The morphology, genetic structure, and haplotype distribution of the invasive freshwater snails Biomphalaria straminea and Physa acuta in Guangdong, China
Abstract Background Biomphalaria and Physa (order Gastropoda) serve as vectors and reservoirs for infectious agents that affect both humans and animals. This study provides updated insights into the epidemiology, morphology, phylogeny, and haplotype diversity of Biomphalaria and Physa snails in Guan...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-025-00780-y |
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| author | Ping He Yunyi Hu Jehangir Khan Yan Huang Zhanhong Yuan Benjamin Sanogo Du Gao Jun Liu De Wu Jingdiao Chen Zhongdao Wu Song Liang Xi Sun Datao Lin |
| author_facet | Ping He Yunyi Hu Jehangir Khan Yan Huang Zhanhong Yuan Benjamin Sanogo Du Gao Jun Liu De Wu Jingdiao Chen Zhongdao Wu Song Liang Xi Sun Datao Lin |
| author_sort | Ping He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Biomphalaria and Physa (order Gastropoda) serve as vectors and reservoirs for infectious agents that affect both humans and animals. This study provides updated insights into the epidemiology, morphology, phylogeny, and haplotype diversity of Biomphalaria and Physa snails in Guangdong Province, southern China. Methods Field surveys were conducted across Guangdong Province from 2016 to 2023. Morphological observations included assessment of snail shape, shell height, and aperture width. Molecular analysis targeted several genes, including Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 18S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 28S rRNA. Evolutionary trees were constructed with neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood methods. Haplotype networks were generated from COI sequences collected from multiple geographic locations. Results Physa acuta was detected in 92% of surveyed sites, showing broad distribution and notable mitochondrial diversity (15 haplotypes). The dominant haplotype (Hap_3) was shared with sequences from Chile and the Netherlands. In contrast, Biomphalaria straminea was found at 62% of sites and displayed limited genetic variation (2 haplotypes), despite visible morphological dimorphism (red/black forms). Phylogenetic analysis exhibited minimal differences in 16S rRNA and COI gene sequences among turret snail strains, with B. straminea clustering closely to South American lineages. Morphometric analyses revealed significant size differences among strains, for example, Shuanglong B. straminea had a shell width of 8.74 ± 0.26 mm, whereas Zengcheng P. acuta exhibited 11.07 ± 0.90 mm. In contrast, analysis of 28S and 18S rRNA confirmed species boundaries but lacked at the intraspecific level. Conclusions Our analysis of multiple target genes confirms that mitochondrial markers (COI and 16S rRNA) are effective for studying the evolutionary dynamics of freshwater invasive snails. Physa acuta exhibits a widespread distribution and notable genetic diversity across Guangdong, while B. straminea shows limited genetic variation, suggesting strong genetic conservation within the species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9e6483a9f3a34fec8fee8c332ba9f8f2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1349-4147 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Tropical Medicine and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-9e6483a9f3a34fec8fee8c332ba9f8f22025-08-20T04:02:44ZengBMCTropical Medicine and Health1349-41472025-07-0153111810.1186/s41182-025-00780-yThe morphology, genetic structure, and haplotype distribution of the invasive freshwater snails Biomphalaria straminea and Physa acuta in Guangdong, ChinaPing He0Yunyi Hu1Jehangir Khan2Yan Huang3Zhanhong Yuan4Benjamin Sanogo5Du Gao6Jun Liu7De Wu8Jingdiao Chen9Zhongdao Wu10Song Liang11Xi Sun12Datao Lin13Medical Department of Xizang, Minzu UniversityDepartment of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Senen UniversityDepartment of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University MardanDepartment of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Senen UniversityDepartment of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Senen UniversityLaboratory of Parasitology, Institut National de Recherche en Sante PubliqueClinical Laboratory, Dalian Dermatosis HospitalGuangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance, Research and Training of Emerging Infectious DiseasesGuangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance, Research and Training of Emerging Infectious DiseasesGuangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance, Research and Training of Emerging Infectious DiseasesDepartment of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Senen UniversityDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of MassachusettsDepartment of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Senen UniversityDepartment of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Senen UniversityAbstract Background Biomphalaria and Physa (order Gastropoda) serve as vectors and reservoirs for infectious agents that affect both humans and animals. This study provides updated insights into the epidemiology, morphology, phylogeny, and haplotype diversity of Biomphalaria and Physa snails in Guangdong Province, southern China. Methods Field surveys were conducted across Guangdong Province from 2016 to 2023. Morphological observations included assessment of snail shape, shell height, and aperture width. Molecular analysis targeted several genes, including Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 18S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 28S rRNA. Evolutionary trees were constructed with neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood methods. Haplotype networks were generated from COI sequences collected from multiple geographic locations. Results Physa acuta was detected in 92% of surveyed sites, showing broad distribution and notable mitochondrial diversity (15 haplotypes). The dominant haplotype (Hap_3) was shared with sequences from Chile and the Netherlands. In contrast, Biomphalaria straminea was found at 62% of sites and displayed limited genetic variation (2 haplotypes), despite visible morphological dimorphism (red/black forms). Phylogenetic analysis exhibited minimal differences in 16S rRNA and COI gene sequences among turret snail strains, with B. straminea clustering closely to South American lineages. Morphometric analyses revealed significant size differences among strains, for example, Shuanglong B. straminea had a shell width of 8.74 ± 0.26 mm, whereas Zengcheng P. acuta exhibited 11.07 ± 0.90 mm. In contrast, analysis of 28S and 18S rRNA confirmed species boundaries but lacked at the intraspecific level. Conclusions Our analysis of multiple target genes confirms that mitochondrial markers (COI and 16S rRNA) are effective for studying the evolutionary dynamics of freshwater invasive snails. Physa acuta exhibits a widespread distribution and notable genetic diversity across Guangdong, while B. straminea shows limited genetic variation, suggesting strong genetic conservation within the species.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-025-00780-ySchistosoma mansoniAngiostrongylus cantonensisInvasive speciesBiomphalaria stramineaPhysa acutaMitochondrial haplotype |
| spellingShingle | Ping He Yunyi Hu Jehangir Khan Yan Huang Zhanhong Yuan Benjamin Sanogo Du Gao Jun Liu De Wu Jingdiao Chen Zhongdao Wu Song Liang Xi Sun Datao Lin The morphology, genetic structure, and haplotype distribution of the invasive freshwater snails Biomphalaria straminea and Physa acuta in Guangdong, China Tropical Medicine and Health Schistosoma mansoni Angiostrongylus cantonensis Invasive species Biomphalaria straminea Physa acuta Mitochondrial haplotype |
| title | The morphology, genetic structure, and haplotype distribution of the invasive freshwater snails Biomphalaria straminea and Physa acuta in Guangdong, China |
| title_full | The morphology, genetic structure, and haplotype distribution of the invasive freshwater snails Biomphalaria straminea and Physa acuta in Guangdong, China |
| title_fullStr | The morphology, genetic structure, and haplotype distribution of the invasive freshwater snails Biomphalaria straminea and Physa acuta in Guangdong, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | The morphology, genetic structure, and haplotype distribution of the invasive freshwater snails Biomphalaria straminea and Physa acuta in Guangdong, China |
| title_short | The morphology, genetic structure, and haplotype distribution of the invasive freshwater snails Biomphalaria straminea and Physa acuta in Guangdong, China |
| title_sort | morphology genetic structure and haplotype distribution of the invasive freshwater snails biomphalaria straminea and physa acuta in guangdong china |
| topic | Schistosoma mansoni Angiostrongylus cantonensis Invasive species Biomphalaria straminea Physa acuta Mitochondrial haplotype |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-025-00780-y |
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