When was schistosomiasis discovered?

Schistosomiasis was first discovered in 1851 when German physician Theodor Bilharz identified the Schistosoma haematobium parasite in the urine of a patient in Egypt. His findings laid the groundwork for understanding the disease, which is caused by trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma. The disease is now recognized as a significant public health issue in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world.