Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of schistosomiasis in Wuhan of Hubei province from 2004 to 2022 and provide scientific evidence for the development of local schistosomiasis elimination strategy.

Methods The annual epidemiological data of schistosomiasis, including disease screening and treatment for human and livestock cases, and snail survey and control, in Wuhan from 2004 to 2022 were collected. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to analyze the change trends of prevalence of schistosomiasis in Wuhan from 2004 to 2022. The correlations between the prevalence of schistosomiasis and oncomelania status were analyzed.

Results The overall infection rate of S. japonicum in human showed a decline trend in Wuhan from 2004 to 2022 average annual percent change (AAPC)=−11.91%, P<0.05, increasing firstly during 2004−2007 with annual percent change annual percent change (APC) of 95.20% (P<0.05), then decreasing during 2007−2017 with APC of −34.518% (P<0.05) and during 2017−2022 with APC of −1.12% (P>0.05). From 2004 to 2022, the annual infection rate of S. japonicum in bovines had an average decline of 24.59% (AAPC=−24.59%, P<0.05) in Wuhan, the APC was −29.23% from 2004 to 2011 and −61.58% from 2011 to 2014 (all P<0.05), then the infection rate showed an increasing trend from 2014 to 2022 (APC=2.66%), the difference was not significant (P>0.05). There was a 2.47% annual average decline in the oncomelania-infested areas in Wuhan from 2004 to 2022 (AAPC=−2.47%, P<0.05). The decrease had two stages, with the APC of −0.80% during 2004−2013 and −4.11% during 2013−2022 (all P<0.05). The density of living oncomelania showed a gradual decline year by year in Wuhan from 2004 to 2022 (APC=AAPC=−11.76%, P<0.05). During 2004−2022, there was an annual decline of 18.62% in the density of S. japonicum-infected oncomelania (AAPC=−18.62%, P<0.05), decreasing firstly during 2004−2011 (APC=−14.97%, P<0.05) and 2011−2014 (APC=−60.73%, P<0.05), then increasing during 2014−2022 without significance (APC=2.93%, P >0.05). No schistosome-infected residents, cattle, or oncomelania were found for consecutive 10 years from 2013 to 2022 in Wuhan. There were significant correlations between the infection rate of S. japonicum in human and the oncomelania-infested area (r=0.67, P<0.010), and the infection rate in oncomelania (r=0.78, P<0.01), between the infection rate of S. japonicum in bovines and the oncomelania-infested area (r=0.60, P<0.01), the density of living oncomelania (r=0.95, P<0.01) and the infection rate in oncomelanias (r=0.60, P<0.01), between the oncomelania-infested area and the infection rate in oncomelania (r=0.67, P<0.01).

Conclusion The prevalence of schistosomiasis showed a decreasing trend in Wuhan from 2004 to 2022, and significant correlations between the prevalence of schistosomiasis and oncomelania status were found. In the future, we need to further reduce the oncomelania-infested area areas and the density of living oncomelania to facilitate the steady elimination of schistosomiasis in Wuhan.