Find in Library

Background: Schistosomiasis is a major poverty-related disease caused by dioecious parasitic flatworms of the genus <i>Schistosoma</i> with a health impact on both humans and animals. Hybrids of human urogenital schistosome and bovine intestinal schistosome have been reported in humans in several of Nigeria’s neighboring West African countries. No empirical studies have been carried out on the genomic diversity of <i>Schistosoma</i> <i>haematobium</i> in Nigeria. Here, we present novel data on the presence and prevalence of hybrids and the population genetic structure of <i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i>. Methods: 165 <i>Schistosoma</i>-positive urine samples were obtained from 12 sampling sites in Nigeria. <i>Schistosoma</i> <i>haematobium</i> eggs from each sample were hatched and each individual miracidium was picked and preserved in Whatman^® FTA cards for genomic analysis. Approximately 1364 parasites were molecularly characterized by rapid diagnostic multiplex polymerase chain reaction (RD-PCR) for mitochondrial DNA gene (Cox1 mtDNA) and a subset of 1136 miracidia were genotyped using a panel of 18 microsatellite markers. Results: No significant difference was observed in the population genetic diversity (<i>p</i> > 0.05), though a significant difference was observed in the allelic richness of the sites except sites 7, 8, and 9 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Moreover, we observed two clusters of populations: west (populations 1–4) and east (populations 7–12). Of the 1364 miracidia genotyped, 1212 (89%) showed an <i>S</i>. <i>bovis</i> Cox1 profile and 152 (11%) showed an <i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i> cox1 profile. All parasites showed an <i>S</i>. <i>bovis</i> Cox1 profile except for some at sites 3 and 4. <i>Schistosoma</i> miracidia full genotyping showed 59.3% of the <i>S. bovis</i> ITS2 allele. Conclusions: This study provides novel insight into hybridization and population genetic structure of <i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i> in Nigeria. Our findings suggest that <i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i> x <i>S</i>. <i>bovis</i> hybrids are common in Nigeria. More genomic studies on both human- and animal-infecting parasites are needed to ascertain the role of animals in schistosome transmission.