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Mudavanhu A, Schols R, Goossens E, Nhiwatiwa T, Manyangadze T, Brendonck L, Huyse T. One Health monitoring reveals invasive freshwater snail species, new records, and undescribed parasite diversity in Zimbabwe. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:234. [PMID: 38773521 PMCID: PMC11110352 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06307-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Snail-borne trematodes afflict humans, livestock, and wildlife. Recognizing their zoonotic potential and possible hybridization, a One Health approach is essential for effective control. Given the dearth of knowledge on African trematodes, this study aimed to map snail and trematode diversity, focusing on (i) characterizing gastropod snail species and their trematode parasites, (ii) determining infection rates of snail species as intermediate hosts for medically, veterinary, and ecologically significant trematodes, and (iii) comparing their diversity across endemic regions. METHODS A cross-sectional study conducted in 2021 in Chiredzi and Wedza districts in Zimbabwe, known for high human schistosomiasis prevalence, involved malacological surveys at 56 sites. Trematode infections in snails were detected through shedding experiments and multiplex rapid diagnostic polymerase chain reactions (RD-PCRs). Morphological and molecular analyses were employed to identify snail and trematode species. RESULTS Among 3209 collected snail specimens, 11 species were identified, including schistosome and fasciolid competent snail species. We report for the first time the invasive exotic snail Tarebia granifera in Zimbabwe, which was highly abundant, mainly in Chiredzi, occurring at 29 out of 35 sites. Shedding experiments on 1303 snails revealed a 2.24% infection rate, with 15 trematode species identified through molecular genotyping. Five species were exclusive to Chiredzi: Bolbophorus sp., Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma mattheei, Calicophoron sp., and Uvulifer sp. Eight were exclusive to Wedza, including Trichobilharzia sp., Stephanoprora amurensis, Spirorchid sp., and Echinostoma sp. as well as an unidentified species of the Plagiorchioidea superfamily. One species, Tylodelphys mashonensis, was common to both regions. The RD-PCR screening of 976 non-shedding snails indicated a 35.7% trematode infection rate, including the presence of schistosomes (1.1%) Fasciola nyanzae (0.6%). In Chiredzi, Radix natalensis had the highest trematode infection prevalence (33.3%), while in Wedza, R. natalensis (55.4%) and Bulinus tropicus (53.2%) had the highest infection prevalence. CONCLUSIONS Our xenomonitoring approach unveiled 15 trematode species, including nine new records in Zimbabwe. Schistosoma mansoni persists in the study region despite six mass deworming rounds. The high snail and parasite diversity, including the presence of exotic snail species that can impact endemic species and biomedically important trematodes, underscores the need for increased monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aspire Mudavanhu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe.
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Ruben Schols
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biology, KU Leuven Kulak, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Emilie Goossens
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tamuka Nhiwatiwa
- Department of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, School of Agriculture and Fisheries, University of Namibia, Henties Bay, Namibia
| | - Tawanda Manyangadze
- Department of Geosciences, School of Geosciences, Disaster and Development, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Luc Brendonck
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Tine Huyse
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
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Muzarabani KC, Carolus H, Schols R, Hammoud C, Barson M, Huyse T. An update on snail and trematode communities in the Sanyati Basin of Lake Kariba: New snail and trematode species but no human schistosomes. Parasitol Int 2024; 99:102830. [PMID: 38016629 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2023.102830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The construction of Lake Kariba brought about a rise in the incidence of schistosomiasis in its surrounding towns of Kariba (Zimbabwe) and Siavonga (Zambia). After extensive control programs in Kariba, schistosomiasis prevalence dropped significantly. The objective of this study was to revisit the same localities sampled by Chimbari et al. (2003), and provide an update on the snail community and prevalence of trematodes in the Northern shore of Lake Kariba while focusing on planorbid species. METHODS Monthly sampling of snails at 16 sites along the Northern shoreline of Lake Kariba, near Kariba town, was undertaken for one year. Minimum one specimen per morphotype was identified using molecular barcoding (sequencing a fragment of cytochrome c oxidase I subunit (COI)). The infection status of snails was assessed by Rapid Diagnostic PCRs (RD-PCR), and trematode infections were genotyped by sequencing COI and 18S rDNA markers. RESULTS We collected and identified seven snail species: Bulinus truncatus, Bulinus forskalii, Gyraulus sp., Physella acuta, Bellamya sp., Radix affinis plicatula and Pseudosuccinea columella. Physella acuta was the most abundant snail species (comprising 56.95% of the total snail count) and present at all sites. The B. truncatus population was found to be infected with the stomach fluke Carmyerius cruciformis, a Petasiger sp. and a trematode species belonging to the family Notocotylidae. No Schistosoma sp. infections were detected in our collected snail specimens. CONCLUSIONS We report B. truncatus as an intermediate snail host for Carmyerius cruciformis, and the presence of three non-schistosome trematode species that have not been reported in Lake Kariba before. Furthermore, we detect a possible shift in the snail community when compared to the report by Chimbari et al. (2003): this is the first record of Gyraulus sp. in Lake Kariba, and we did not observe the previously reported B. pfeifferi, B. globosus and Radix natalensis. Although this shift in snail communities might have contributed to the absence of Schistosoma spp. detection in this study, further monitoring of final and intermediate hosts across the Kariba basin is essential to prove a decrease of schistosomiasis in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kudzai C Muzarabani
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
| | - Hans Carolus
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ruben Schols
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium; Laboratory of Aquatic Biology, KU Leuven Kulak, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Cyril Hammoud
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium; Limnology Research Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Maxwell Barson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Tine Huyse
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
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Archer J, Yeo SM, Gadd G, Pennance T, Cunningham LJ, Juhàsz A, Jones S, Chammudzi P, Kapira DR, Lally D, Namacha G, Mainga B, Makaula P, LaCourse JE, Kayuni SA, Musaya J, Stothard JR, Webster BL. Development, validation, and pilot application of a high throughput molecular xenomonitoring assay to detect Schistosoma mansoni and other trematode species within Biomphalaria freshwater snail hosts. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2024; 5:100174. [PMID: 38618156 PMCID: PMC11010794 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by infection with parasitic trematodes of the genus Schistosoma that can lead to debilitating morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization recommend molecular xenomonitoring of Biomphalaria spp. freshwater snail intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni to identify highly focal intestinal schistosomiasis transmission sites and monitor disease transmission, particularly in low-endemicity areas. A standardised protocol to do this, however, is needed. Here, two previously published primer sets were selected to develop and validate a multiplex molecular xenomonitoring end-point PCR assay capable of detecting S. mansoni infections within individual Biomphalaria spp. missed by cercarial shedding. The assay proved highly sensitive and highly specific in detecting and amplifying S. mansoni DNA and also proved highly sensitive in detecting and amplifying non-S. mansoni trematode DNA. The optimised assay was then used to screen Biomphalaria spp. collected from a S. mansoni-endemic area for infection and successfully detected S. mansoni infections missed by cercarial shedding as well as infections with non-S. mansoni trematodes. The continued development and use of molecular xenomonitoring assays such as this will aid in improving disease control efforts, significantly reducing disease-related morbidities experienced by those in schistosomiasis-endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Archer
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5HD, UK
| | - Shi Min Yeo
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5HD, UK
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Grace Gadd
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5HD, UK
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Tom Pennance
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5HD, UK
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific – Northwest, Western University of Health Sciences, Lebanon, OR, 97355, USA
| | - Lucas J. Cunningham
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Alexandra Juhàsz
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, H-1089, Hungary
| | - Sam Jones
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Priscilla Chammudzi
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - Donales R. Kapira
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - David Lally
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - Gladys Namacha
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - Bright Mainga
- Laboratory Department, Mangochi District Hospital, Mangochi, P.O. Box 42, Malawi
| | - Peter Makaula
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
| | - James E. LaCourse
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Sekeleghe A. Kayuni
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - Janelisa Musaya
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - J. Russell Stothard
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Bonnie L. Webster
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5HD, UK
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Salas-Coronas J, Luzón-García MP, Crego-Vicente B, Soriano-Pérez MJ, Febrer-Sendra B, Vázquez-Villegas J, Diego JGB, Cabeza-Barrera IM, Castillo-Fernández N, Muro A, Bargues MD, Fernández-Soto P. Evaluation of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) in Urine Samples for the Diagnosis of Imported Schistosomiasis. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:518. [PMID: 38133450 PMCID: PMC10747415 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8120518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Migratory flows and international travel are triggering an increase in imported cases of schistosomiasis in non-endemic countries. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the LAMP technique on patients' urine samples for the diagnosis of imported schistosomiasis in a non-endemic area in comparison to a commercial immunochromatographic test and microscopic examination of feces and urine. A prospective observational study was conducted in sub-Saharan migrants attending the Tropical Medicine Unit, Almería, Spain. For schistosomiasis diagnosis, serum samples were tested using an immunochromatographic test (Schistosoma ICT IgG-IgM). Stool and urine samples were examined by microcopy. Urine samples were evaluated by combining three LAMP assays for the specific detection of Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium, and for the genus Schistosoma. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, a latent class analysis (LCA) was performed. In total, 115 patients were included (92.2% male; median age: 28.3 years). Of these, 21 patients (18.3%) were diagnosed with schistosomiasis confirmed by microscopy, with S. haematobium being the most frequent species identified (18/115; 15.7%). The Schistosoma ICT IgG-IgM test result was 100% positive and Schistosoma-LAMP was 61.9% positive, reaching as high as 72.2% for S. haematobium. The sensitivity and specificity estimated by LCA, respectively, were: 92% and 76% for Schistosoma ICT IgG-IgM, 68% and 44% for Schistosoma-LAMP, and 46% and 97% for microscopy. In conclusion, the Schistosoma-LAMP technique presented a higher sensitivity than microscopy for the diagnosis of imported urinary schistosomiasis, which could improve the diagnosis of active infection, both in referral centers and in centers with limited experience or scarce resources and infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Salas-Coronas
- Tropical Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitario Poniente, 04700 El Ejido, Almería, Spain; (M.P.L.-G.); (M.J.S.-P.); (I.M.C.-B.); (N.C.-F.)
- Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Almería, 04120 La Cañada, Almería, Spain
| | - María Pilar Luzón-García
- Tropical Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitario Poniente, 04700 El Ejido, Almería, Spain; (M.P.L.-G.); (M.J.S.-P.); (I.M.C.-B.); (N.C.-F.)
| | - Beatriz Crego-Vicente
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (B.C.-V.); (B.F.-S.); (J.G.-B.D.); (A.M.)
| | - Manuel Jesús Soriano-Pérez
- Tropical Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitario Poniente, 04700 El Ejido, Almería, Spain; (M.P.L.-G.); (M.J.S.-P.); (I.M.C.-B.); (N.C.-F.)
| | - Begoña Febrer-Sendra
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (B.C.-V.); (B.F.-S.); (J.G.-B.D.); (A.M.)
| | - José Vázquez-Villegas
- Tropical Medicine Unit, Distrito Poniente de Almería, 04700 El Ejido, Almería, Spain;
| | - Juan García-Bernalt Diego
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (B.C.-V.); (B.F.-S.); (J.G.-B.D.); (A.M.)
| | - Isabel María Cabeza-Barrera
- Tropical Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitario Poniente, 04700 El Ejido, Almería, Spain; (M.P.L.-G.); (M.J.S.-P.); (I.M.C.-B.); (N.C.-F.)
| | - Nerea Castillo-Fernández
- Tropical Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitario Poniente, 04700 El Ejido, Almería, Spain; (M.P.L.-G.); (M.J.S.-P.); (I.M.C.-B.); (N.C.-F.)
| | - Antonio Muro
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (B.C.-V.); (B.F.-S.); (J.G.-B.D.); (A.M.)
| | - María Dolores Bargues
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain;
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Fernández-Soto
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (B.C.-V.); (B.F.-S.); (J.G.-B.D.); (A.M.)
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Tumusiime J, Kagoro-Rugunda G, Tolo CU, Namirembe D, Schols R, Hammoud C, Albrecht C, Huyse T. An accident waiting to happen? Exposing the potential of urogenital schistosomiasis transmission in the Lake Albert region, Uganda. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:398. [PMID: 37919743 PMCID: PMC10623741 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06017-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urogenital schistosomiasis caused by the parasitic blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium is the most common form of that constitutes a majority of over 240 million schistosomiasis cases. The enigmatic absence of urogenital schistosomiasis in Uganda has, until now, been attributed to the absence of substantial populations of suitable snail intermediate hosts. METHODS Malacological surveys were carried out in 73 sites southeast of Lake Albert, Uganda in October and November 2020. Collected snails were transported to the laboratory for identification. The snails were identified using partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit one and nuclear internal transcribed spacer barcoding. Schistosome infections in snails were also assessed using cercarial shedding and rapid diagnostic PCR techniques. RESULTS We found Bulinus globosus and Bulinus nasutus productus, the main intermediate species in the transmission of S. haematobium in mainland East Africa. In this survey, B. globosus was more common than B. nasutus productus, with the former reported at four sites (total count = 188) and the latter reported at one site (total count = 79). Molecular testing revealed a high prevalence of Schistosoma bovis in B. nasutus productus (16%), but no S. haematobium infections were found. CONCLUSIONS Given the abundance of snail hosts and the risky human water contact behaviours observed, we highlight the potential for urogenital schistosomiasis transmission in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Tumusiime
- Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
- Institute of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Grace Kagoro-Rugunda
- Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Casim Umba Tolo
- Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Daisy Namirembe
- Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Ruben Schols
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biology, KU Leuven, Campus Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Cyril Hammoud
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
- Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christian Albrecht
- Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- Institute of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tine Huyse
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
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Gaye PM, Doucouré S, Sow D, Sokhna C, Ranque S. Identification of Bulinus forskalii as a potential intermediate host of Schistosoma hæmatobium in Senegal. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010584. [PMID: 37159452 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the transmission of Schistosoma hæmatobium in the Senegal River Delta requires knowledge of the snails serving as intermediate hosts. Accurate identification of both the snails and the infecting Schistosoma species is therefore essential. Cercarial emission tests and multi-locus (COX1 and ITS) genetic analysis were performed on Bulinus forskalii snails to confirm their susceptibility to S. hæmatobium infection. A total of 55 Bulinus forskalii, adequately identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, were assessed. Cercarial shedding and RT-PCR assays detected 13 (23.6%) and 17 (31.0%), respectively, Bulinus forskalii snails parasitized by S. hæmatobium complex fluke. Nucleotide sequence analysis identified S. hæmatobium in 6 (11.0%) using COX1 and 3 (5.5%) using ITS2, and S. bovis in 3 (5.5%) using COX1 and 3 (5.5%) using ITS2. This result is the first report of infection of Bulinus forskalii by S. hæmatobium complex parasites in Senegal using innovative and more accurate identification methods to discriminate this snail and characterize its infection by S. hæmatobium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Papa Mouhamadou Gaye
- Aix-Marseille Université, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- VITROME, Campus International IRD-UCAD de l'IRD, Dakar, Senegal
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)-Méditerranée Infection de Marseille, Marseille, France
- Département Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Technique, UCAD de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Doudou Sow
- Department of Parasitology-Mycology, UFR Sciences de la Santé, Université Gaston Berger, Saint-Louis, Senegal
| | - Cheikh Sokhna
- VITROME, Campus International IRD-UCAD de l'IRD, Dakar, Senegal
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)-Méditerranée Infection de Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Stéphane Ranque
- VITROME, Campus International IRD-UCAD de l'IRD, Dakar, Senegal
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)-Méditerranée Infection de Marseille, Marseille, France
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Hammoud C, Kayenbergh A, Tumusiime J, Verschuren D, Albrecht C, Huyse T, Van Bocxlaer B. Trematode infection affects shell shape and size in Bulinus tropicus. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 18:300-311. [PMID: 35957748 PMCID: PMC9357703 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Trematodes can increase intraspecific variation in the phenotype of their intermediate snail host. However, the extent of such phenotypic changes remains unclear. We investigated the influence of trematode infection on the shell morphology of Bulinus tropicus, a common host of medically important trematodes. We focused on a snail population from crater lake Kasenda (Uganda). We sampled a single homogeneous littoral habitat to minimize the influence of environmental variation on shell phenotype, and barcoded snails to document snail genotypic variation. Among the 257 adult snails analysed, 99 tested positive for trematode infection using rapid-diagnostic PCRs. Subsequently we used high-throughput amplicon sequencing to identify the trematode (co-)infections. For 86 out of the 99 positive samples trematode species delineation could discriminate among combinations of (co-)infection by 11 trematode species. To avoid confounding effects, we focused on four prevalent trematode species. We performed landmark-based geometric morphometrics to characterize shell phenotype and used regressions to examine whether shell size and shape were affected by trematode infection and the developmental stage of infection (as inferred from read counts). Snails infected by Petasiger sp. 5, Echinoparyphium sp. or Austrodiplostomum sp. 2 had larger shells than uninfected snails or than those infected by Plagiorchiida sp. Moreover, the shell shape of snails infected solely by Petasiger sp. 5 differed significantly from that of uninfected snails and snails infected with other trematodes, except from Austrodiplostomum sp. 2. Shape changes included a more protuberant apex, an inward-folded outer apertural lip and a more adapically positioned umbilicus. Size differences were more pronounced in snails with ‘late’ infections (>25 days) compared to earlier-stage infections. No phenotypic differences were found between snails infected by a single trematode species and those harbouring co-infections. Further work is required to assess the complex causal links between trematode infections and shell morphological alterations of snail hosts. Trematode infections are linked to Bulinus tropicus shell shape and size variations. Variations in shell phenotype are trematode species-dependant. Trematode infections were analysed using diagnostic PCRs and amplicon sequencing. Snail shell morphology was analysed using landmark-based geometric morphometrics.
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Liang S, Ponpetch K, Zhou YB, Guo J, Erko B, Stothard JR, Murad MH, Zhou XN, Satrija F, Webster JP, Remais JV, Utzinger J, Garba A. Diagnosis of Schistosoma infection in non-human animal hosts: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010389. [PMID: 35522699 PMCID: PMC9116658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reliable and field-applicable diagnosis of schistosome infections in non-human animals is important for surveillance, control, and verification of interruption of human schistosomiasis transmission. This study aimed to summarize uses of available diagnostic techniques through a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We systematically searched the literature and reports comparing two or more diagnostic tests in non-human animals for schistosome infection. Out of 4,909 articles and reports screened, 19 met our inclusion criteria, four of which were considered in the meta-analysis. A total of 14 techniques (parasitologic, immunologic, and molecular) and nine types of non-human animals were involved in the studies. Notably, four studies compared parasitologic tests (miracidium hatching test (MHT), Kato-Katz (KK), the Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory technique (DBL), and formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation-digestion (FEA-SD)) with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and sensitivity estimates (using qPCR as the reference) were extracted and included in the meta-analyses, showing significant heterogeneity across studies and animal hosts. The pooled estimate of sensitivity was 0.21 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.48) with FEA-SD showing highest sensitivity (0.89, 95% CI: 0.65-1.00). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our findings suggest that the parasitologic technique FEA-SD and the molecular technique qPCR are the most promising techniques for schistosome diagnosis in non-human animal hosts. Future studies are needed for validation and standardization of the techniques for real-world field applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Liang
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Keerati Ponpetch
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Sirindhorn College of Public Health Trang, Faculty of Public Health and Allied Health Sciences, Praboromarajchanok Institute, Trang, Thailand
| | - Yi-Biao Zhou
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiagang Guo
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Berhanu Erko
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - J. Russell Stothard
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, United Kingdom
| | - M. Hassan Murad
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases and Occupational Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Xiao-Nong Zhou
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fadjar Satrija
- Department of Animal Infectious Diseases and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Joanne P. Webster
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Justin V. Remais
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Amadou Garba
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Ndolo SM, Zachariah M, Molefi L, Phaladze N, Sichilongo KF. Mass spectrometry based metabolomics for small molecule metabolites mining and confirmation as potential biomarkers for schistosomiasis - case of the Okavango Delta communities in Botswana. Expert Rev Proteomics 2021; 19:61-71. [PMID: 34846232 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2021.2012454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Metabolomics for identifying schistosomiasis biomarkers in noninvasive samples at various infection stages is being actively explored. The literature on the traditional detection of schistosomiasis in human specimens is well documented. However, state-of-the-art technologies based on mass spectrometry have simplified the use of biomarkers for diagnostics. This review examines methods currently in use for the metabolomics of small molecules using separation science and mass spectrometry. AREA COVERED This article highlights the evolution of traditional diagnostic methods for schistosomiasis based on inter alia microscopy, immunology, and polymerase chain reaction. An exhaustive literature search of metabolite mining, focusing on separation science and mass spectrometry, is presented. A comparative analysis of mass spectrometry methods was undertaken, including a projection for the future. EXPERT COMMENTARY Mass spectrometry metabolomics for schistosomiasis will lead to biomarker discovery for noninvasive human samples. These biomarkers, together with those from other neglected tropical diseases, such as malaria and sleeping sickness, could be incorporated as arrays on a single biosensor chip and inserted into smartphones, in order to improve surveillance, monitoring, and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedireng M Ndolo
- College of Open Schooling, Botswana Open University, Gaborone Regional Campus, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Matshediso Zachariah
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Lebotse Molefi
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Nthabiseng Phaladze
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Kwenga F Sichilongo
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
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10
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Joof E, Sanneh B, Sambou SM, Wade CM. Species diversity and distribution of schistosome intermediate snail hosts in The Gambia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009823. [PMID: 34606509 PMCID: PMC8516291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a need for recent information on intermediate snail hosts of schistosomes in The Gambia; the previous studies were conducted over three decades ago. This study assessed the incidence, species diversity, distribution and infection status of schistosome intermediate snail hosts in the country. Malacological surveys were conducted in all 5 regions of The Gambia: Central River Region (CRR), Upper River Region (URR), Western Region (WR), Lower River Region (LRR) and North Bank Region (NBR). Sampling of snails was undertaken at 114 sites that included permanent water bodies such as streams (bolongs), rice fields, irrigation canals and swamps; and temporal (seasonal) laterite pools. Ecological and physicochemical factors of sites were recorded. Snails were identified morphologically and screened for schistosome infections using molecular techniques. Freshwater snails were found at more than 50% (60/114) of sites sampled. While three species of Bulinus were collected, no Biomphalaria snails were found in any of the sites sampled. Of the total 2877 Bulinus snails collected, 75.9% were identified as Bulinus senegalensis, 20.9% as Bulinus forskalii and 3.2% as Bulinus truncatus. Seasonal pools produced the largest number of snails, and CRR was the region with the largest number of snails. Bulinus senegalensis was found more in seasonal pools as opposed to permanent sites, where B. forskalii and B. truncatus were observed to thrive. Bulinus snails were more common in seasonal sites where aquatic vegetation was present. In permanent sites, the abundance of snails increased with increase in water temperature and decrease in water pH. Bulinus senegalensis was found infected with both S. haematobium and S. bovis, while B. forskalii and B. truncatus had only S. bovis infection. While the human parasite S. haematobium was restricted to just four sites, the livestock parasite S. bovis had a much more widespread geographical distribution across both CRR and URR. This new information on the distribution of intermediate snail hosts of schistosomes in The Gambia will be vital for the national schistosomiasis control initiative. Several studies were conducted on intermediate snail hosts of schistosomes in The Gambia between the 1950s and 1980s, but there are few reports of similar studies in recent times. After The Gambia initiated its national control programme for schistosomiasis in 2014, the need arose for more and current information on schistosomiasis and the intermediate snail hosts involved indirectly in its transmission. We undertook a malacological survey of freshwater sites in all five regions (CRR, URR, WR, LRR and NBR) of The Gambia. While no Biomplalaria snails were found in any of the 114 sites sampled, three species of Bulinus snails were found. Of the total 2877 Bulinus snails collected, 75.9% were identified as Bulinus senegalensis, 20.9% as Bulinus forskalii and 3.2% as Bulinus truncatus. CRR had the highest number of snails amongst the regions and seasonal pools yielded the most snails amongst the habitat types sampled. Habitat type, water temperature and pH of sites were observed to have an influence on snail abundance. All three Bulinus snails were found infected with schistosome parasites. The human parasite (Schistosoma haematobium) had a much more restricted distribution as opposed to the livestock parasite (Schistosoma bovis) which had a wider geographical range. The study provides the first malacological report of intermediate snail hosts of schistosomes in The Gambia in over 3 decades and will be useful to the national schistosomiasis control programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebrima Joof
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- National Public Health Laboratories, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Banjul, The Gambia
- * E-mail: (EJ); (CMW)
| | - Bakary Sanneh
- National Public Health Laboratories, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Sana M. Sambou
- Epidemiology and Disease Control Department, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Christopher M. Wade
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (EJ); (CMW)
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Hammoud C, Mulero S, Van Bocxlaer B, Boissier J, Verschuren D, Albrecht C, Huyse T. Simultaneous genotyping of snails and infecting trematode parasites using high-throughput amplicon sequencing. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:567-586. [PMID: 34435445 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Several methodological issues currently hamper the study of entire trematode communities within populations of their intermediate snail hosts. Here we develop a new workflow using high-throughput amplicon sequencing to simultaneously genotype snail hosts and their infecting trematode parasites. We designed primers to amplify four snail and five trematode markers in a single multiplex PCR. While also applicable to other genera, we focused on medically and economically important snail genera within the superorder Hygrophila and targeted a broad taxonomic range of parasites within the class Trematoda. We tested the workflow using 417 Biomphalaria glabrata specimens experimentally infected with Schistosoma rodhaini, two strains of Schistosoma mansoni and combinations thereof. We evaluated the reliability of infection diagnostics, the robustness of the workflow, its specificity related to host and parasite identification, and the sensitivity to detect co-infections, immature infections and changes of parasite biomass during the infection process. Finally, we investigated its applicability in wild-caught snails of other genera naturally infected with a diverse range of trematodes. After stringent quality control the workflow allows the identification of snails to species level, and of trematodes to taxonomic levels ranging from family to strain. It is sensitive to detect immature infections and changes in parasite biomass described in previous experimental studies. Co-infections were successfully identified, opening the possibility to examine parasite-parasite interactions such as interspecific competition. Together, these results demonstrate that our workflow provides a powerful tool to analyse the processes shaping trematode communities within natural snail populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Hammoud
- Limnology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.,Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Stephen Mulero
- IHPE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, IFREMER, Perpignan, France
| | - Bert Van Bocxlaer
- Limnology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.,Univ. Lille, UMR 8198 Evo-Eco-Paleo, CNRS, Lille, France
| | - Jérôme Boissier
- IHPE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, IFREMER, Perpignan, France
| | - Dirk Verschuren
- Limnology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Christian Albrecht
- Systematics & Biodiversity Lab, Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tine Huyse
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.,Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Schols R, Carolus H, Hammoud C, Muzarabani KC, Barson M, Huyse T. Invasive snails, parasite spillback, and potential parasite spillover drive parasitic diseases of Hippopotamus amphibius in artificial lakes of Zimbabwe. BMC Biol 2021; 19:160. [PMID: 34412627 PMCID: PMC8377832 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01093-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Humans impose a significant pressure on large herbivore populations, such as hippopotami, through hunting, poaching, and habitat destruction. Anthropogenic pressures can also occur indirectly, such as artificial lake creation and the subsequent introduction of invasive species that alter the ecosystem. These events can lead to drastic changes in parasite diversity and transmission, but generally receive little scientific attention. Results In order to document and identify trematode parasites of the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in artificial water systems of Zimbabwe, we applied an integrative taxonomic approach, combining molecular diagnostics and morphometrics on archived and new samples. In doing so, we provide DNA reference sequences of the hippopotamus liver fluke Fasciola nyanzae, enabling us to construct the first complete Fasciola phylogeny. We describe parasite spillback of F. nyanzae by the invasive freshwater snail Pseudosuccinea columella, as a consequence of a cascade of biological invasions in Lake Kariba, one of the biggest artificial lakes in the world. Additionally, we report an unknown stomach fluke of the hippopotamus transmitted by the non-endemic snail Radix aff. plicatula, an Asian snail species that has not been found in Africa before, and the stomach fluke Carmyerius cruciformis transmitted by the native snail Bulinus truncatus. Finally, Biomphalaria pfeifferi and two Bulinus species were found as new snail hosts for the poorly documented hippopotamus blood fluke Schistosoma edwardiense. Conclusions Our findings indicate that artificial lakes are breeding grounds for endemic and non-endemic snails that transmit trematode parasites of the common hippopotamus. This has important implications, as existing research links trematode parasite infections combined with other stressors to declining wild herbivore populations. Therefore, we argue that monitoring the anthropogenic impact on parasite transmission should become an integral part of wildlife conservation efforts. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01093-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Schols
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium. .,Laboratory of Aquatic Biology, KU Leuven Kulak, Kortrijk, Belgium.
| | - Hans Carolus
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, KU Leuven-VIB Center for Microbiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cyril Hammoud
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.,Limnology Research Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Maxwell Barson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.,Lake Kariba Research Station, University of Zimbabwe, Kariba, Zimbabwe
| | - Tine Huyse
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
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13
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Mesquita SG, Neves FGDS, Scholte RGC, Carvalho ODS, Fonseca CT, Caldeira RL. A loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for Schistosoma mansoni detection in Biomphalaria spp. from schistosomiasis-endemic areas in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:388. [PMID: 34362440 PMCID: PMC8343921 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04888-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis a neglected tropical disease endemic in Brazil. It is caused by the trematode Schistosoma mansoni, which is transmitted by snails of the genus Biomphalaria. Among measures used to control and eliminate schistosomiasis, accurate mapping and monitoring of snail breeding sites are recommended. Despite the limitations of parasitological methods, they are still used to identify infected snails. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective diagnostic method for the identification of infected snails. In the work reported here, we aimed to validate the use of LAMP for the detection of S. mansoni in snails of the genus Biomphalaria. METHODS Snails were collected in five municipalities of the Mucuri Valley and Jequitinhonha Valley regions in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Snails were pooled according to collection site and then squeezed for the detection of S. mansoni and other trematode larvae. Pooled snails were subjected to pepsin digestion and DNA extraction. Molecular assays were performed for species-specific identification and characterization of the samples. A previously described LAMP assay was adapted, evaluated, and validated using laboratory and field samples. RESULTS Using the parasitological method described here, S. mansoni cercariae were detected in snails from two collection sites, and cercariae of the family Spirorchiidae were found in snails from one site. The snails were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Biomphalaria glabrata, the main snail host of S. mansoni in Brazil, was detected in 72.2% of the collection sites. Biomphalaria kuhniana, which is resistant to S. mansoni infection, was found in the remaining sites. Multiplex, low stringency (LS), and conventional PCR allowed the detection of positive snails in four additional sites. Trematodes belonging to the families Strigeidae and Echinostomatidae were detected by multiplex PCR in two sites. The LAMP assay was effective in detecting the presence of S. mansoni infection in laboratory (7 days post-infection) and field samples with no cross-reactivity for other trematodes. When compared to LS and conventional PCR, LAMP showed 100% specificity, 85.7% sensitivity, and a κ index of 0.88. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that LAMP is a good alternative method for the detection and monitoring of transmission foci of S. mansoni, as it was three times as effective as the parasitological examination used here for the detection of infection, and is more directly applicable in the field than other molecular techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Gonçalves Mesquita
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Floria Gabriela dos Santos Neves
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Guilherme Carvalho Scholte
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Omar dos Santos Carvalho
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Cristina Toscano Fonseca
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia e Imunologia Parasitária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Roberta Lima Caldeira
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
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Panzner U, Boissier J. Natural Intra- and Interclade Human Hybrid Schistosomes in Africa with Considerations on Prevention through Vaccination. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9071465. [PMID: 34361901 PMCID: PMC8305539 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Causal agents of schistosomiasis are dioecious, digenean schistosomes affecting mankind in 76 countries. Preventive measures are manifold but need to be complemented by vaccination for long-term protection; vaccine candidates in advanced pre-clinical/clinical stages include Sm14, Sm-TSP-2/Sm-TSP-2Al®, Smp80/SchistoShield®, and Sh28GST/Bilhvax®. Natural and anthropogenic changes impact on breaking species isolation barriers favoring introgressive hybridization, i.e., allelic exchange among gene pools of sympatric, interbreeding species leading to instant large genetic diversity. Phylogenetic distance matters, thus the less species differ phylogenetically the more likely they hybridize. PubMed and Embase databases were searched for publications limited to hybridale confirmation by mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and/or nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Human schistosomal hybrids are predominantly reported from West Africa with clustering in the Senegal River Basin, and scattering to Europe, Central and Eastern Africa. Noteworthy is the dominance of Schistosoma haematobium interbreeding with human and veterinary species leading due to hybrid vigor to extinction and homogenization as seen for S. guineensis in Cameroon and S. haematobium in Niger, respectively. Heterosis seems to advantage S. haematobium/S. bovis interbreeds with dominant S. haematobium-ITS/S. bovis-COX1 profile to spread from West to East Africa and reoccur in France. S. haematobium/S. mansoni interactions seen among Senegalese and Côte d’Ivoirian children are unexpected due to their high phylogenetic distance. Detecting pure S. bovis and S. bovis/S. curassoni crosses capable of infecting humans observed in Corsica and Côte d’Ivoire, and Niger, respectively, is worrisome. Taken together, species hybridization urges control and preventive measures targeting human and veterinary sectors in line with the One-Health concept to be complemented by vaccination protecting against transmission, infection, and disease recurrence. Functional and structural diversity of naturally occurring human schistosomal hybrids may impact current vaccine candidates requiring further research including natural history studies in endemic areas targeted for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Panzner
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-176-6657-2910
| | - Jerome Boissier
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, University of Perpignan, 66860 Perpignan, France;
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15
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Bulinus senegalensis and Bulinus umbilicatus Snail Infestations by the Schistosoma haematobium Group in Niakhar, Senegal. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070860. [PMID: 34358010 PMCID: PMC8308860 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Thorough knowledge of the dynamics of Bulinus spp. infestation could help to control the spread of schistosomiasis. This study describes the spatio-temporal dynamics of B. senegalensis and B. umbilicatus infestation by the Schistosoma haematobium group of blood flukes in Niakhar, Senegal. Molecular identification of the S. haematobium group was performed by real-time PCR, targeting the Dra 1 gene in 810 samples of Bulinus spp. collected during the schistosomiasis transmission season in 2013. In addition to Dra 1 PCR, a rapid diagnostic-PCR was performed on a sub-group of 43 snails to discriminate S. haematobium, S. bovis, and S. mattheei. Out of 810 snails, 236 (29.1%) were positive for Dra 1 based on the PCR, including 96.2% and 3.8% of B. senegalensis and B. umbilicatus, respectively. Among the sub-group, 16 samples were confirmed to be S. haematobium while one was identified as a mixture of S. haematobium and S. bovis. Snails infestations were detected in all villages sampled and infestation rates ranged from 15.38% to 42.11%. The prevalence of infestation was higher in the north (33.47%) compared to the south (25.74%). Snail populations infestations appear early in the rainy season, with a peak in the middle of the season, and then a decline towards the end of the rainy season. Molecular techniques showed, for the first time, the presence of S. bovis in the Bulinus spp. population of Niakhar. The heterogeneity of snail infestations at the village level must be taken into account in mass treatment strategies. Further studies should help to improve the characterizations of the schistosome population.
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Aula OP, McManus DP, Jones MK, Gordon CA. Schistosomiasis with a Focus on Africa. Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:109. [PMID: 34206495 PMCID: PMC8293433 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6030109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a common neglected tropical disease of impoverished people and livestock in many developing countries in tropical Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Substantial progress has been made in controlling schistosomiasis in some African countries, but the disease still prevails in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa with an estimated 800 million people at risk of infection. Current control strategies rely primarily on treatment with praziquantel, as no vaccine is available; however, treatment alone does not prevent reinfection. There has been emphasis on the use of integrated approaches in the control and elimination of the disease in recent years with the development of health infrastructure and health education. However, there is a need to evaluate the present status of African schistosomiasis, primarily caused by Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium, and the factors affecting the disease as the basis for developing more effective control and elimination strategies in the future. This review provides an historical perspective of schistosomiasis in Africa and discusses the current status of control efforts in those countries where the disease is endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyime Poise Aula
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4006, Australia;
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane 4006, Australia
| | - Donald P. McManus
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4006, Australia;
| | - Malcolm K. Jones
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia;
| | - Catherine A. Gordon
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4006, Australia;
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Challenges and Opportunities Presented by Current Techniques for Detecting Schistosome Infections in Intermediate Host Snails: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18105403. [PMID: 34069316 PMCID: PMC8158760 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), causes morbidity and mortality in over 250 million people globally. And 700 million people are at risk of contracting it. It is caused by a parasite of the genus Schistosoma. Freshwater snails of the family Planorbidae are of public health significance as they are intermediate hosts of these highly infective flukes. Accurate diagnostic techniques to detect schistosome infections in intermediate host snails (IHS) and environmental surveillance are needed to institute measures for the interruption of transmission and eventual elimination. We carried out a systematic review of the literature to assess advantages and limitations of different diagnostic techniques for detecting schistosome infections in snails. Literature from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases from 2008 to 2020 were searched using combinations of predefined search terms with Boolean operators. The studies revealed that conventional diagnostics are widely used, although they are labor-intensive, have low specificity and sensitivity levels, and cannot detect prepatent infections. Whereas more advanced techniques such as immunological, nucleic-acid amplification, and eDNA diagnostics have high sensitivity and specificity levels, they are costly, hence, not suitable for field applications and large-scale surveys. Our review highlights the importance of designing and developing innovative diagnostics that are high in specificity and sensitivity as well as affordable and technically feasible for use in field laboratories and for large-scale surveys.
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Crego-Vicente B, Fernández-Soto P, Febrer-Sendra B, García-Bernalt Diego J, Boissier J, Angora EK, Oleaga A, Muro A. Application of a Genus-Specific LAMP Assay for Schistosome Species to Detect Schistosoma haematobium x Schistosoma bovis Hybrids. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10061308. [PMID: 33810080 PMCID: PMC8004683 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10061308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a disease of great medical and veterinary importance in tropical and subtropical regions caused by different species of parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. The emergence of natural hybrids of schistosomes indicate the risk of possible infection to humans and their zoonotic potential, specifically for Schistosoma haematobium and S. bovis. Hybrid schistosomes have the potential to replace existing species, generate new resistances, pathologies and extending host ranges. Hybrids may also confuse the serological, molecular and parasitological diagnosis. Currently, LAMP technology based on detection of nucleic acids is used for detection of many agents, including schistosomes. Here, we evaluate our previously developed species-specific LAMP assays for S. haematobium, S. mansoni, S. bovis and also the genus-specific LAMP for the simultaneous detection of several Schistosoma species against both DNA from pure and, for the first time, S. haematobium x S. bovis hybrids. Proper operation was evaluated with DNA from hybrid schistosomes and with human urine samples artificially contaminated with parasites' DNA. LAMP was performed with and without prior DNA extraction. The genus-specific LAMP properly amplified pure Schistosoma species and different S. haematobium-S. bovis hybrids with different sensitivity. The Schistosoma spp.-LAMP method is potentially adaptable for field diagnosis and disease surveillance in schistosomiasis endemic areas where human infections by schistosome hybrids are increasingly common.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Crego-Vicente
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (B.C.-V.); (B.F.-S.); (J.G.-B.D.)
| | - Pedro Fernández-Soto
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (B.C.-V.); (B.F.-S.); (J.G.-B.D.)
- Correspondence: (P.F.-S.); (A.M.); Tel.: +34-677596173 (P.F.-S.); +34-677596155 (A.M.)
| | - Begoña Febrer-Sendra
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (B.C.-V.); (B.F.-S.); (J.G.-B.D.)
| | - Juan García-Bernalt Diego
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (B.C.-V.); (B.F.-S.); (J.G.-B.D.)
| | - Jérôme Boissier
- IHPE, Université Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Université Perpignan Via Domitia, 66100 Perpignan, France;
| | - Etienne K. Angora
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland;
- Department of Public Health, University of Basel, P.O. Box CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
- Unité de Formation et de Recherche Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan BPV 34, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Ana Oleaga
- Parasitology Laboratory, Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology (IRNASA, CSIC), Cordel de Merinas 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Antonio Muro
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (B.C.-V.); (B.F.-S.); (J.G.-B.D.)
- Correspondence: (P.F.-S.); (A.M.); Tel.: +34-677596173 (P.F.-S.); +34-677596155 (A.M.)
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Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification in Schistosomiasis. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10030511. [PMID: 33535489 PMCID: PMC7867102 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10030511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human schistosomiasis is one of the most important parasitic diseases, causing around 250 million cases (mostly in Africa) and 280,000–500,000 deaths every year. Due to the limited resources and the far-removed nature of many endemic areas, the implementation of new, sensitive and specific diagnostic tools has had little success. This is particularly true for PCR-based molecular methods that require expensive equipment and trained personnel to be executed. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) along with other isothermal techniques appeared in the early 21st century as an alternative to those methods, overcoming some of the aforementioned limitations and achieving a more inexpensive diagnostic. However, to this date, neither LAMP nor any other isothermal technique have signified a meaningful change in the way schistosomiasis diagnosis is routinely performed. Here, we present the recent developments in LAMP-based schistosomiasis diagnosis. We expose the main advantages and disadvantages of LAMP technology over PCR and other classical diagnostic methods focusing in various research approaches on intermediate hosts, animal models and patients. We also examine its potential clinical application in post-therapy monitoring, as well as its usefulness as a point-of-care test.
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Schols R, Mudavanhu A, Carolus H, Hammoud C, Muzarabani KC, Barson M, Huyse T. Exposing the Barcoding Void: An Integrative Approach to Study Snail-Borne Parasites in a One Health Context. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:605280. [PMID: 33363243 PMCID: PMC7758321 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.605280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trematodes are snail-borne parasites of major zoonotic importance that infect millions of people and animals worldwide and frequently hybridize with closely related species. Therefore, it is desirable to study trematodiases in a One Health framework, where human and animal trematodes are considered equally important. It is within this framework that we set out to study the snail and trematode communities in four artificial lakes and an abattoir in Zimbabwe. Trematode infections in snails were detected through multiplex PCR protocols. Subsequently, we identified snails by sequencing a partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) fragment, and trematodes (adults from the abattoir and larval stages detected in snails) using COI and nuclear rDNA markers. Of the 1,674 collected snails, 699 were molecularly analyzed, in which we identified 12 snail and 19 trematode species. Additionally, three parasite species were sampled from the abattoir. Merely four trematode species were identified to species level through COI-based barcoding. Moreover, identification of members of the superfamilies Opisthorchioidea and Plagiorchioidea required a phylogenetic inference using the highly conserved 18S rDNA marker, as no related COI reference sequences were present in public databases. These barcoding challenges demonstrate a severe barcoding void in the available databases, which can be attributed to the neglected status of trematodiases. Adding to this, many available sequences cannot be used as different studies use different markers. To fill this gap, more studies on African trematodes, using a standardized COI barcoding region, are desperately needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Schols
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Kulak, Kortrijk, Belgium.,Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Aspire Mudavanhu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe
| | - Hans Carolus
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven-Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie Center for Microbiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cyril Hammoud
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.,Limnology Research Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Maxwell Barson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Tine Huyse
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
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Mesquita SG, Rodrigues-Luiz GF, Reis-Cunha JL, Cardoso MS, De Mendonça CLF, Bueno LL, Fujiwara RT, Pinto HA, Caldeira RL, Bartholomeu DC. A multiplex PCR protocol for rapid differential identification of four families of trematodes with medical and veterinary importance transmitted by Biomphalaria Preston, 1910 snails. Acta Trop 2020; 211:105655. [PMID: 32783955 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Trematodes have complex life cycles with multiple hosts. Biomphalaria snails commonly act as the first intermediate hosts of several species that can affect human and animal health. The specific identification of larval trematodes found in snails is difficult and limited, since the taxonomy of these flukes is based on morphological traits of the adults found in vertebrates. Despite recent advances worldwide, studies aiming at the use of molecular tools for the identification of cercariae found in snails are scarce in the South America. In fact, most studies are focused on Schistosoma mansoni, with few efforts directed towards the identification of larvae of other parasites found in planorbids. When reported, these other parasites are identified as cercarial types, an artificial morphological system of classification. Therefore, alternative strategies for a correct, rapid and inexpensive identification of larval trematodes found in Biomphalaria are needed. This work aimed at developing a methodology capable of distinguishing four important families of trematodes (Clinostomidae, Echinostomatidae, Schistosomatidae and Strigeidae) commonly found infecting species of Biomphalaria. Using the rDNA sequences of 34 species as input for the online tool TipMT, we designed trematode family-specific primers targeting the ITS region optimized to be used in multiplex PCR. The panel of primers identified in this study was effective at the same PCR condition. The specificity of the primers was confirmed, and the PCR sensitivity ranged from 0.1 ng to 1 ag of the DNA of the parasite. This methodology was also effective for the detection of coinfection. Through a simple, fast, accurate, and inexpensive methodology, it is possible to properly identify the trematode families included in this study in a single PCR reaction. A family level identification provides important information about probable hosts, pattern of life cycle and possible impacts that the infection generates in a specific region, thus allowing the design of better control strategies, especially for those infections that have medical and veterinary importance.
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Pennance T, Archer J, Lugli EB, Rostron P, Llanwarne F, Ali SM, Amour AK, Suleiman KR, Li S, Rollinson D, Cable J, Knopp S, Allan F, Ame SM, Webster BL. Development of a Molecular Snail Xenomonitoring Assay to Detect Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma bovis Infections in their Bulinus Snail Hosts. Molecules 2020; 25:E4011. [PMID: 32887445 PMCID: PMC7116084 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25174011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease of medical and veterinary importance, transmitted through specific freshwater snail intermediate hosts, is targeted for elimination in several endemic regions in sub-Saharan Africa. Multi-disciplinary methods are required for both human and environmental diagnostics to certify schistosomiasis elimination when eventually reached. Molecular xenomonitoring protocols, a DNA-based detection method for screening disease vectors, have been developed and trialed for parasites transmitted by hematophagous insects, such as filarial worms and trypanosomes, yet few have been extensively trialed or proven reliable for the intermediate host snails transmitting schistosomes. Here, previously published universal and Schistosoma-specific internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA primers were adapted into a triplex PCR primer assay that allowed for simple, robust, and rapid detection of Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma bovis in Bulinus snails. We showed this two-step protocol could sensitively detect DNA of a single larval schistosome from experimentally infected snails and demonstrate its functionality for detecting S. haematobium infections in wild-caught snails from Zanzibar. Such surveillance tools are a necessity for succeeding in and certifying the 2030 control and elimination goals set by the World Health Organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Pennance
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; (E.B.L.); (P.R.); (F.L.); (D.R.); (F.A.); (B.L.W.)
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK;
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), London W2 1PG, UK
| | - John Archer
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; (E.B.L.); (P.R.); (F.L.); (D.R.); (F.A.); (B.L.W.)
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Elena Birgitta Lugli
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; (E.B.L.); (P.R.); (F.L.); (D.R.); (F.A.); (B.L.W.)
| | - Penny Rostron
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; (E.B.L.); (P.R.); (F.L.); (D.R.); (F.A.); (B.L.W.)
| | - Felix Llanwarne
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; (E.B.L.); (P.R.); (F.L.); (D.R.); (F.A.); (B.L.W.)
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), London W2 1PG, UK
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Said Mohammed Ali
- Public Health Laboratory–Ivo de Carneri, P.O. Box 122 Chake-Chake, Pemba, Tanzania; (S.M.A.); (A.K.A.); (K.R.S.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Amour Khamis Amour
- Public Health Laboratory–Ivo de Carneri, P.O. Box 122 Chake-Chake, Pemba, Tanzania; (S.M.A.); (A.K.A.); (K.R.S.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Khamis Rashid Suleiman
- Public Health Laboratory–Ivo de Carneri, P.O. Box 122 Chake-Chake, Pemba, Tanzania; (S.M.A.); (A.K.A.); (K.R.S.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Sarah Li
- Schistosomiasis Resource Centre, Biomedical Research Institute, 9410 Key West, Rockville, MD 20850, USA;
| | - David Rollinson
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; (E.B.L.); (P.R.); (F.L.); (D.R.); (F.A.); (B.L.W.)
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Jo Cable
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK;
| | - Stefanie Knopp
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland;
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fiona Allan
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; (E.B.L.); (P.R.); (F.L.); (D.R.); (F.A.); (B.L.W.)
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Shaali Makame Ame
- Public Health Laboratory–Ivo de Carneri, P.O. Box 122 Chake-Chake, Pemba, Tanzania; (S.M.A.); (A.K.A.); (K.R.S.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Bonnie Lee Webster
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; (E.B.L.); (P.R.); (F.L.); (D.R.); (F.A.); (B.L.W.)
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), London W2 1PG, UK
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Amoah AS, Hoekstra PT, Casacuberta-Partal M, Coffeng LE, Corstjens PLAM, Greco B, van Lieshout L, Lim MD, Markwalter CF, Odiere MR, Reinhard-Rupp J, Roestenberg M, Stothard R, Tchuem Tchuenté LA, de Vlas SJ, van Dam GJ. Sensitive diagnostic tools and targeted drug administration strategies are needed to eliminate schistosomiasis. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2020; 20:e165-e172. [PMID: 32595046 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30254-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although preventive chemotherapy has been instrumental in reducing schistosomiasis incidence worldwide, serious challenges remain. These problems include the omission of certain groups from campaigns of mass drug administration, the existence of persistent disease hotspots, and the risk of recrudescent infections. Central to these challenges is the fact that the diagnostic tools currently used to establish the burden of infection are not sensitive enough, especially in low-endemic settings, which results in underestimation of the true prevalence of active Schistosoma spp infections. This central issue necessitates that the current schistosomiasis control strategies recommended by WHO are re-evaluated and, possibly, adapted. More targeted interventions and novel approaches have been used to estimate the prevalence of schistosomiasis, such as establishing infection burden by use of precision mapping, which provides high resolution spatial information that delineates variations in prevalence within a defined geographical area. Such information is instrumental in guiding targeted intervention campaigns. However, the need for highly accurate diagnostic tools in such strategies is a crucial factor that is often neglected. The availability of highly sensitive diagnostic tests also opens up the possibility of applying strategies of sample pooling to reduce the cost of control programmes. To interrupt the transmission of, and eventually eliminate, schistosomiasis, better local targeting of preventive chemotherapy, in combination with highly sensitive diagnostic tools, is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abena S Amoah
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands; Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, Chilumba, Malawi
| | - Pytsje T Hoekstra
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
| | | | - Luc E Coffeng
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Paul L A M Corstjens
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Lisette van Lieshout
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Mark D Lim
- Global Health Division, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA; Global Public Health Programs, American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC, USA
| | - Christine F Markwalter
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Maurice R Odiere
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - Meta Roestenberg
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands; Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Louis-Albert Tchuem Tchuenté
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Ecology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Sake J de Vlas
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Govert J van Dam
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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