Genetic Variation betweenBiomphalaria alexandrinaSnails Susceptible and Resistant toSchistosoma mansoniInfection

Abstract

Much effort has been made to control schistosomiasis infection in Egypt. However, enduring effects from such strategies have not yet been achieved. In this study, we sought to determine the genetic variability related to the interaction between Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and Schistosoma mansoni. Using RAPD-PCR with eight (10 mers) random primers, we were able to determine the polymorphic markers that differed between snails susceptible and resistant to Schistosoma mansoni infection using five primers out of the eight. Our results suggest that the RAPD-PCR technique is an efficient means by which to compare genomes and to detect genetic variations between schistosomiasis intermediate hosts. The RAPD technique with the above-noted primers can identify genomic markers that are specifically related to the Biomphalaria alexandrina/Schistosoma mansoni relationship in the absence of specific nucleotide sequence information. This approach could be used in epidemiologic surveys to investigate genetic diversity among Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. The ability to determine resistant markers in Biomphalaria alexandrina snails could potentially lead to further studies that use refractory snails as agents to control the spread of schistosomiasis.

Total protein composition of young and adult Biomphalaria alexandrina snails with different compatibilities to Schistosoma mansoni infection

“…Similarly, resistance character in B. glabrata and B. tenagophila snails is inherited in a dominant way (Richards & Merritt, 1972;Lewis et al, 2002;Rosa et al, 2005). Abdel-Hamid et al, (2006) and El-Nassery et al, (2013) found that both susceptibility and resistance in B. alexandrina are hereditary characters which are genetically controlled.…”

“…Separation of resistant and susceptible isolates (F0) was achieved according to Zanotti-Magalhães, Magalhães and Carcalho (1997) and El-Nassery et al (2013). For selection of resistant isolates, snails that remained un-infected after two parasitic exposures, each by ten active freshly hatched miracidia/snail, were isolated and reared singly for self-reproduction under laboratory conditions (Eveland & Haseeb, 2011).…”

“…Many authors have described the genetic variability related to the interaction between B. alexandrina snails and S.mansoni. They were able to determine the polymorphic markers that varied between snails susceptible and resistant to S.mansoni infection (Abdel-Hamid, Rawi, & Arafa, 2006;El-Nassery, Abou-El-Naga, Allam, Shaat, & Mady, 2013). The relation between Biomphalaria snails' age and the outcome of infection by S.mansoni has been also studied by many authors.…”

Characterization of hemolymph phenoloxidase activity in two Biomphalaria snail species and impact of Schistosoma mansoni infection

“…Aquatic snails of the Biomphalaria genus are the intermediate hosts of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni [ 1 , 2 ], trematodes that infect 67 million people in Africa and South America [ 3 – 5 ]. When parasite eggs are expelled with human faeces in water, miracidia larvae hatch and actively search for its snail vector.…”

Impact of the age of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails on Schistosoma mansoni transmission: modulation of the genetic outcome and the internal defence system of the snail

“…Similarly, the resistance character in B. glabrata snails is inherited in a dominant manner ( Richards & Merritt 1972 , Lewis et al 2002) . Abdel-Hamid et al (2006) and El-Nassery et al. (2013) found that both susceptibility and resistance in B. alexandrina are hereditary characters and are genetically controlled.…”