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Scientific Reports Mar 2023Schistosomiasis is a major neglected tropical disease targeted for elimination as a public health issue by 2030, however there is an urgent need for more sensitive and...
Schistosomiasis is a major neglected tropical disease targeted for elimination as a public health issue by 2030, however there is an urgent need for more sensitive and specific diagnostic tests suitable to resource-limited settings. Here we developed CATSH, a CRISPR-assisted diagnostic test for Schistosoma haematobium, utilising recombinase polymerase amplification, Cas12a-targeted cleavage and portable real-time fluorescence detection. CATSH showed high analytical sensitivity, consistent detection of a single parasitic egg and specificity for urogenital Schistosoma species. Thanks to a novel CRISPR-compatible sample preparation developed using simulated urine samples containing parasitic eggs, CATSH had a sample-to-result within 2 h. The components of CATSH can be lyophilised, reducing cold chain dependence and widening access to lower and middle-income countries. This work presents a new application of CRISPR diagnostics for highly sensitive and specific detection of parasitic pathogens in remote areas and could have a significant impact on the elimination of neglected tropical diseases.
Topics: Animals; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Sensitivity and Specificity; Neglected Diseases; Eggs
PubMed: 36973334
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31238-y -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Feb 2019Schistosomiasis is frequently detected in persons entering Europe. In 2017, we detected a Schistosoma mansoni-Schistosoma haematobium hybrid parasite infection in a...
Schistosomiasis is frequently detected in persons entering Europe. In 2017, we detected a Schistosoma mansoni-Schistosoma haematobium hybrid parasite infection in a migrant boy from Côte d'Ivoire entering France. Because such parasites might be established in Europe, as illustrated by an outbreak on Corsica Island, vectors of these parasites should be investigated.
Topics: Adolescent; Animals; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Cote d'Ivoire; Disease Outbreaks; France; Humans; Hybridization, Genetic; Male; Molecular Typing; Phylogeny; Population Surveillance; Risk; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; Sex Factors; Transients and Migrants
PubMed: 30526763
DOI: 10.3201/eid2502.172028 -
Parasite Immunology Sep 2014Urogenital schistosomiasis is one of the greatest single infectious sources of human morbidity and mortality known. Through a complex cycle of infection, migration and... (Review)
Review
Urogenital schistosomiasis is one of the greatest single infectious sources of human morbidity and mortality known. Through a complex cycle of infection, migration and eventual maturation and mating, S. haematobium (the aetiological agent of urogenital schistosomiasis) deposits highly immunogenic eggs within the bladder and other pelvic organs, activating a wide range of immune programs that determine both infection outcome as well as downstream immunopathology. In this review, we discuss the experimental and observational bases for our current understanding of these immune programs, focusing specifically on how the balance of type 1 and type 2 responses governs subsequent immunopathology and clinical outcome.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis haematobia
PubMed: 25201406
DOI: 10.1111/pim.12084 -
Parasitology Mar 2020Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease, though it is highly prevalent in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. While Schistosoma haematobium-bovis hybrids have been...
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease, though it is highly prevalent in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. While Schistosoma haematobium-bovis hybrids have been reported in West Africa, no data about Schistosoma hybrids in humans are available from Côte d'Ivoire. This study aimed to identify and quantify S. haematobium-bovis hybrids among schoolchildren in four localities of Côte d'Ivoire. Urine samples were collected and examined by filtration to detect Schistosoma eggs. Eggs were hatched and 503 miracidia were individually collected and stored on Whatman® FTA cards for molecular analysis. Individual miracidia were molecularly characterized by analysis of mitochondrial cox1 and nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS 2) DNA regions. A mitochondrial cox1-based diagnostic polymerase chain reaction was performed on 459 miracidia, with 239 (52.1%) exhibiting the typical band for S. haematobium and 220 (47.9%) the S. bovis band. The cox1 and ITS 2 amplicons were Sanger sequenced from 40 randomly selected miracidia to confirm species and hybrids status. Among the 33 cox1 sequences analysed, we identified 15 S. haematobium sequences (45.5%) belonging to seven haplotypes and 18 S. bovis sequences (54.5%) belonging to 12 haplotypes. Of 40 ITS 2 sequences analysed, 31 (77.5%) were assigned to pure S. haematobium, four (10.0%) to pure S. bovis and five (12.5%) to S. haematobium-bovis hybrids. Our findings suggest that S. haematobium-bovis hybrids are common in Côte d'Ivoire. Hence, intense prospection of domestic and wild animals is warranted to determine whether zoonotic transmission occurs.
Topics: Adolescent; Animals; Child; Child, Preschool; Cote d'Ivoire; DNA, Helminth; DNA, Intergenic; Electron Transport Complex IV; Helminth Proteins; Humans; Hybridization, Genetic; Mitochondrial Proteins; Prevalence; Schistosoma; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis
PubMed: 31727202
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182019001549 -
Parasites & Vectors May 2020Urogenital schistosomiasis, caused by infection with Schistosoma haematobium, is endemic in Niger but complicated by the presence of Schistosoma bovis, Schistosoma...
BACKGROUND
Urogenital schistosomiasis, caused by infection with Schistosoma haematobium, is endemic in Niger but complicated by the presence of Schistosoma bovis, Schistosoma curassoni and S. haematobium group hybrids along with various Bulinus snail intermediate host species. Establishing the schistosomes and snails involved in transmission aids disease surveillance whilst providing insights into snail-schistosome interactions/compatibilities and biology.
METHODS
Infected Bulinus spp. were collected from 16 villages north and south of the Niamey region, Niger, between 2011 and 2015. From each Bulinus spp., 20-52 cercariae shed were analysed using microsatellite markers and a subset identified using the mitochondrial (mt) cox1 and nuclear ITS1 + 2 and 18S DNA regions. Infected Bulinus spp. were identified using both morphological and molecular analysis (partial mt cox1 region).
RESULTS
A total of 87 infected Bulinus from 24 sites were found, 29 were molecularly confirmed as B. truncatus, three as B. forskalii and four as B. globosus. The remaining samples were morphologically identified as B. truncatus (n = 49) and B. forskalii (n = 2). The microsatellite analysis of 1124 cercariae revealed 186 cercarial multilocus genotypes (MLGs). Identical cercarial genotypes were frequently (60%) identified from the same snail (clonal populations from a single miracidia); however, several (40%) of the snails had cercariae of different genotypes (2-10 MLG's) indicating multiple miracidial infections. Fifty-seven of the B. truncatus and all of the B. forskalii and B. globosus were shedding the Bovid schistosome S. bovis. The other B. truncatus were shedding the human schistosomes, S. haematobium (n = 6) and the S. haematobium group hybrids (n = 13). Two B. truncatus had co-infections with S. haematobium and S. haematobium group hybrids whilst no co-infections with S. bovis were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
This study has advanced our understanding of human and bovid schistosomiasis transmission in the Niger River Valley region. Human Schistosoma species/forms (S. haematobium and S. haematobium hybrids) were found transmitted only in five villages whereas those causing veterinary schistosomiasis (S. bovis), were found in most villages. Bulinus truncatus was most abundant, transmitting all Schistosoma species, while the less abundant B. forskalii and B. globosus, only transmitted S. bovis. Our data suggest that species-specific biological traits may exist in relation to co-infections, snail-schistosome compatibility and intramolluscan schistosome development.
Topics: Animals; Bulinus; Cercaria; Cyclooxygenase 1; Host-Parasite Interactions; Microsatellite Repeats; Niger; Rivers; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Species Specificity
PubMed: 32448268
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04136-9 -
GigaScience Sep 2019Schistosoma haematobium causes urogenital schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease affecting >100 million people worldwide. Chronic infection with this parasitic...
BACKGROUND
Schistosoma haematobium causes urogenital schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease affecting >100 million people worldwide. Chronic infection with this parasitic trematode can lead to urogenital conditions including female genital schistosomiasis and bladder cancer. At the molecular level, little is known about this blood fluke and the pathogenesis of the disease that it causes. To support molecular studies of this carcinogenic worm, we reported a draft genome for S. haematobium in 2012. Although a useful resource, its utility has been somewhat limited by its fragmentation.
FINDINGS
Here, we systematically enhanced the draft genome of S. haematobium using a single-molecule and long-range DNA-sequencing approach. We achieved a major improvement in the accuracy and contiguity of the genome assembly, making it superior or comparable to assemblies for other schistosome species. We transferred curated gene models to this assembly and, using enhanced gene annotation pipelines, inferred a gene set with as many or more complete gene models as those of other well-studied schistosomes. Using conserved, single-copy orthologs, we assessed the phylogenetic position of S. haematobium in relation to other parasitic flatworms for which draft genomes were available.
CONCLUSIONS
We report a substantially enhanced genomic resource that represents a solid foundation for molecular research on S. haematobium and is poised to better underpin population and functional genomic investigations and to accelerate the search for new disease interventions.
Topics: Animals; Genome, Helminth; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Phylogeny; Schistosoma haematobium; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 31494670
DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giz108 -
Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za... Apr 2014Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that severely threatens human health and affects the socioeconomic development. The causative agent that parasitizes in... (Review)
Review
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that severely threatens human health and affects the socioeconomic development. The causative agent that parasitizes in humans mainly involves Schistosoma japonicum, S. mansoni, S. haematobiurn, S. intercalatum and S. mekongi. As the firstly identified schistosome, S. haematobium infection is found to strongly correlate with bladder cancer. This paper mainly reviews the discovery, morphology and life cycle of S. haematobium.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis haematobia
PubMed: 25051845
DOI: No ID Found -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Jun 2019Molecular analysis of atypical schistosome eggs retrieved from children in Malawi revealed genetic interactions occurring between human (Schistosoma haematobium) and...
Molecular analysis of atypical schistosome eggs retrieved from children in Malawi revealed genetic interactions occurring between human (Schistosoma haematobium) and livestock (S. mattheei and S. bovis) schistosome species. Detection of hybrid schistosomes adds a notable new perspective to the epidemiology and control of urogenital schistosomiasis in central Africa.
Topics: Animals; Child; Humans; Livestock; Malawi; Public Health Surveillance; Schistosoma; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis; Schistosomiasis haematobia
PubMed: 31107237
DOI: 10.3201/eid2506.190020 -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty Mar 2022Hybrids between Schistosoma haematobium (Sh) and S. bovis (Sb) have been found in several African countries as well as in Europe. Since the consequences of this...
BACKGROUND
Hybrids between Schistosoma haematobium (Sh) and S. bovis (Sb) have been found in several African countries as well as in Europe. Since the consequences of this hybridization are still unknown, this study aims to verify the presence of such hybrids in Cameroonian humans, to describe the structure of S. haematobium populations on a large geographic scale, and to examine the impact of these hybrids on genetic diversity and structure of these populations.
METHODS
From January to April 2019, urine from infected children was collected in ten geographically distinct populations. Miracidia were collected from eggs in this urine. To detect the presence of hybrids among these miracidia we genotyped both Cox1 (RD-PCR) and ITS2 gene (PCR-RFLP). Population genetic diversity and structure was assessed by genotyping each miracidium with a panel of 14 microsatellite markers. Gene diversity was measured using both heterozygosity and allelic richness indexes, and genetic structure was analyzed using paired Fst, PCA and Bayesian approaches.
RESULTS
Of the 1327 miracidia studied, 88.7% were identified as pure genotypes of S. haematobium (Sh_Sh/Sh) while the remaining 11.3% were hybrids (7.0% with Sh_Sh/Sb, 3.7% with Sb_Sb/Sh and 0.4% with Sb_Sh/Sb). No miracidium has been identified as a pure genotype of S. bovis. Allelic richness ranged from 5.55 (Loum population) to 7.73 (Matta-Barrage) and differed significantly between populations. Mean heterozygosity ranged from 53.7% (Loum) to 59% (Matta Barrage) with no significant difference. The overall genetic differentiation inferred either by a principal component analysis or by the Bayesian approach shows a partial structure. Southern populations (Loum and Matta Barrage) were clearly separated from other localities but genetic differentiation between northern localities was limited, certainly due to the geographic proximity between these sites.
CONCLUSIONS
Hybrids between S. haematobium and S. bovis were identified in 11.3% of miracidia that hatched from eggs present in the urine of Cameroonian schoolchildren. The percentages of these hybrids are correlated with the genetic diversity of the parasite, indicating that hybridization increases genetic diversity in our sampling sites. Hybridization is therefore a major biological process that shapes the genetic diversity of S. haematobium.
Topics: Animals; Bayes Theorem; Cameroon; Child; Humans; Hybridization, Genetic; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Schistosoma haematobium
PubMed: 35346375
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-022-00958-0 -
Parasite (Paris, France) 2022While population genetics of Schistosoma haematobium have been investigated in West Africa, only scant data are available from Côte d'Ivoire. The purpose of this study...
While population genetics of Schistosoma haematobium have been investigated in West Africa, only scant data are available from Côte d'Ivoire. The purpose of this study was to analyze both genetic variability and genetic structure among S. haematobium populations and to quantify the frequency of S. haematobium × S. bovis hybrids in school-aged children in different parts of Côte d'Ivoire. Urine samples were subjected to a filtration method and examined microscopically for Schistosoma eggs in four sites in the western and southern parts of Côte d'Ivoire. A total of 2692 miracidia were collected individually and stored on Whatman FTA cards. Of these, 2561 miracidia were successfully genotyped for species and hybrid identification using rapid diagnostic multiplex mitochondrial cox1 PCR and PCR Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the nuclear ITS2 region. From 2164 miracidia, 1966 (90.9%) were successfully genotyped using at least 10 nuclear microsatellite loci to investigate genetic diversity and population structure. Significant differences were found between sites in all genetic diversity indices and genotypic differentiation was observed between the site in the West and the three sites in the East. Analysis at the infrapopulation level revealed clustering of parasite genotypes within individual children, particularly in Duekoué (West) and Sikensi (East). Of the six possible cox1-ITS2 genetic profiles obtained from miracidia, S. bovis cox1 × S. haematobium ITS2 (42.0%) was the most commonly observed in the populations. We identified only 15 miracidia (0.7%) with an S. bovis cox1 × S. bovis ITS2 genotype. Our study provides new insights into the population genetics of S. haematobium and S. haematobium × S. bovis hybrids in humans in Côte d'Ivoire and we advocate for researching hybrid schistosomes in animals such as rodents and cattle in Côte d'Ivoire.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Child; Cote d'Ivoire; Genetic Structures; Humans; Parasites; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Schistosoma haematobium
PubMed: 35522066
DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2022023