Schistosoma haematobium: A Pathophysiological Review from Chronic Infection to Bladder Cancer

Urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) is a neglected tropical disease, with around 120 million people infected with Schistosoma haematobium trematode. It produces urodynamic alterations, renal failure, and bladder cancer as well as numerous systemic complications in advanced stages. Bladder cancer due to UGS disproportionally affects African countries, where it ranks in some places as the first most prevalent cancer with high mortality rates. While S. haematobium is considered a group 1 carcinogenic, its role in bladder cancer is still poorly understood; nonetheless, several mechanisms have been found. This review provides current insights into the molecular and oncogenic mechanisms underlying schistosome-associated bladder cancer, highlighting the burden of the disease and the current treatments for infection which reduce the incidence of S. haematobium and its long-term consequences.