Mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a vector of Schistosoma mansoni

Biomphalaria snails are intermediate hosts for schistosome parasites, which cause morbidity and mortality in humans worldwide. We aimed to determine the mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a hermaphroditic vector of schistosomiasis in the African Great Lakes, with the goal of informing the desig...

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Main Authors: Jenessa Olson, Tom Pennance, Johannie M. Spaan, Maurice R. Odiere, Jacob A. Tennessen, Michelle L. Steinauer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X25000019
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author Jenessa Olson
Tom Pennance
Johannie M. Spaan
Maurice R. Odiere
Jacob A. Tennessen
Michelle L. Steinauer
author_facet Jenessa Olson
Tom Pennance
Johannie M. Spaan
Maurice R. Odiere
Jacob A. Tennessen
Michelle L. Steinauer
author_sort Jenessa Olson
collection DOAJ
description Biomphalaria snails are intermediate hosts for schistosome parasites, which cause morbidity and mortality in humans worldwide. We aimed to determine the mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a hermaphroditic vector of schistosomiasis in the African Great Lakes, with the goal of informing the design of genetic studies such as linkage mapping to improve genome assembly and genetic association studies to identify snail resistance genes. To determine the relative rates of outcrossing versus selfing, we assayed the progeny of experimental crosses of snails in the laboratory using a PCR and restriction enzyme digest to determine snail genotype and parentage. Out of 7 experimental crosses and 56 total offspring assayed, 100% were derived from outcrossing rather than inbreeding. These results indicate that B. sudanica is primarily an outcrossing species, although previous work has shown that this species retains the capability of self-fertilization.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2667-114X
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases
spelling doaj-art-5936e841ccba42688d5f3d4142ae66b92025-01-12T05:26:15ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases2667-114X2025-01-017100241Mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a vector of Schistosoma mansoniJenessa Olson0Tom Pennance1Johannie M. Spaan2Maurice R. Odiere3Jacob A. Tennessen4Michelle L. Steinauer5Western University of Health Sciences, 200 Mullins Dr, Lebanon, OR, 97355, USAWestern University of Health Sciences, 200 Mullins Dr, Lebanon, OR, 97355, USAWestern University of Health Sciences, 200 Mullins Dr, Lebanon, OR, 97355, USACentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P. O. Box 1578-40100, Kisumu, KenyaHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USAWestern University of Health Sciences, 200 Mullins Dr, Lebanon, OR, 97355, USA; Corresponding author.Biomphalaria snails are intermediate hosts for schistosome parasites, which cause morbidity and mortality in humans worldwide. We aimed to determine the mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a hermaphroditic vector of schistosomiasis in the African Great Lakes, with the goal of informing the design of genetic studies such as linkage mapping to improve genome assembly and genetic association studies to identify snail resistance genes. To determine the relative rates of outcrossing versus selfing, we assayed the progeny of experimental crosses of snails in the laboratory using a PCR and restriction enzyme digest to determine snail genotype and parentage. Out of 7 experimental crosses and 56 total offspring assayed, 100% were derived from outcrossing rather than inbreeding. These results indicate that B. sudanica is primarily an outcrossing species, although previous work has shown that this species retains the capability of self-fertilization.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X25000019BiomphalariaMating systemsSelf-fertilizationHermaphrodite
spellingShingle Jenessa Olson
Tom Pennance
Johannie M. Spaan
Maurice R. Odiere
Jacob A. Tennessen
Michelle L. Steinauer
Mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a vector of Schistosoma mansoni
Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases
Biomphalaria
Mating systems
Self-fertilization
Hermaphrodite
title Mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a vector of Schistosoma mansoni
title_full Mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a vector of Schistosoma mansoni
title_fullStr Mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a vector of Schistosoma mansoni
title_full_unstemmed Mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a vector of Schistosoma mansoni
title_short Mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a vector of Schistosoma mansoni
title_sort mating system of biomphalaria sudanica a vector of schistosoma mansoni
topic Biomphalaria
Mating systems
Self-fertilization
Hermaphrodite
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X25000019
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