Genetic evidence for the role of non-human primates as reservoir hosts for human schistosomiasis

Tadesse Kebede (1) , Nicolas Bech (2) , Jean-François Allienne (3) , Berhanu Erko (1) , Jérôme Boissier (3) , Olivier Rey (3)

1 AAU - Addis Ababa University
2 EBI [Poitiers] - Écologie et biologie des interactions
3 IHPE - Interactions Hôtes-Pathogènes-Environnements

Schistosomiasis is a chronic disease caused by flukes (trematodes). The definitive host spectrum ofschistosomes, whether human, non-human primates (NHPs) or other mammals, is highly dependent on the schistosome species concerned. Genetic diversity and population structure studies ofS. mansoni have provided insights into the variation ofnatural populations. Understanding S. mansoni genetic diversity and population structure of isolates from human and non-human primate hosts living in close proximity showed the occurrence ofinfection ofa single host with multiple S. mansoni strains and inter- and intra-host genetic variations. In this article, the researchers assert the fact that genetic approach reveals that parasites from the three different sites are independent. Thus, we could consider the three sites as geographical replicates showing the influence ofNHPs in parasitic transmission in Ethiopia. This study provides insights into the epidemiology, genetic diversity and population structure ofS. mansoni in human and non-human primates in Ethiopia, all ofwhich are crucial for the control ofschistosomiasis.

Domaines: Evolution [q-bio.PE]

Tadesse Kebede, Nicolas Bech, Jean-François Allienne, Berhanu Erko, Jérôme Boissier, et al.. Genetic evidence for the role of non-human primates as reservoir hosts for human schistosomiasis. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2020, ⟨10.1371/journal.pntd.0008538⟩. ⟨hal-02975305⟩