Genomic data reveal a north-south split and introgression history of blood fluke (<i>Schistosoma haematobium</i>) populations from across Africa.

ABSTRACT: The human parasitic fluke, Schistosoma haematobium hybridizes with the livestock parasite S. bovis in the laboratory, but the frequency of hybridization in nature is unclear. We analyzed 34.6 million single nucleotide variants in 162 samples from 18 African countries, revealing a sharp genetic discontinuity between northern and southern S. haematobium. We found no evidence for recent hybridization. Instead the data reveal admixture events that occurred 257-879 generations ago in northern S. haematobium populations. Fifteen introgressed S. bovis genes are approaching fixation in northern S. haematobium with four genes potentially driving adaptation. We identified 19 regions that were resistant to introgression; these were enriched on the sex chromos

SUBMITTER: Platt RN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11326172 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature