An insight into the genetic variation of Schistosoma japonicum in mainland China using DNA microsatellite markers

Abstract

This study presents the first microsatellite investigation into the level of genetic variation among Schistosoma japonicum from different geographical origins. S. japonicum isolates were obtained from seven endemic provinces across mainland China: Zhejiang (Jiashan County), Anhui (Guichi County), Jiangxi (Yongxiu County), Hubei (Wuhan County), Hunan (Yueyang area), Sichuan 1 (Maoshan County), Sichuan 2 (Tianquan County), Yunnan (Dali County), and also one province in the Philippines (Sorsogon). DNA from 20 individuals from each origin were screened against 11 recently isolated and characterized S. japonicum microsatellites, and a set of nine loci were selected based on their polymorphic information content. High levels of polymorphism were obtained between and within population samples, with Chinese and Philippine strains appearing to follow different lineages, and with distinct branching between provinces. Moreover, across mainland China, genotype clustering appeared to be related to habitat type and/or intermediate host morph. These results highlight the suitability of microsatellites for population genetic studies of S. japonicum and suggest that there may be different strains of S. japonicum circulating in mainland China.

Multiple near-identical genotypes of Schistosoma japonicum can occur in snails and have implications for population-genetic analyses

“…Thiele et al, 2008). However, the only previous study on S. japonicum utilising microsatellites (Shrivastava et al, 2005) did record significant deviations from HWE and substantial (but not quantified) LD. They attributed both to the effects of non-random mating, inbreeding and population subdivision.…”

“…Nevertheless, caution prompts us not to completely reject alternatives. It is clear that we are not alone in finding many more MLGs than snails (Shrivastava et al 2005;Gower et al 2007). Consequently, the discussion that follows is relevant for any population-genetic studies in which adult worms are raised from infected snails.…”

“…Population-genetic approaches will provide insights into any geographic and host structuring that this schistosome may exhibit (e.g. Shrivastava et al, 2005). To this end, we have used the genome resource to identify polymorphic microsatellite loci in S. japonicum.…”

Zoonotic and Animal Vector Mediated Encephalitides

“…As genomes become available, a further characterization of phylogenetic relationships can be made (Mavarez et al, 2002;Bourhy et al, 2005;Jackson et al, 2010). PCR applications, including multiplex PCR (Paris et al, 2008), nested PCR (James et al, 2011), heteroduplex PCR (Lee et al, 2002), reverse transcriptase PCR and direct sequencing (Telford et al, 1997), restriction fragment length polymorphic analysis (Freylikhman et al, 2008), DNA microsatellite markers (Shrivastava et al, 2005) and microarray technology (Gobert et al, 2009;Omsland et al, 2009) will aid in the detection of the pathogens to a greater level of sensitivity and specificity than previously achieved. Aside from genetic advances, immunological based assays utilize antibody/antigen specificity to detection many pathogens (Enyaru et al, 2010).…”

Low Genetic Diversity in Wide-Spread Eurasian Liver Fluke Opisthorchis felineus Suggests Special Demographic History of This Trematode Species

“…Over the past few years, many efforts focused on studying the population genetic structure and heterogeneity of important trematode species including Schistosoma mansoni [25][26][27][28][29][30], S. japonicum [31][32][33], Paragonimus westermani [34,35], Fasciola hepatica [36][37][38][39][40], F. magnum [41] Echinostoma sp. [42,43].…”