. Comparing with eDNA assays, laboratory experiments demonstrate that stage-specific eRNA assays accurately reflect the relative abundance of each life stage, detect nucleic acids released from organisms, exhibit detection limits tenfold lower than eDNA assays. Also, under laboratory conditions, RNA persists in water longer than DNA. Field validation at six endemic sites in Brazil confirms that eRNA outperforms eDNA and conventional snail surveys in detecting active presence of S. mansoni cercariae, which indicates schistosomiasis transmission risk to humans locally. By enabling active-stage discrimination in environmental monitoring and improving sensitivity (compared to eDNA), our study advances both fundamental understanding and applied surveillance of schistosomiasis transmission, supporting elimination initiatives in affected regions.