Abstract
Over the years, the traditional methods of detecting schistosomes have been the cercarial shedding
and snail crushing methods. With the continuous decrease of prevalence and infection intensity of
schistosomiasis recorded in Rivers State, optimal methodologies with high sensitivity and absolute
specificity are needed for the detection of asymptomatic cases or light infections, as well as disease
surveillance to verify elimination. In comparison with the parasitological methods with relatively
low sensitivity and serological techniques lacking specificity, which both had been widely used in
previous control stages, the molecular detection methods based on the amplification of promising
genes of the schistosome genome may pick up the baton to assist the eventual aim of elimination.
In this article reviewed, the focus is on the comparison between traditional methods employed in
diagnosis and recent advances in molecular approach. The aim is focused on assessing methods
of diagnosis that had been used and the recent developmental trends.