Molecular xenomonitoring of Schistosoma mansoni infections in Biomphalaria choanomphala at Lake Victoria, East Africa: Assessing roles of abiotic and biotic factors.

ABSTRACT: Lake Victoria is a well-known hot spot for intestinal schistosomiasis, caused by infection with the trematode Schistosoma mansoni. The snail intermediate hosts of this parasite are Biomphalaria snails, with Biomphalaria choanomphala being the predominant intermediate host within Lake Victoria. The prevalence of S. mansoni infection within snail populations is influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors, including the physical and chemical characteristics of their environment, the incidence of infection in human populations (and reservoir hosts) and the level of genetic compatibility between the parasite and the host. Using molecular xenomonitoring, we measured the prevalence of S. mansoni infection within B. choanomphala populations along the Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan shorelines of L

SUBMITTER: Andrus PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11695011 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature