Inbreeding within human Schistosoma mansoni: do host-specific factors shape the genetic composition of parasite populations?

ABSTRACT: The size, structure and distribution of host populations are key determinants of the genetic composition of parasite populations. Despite the evolutionary and epidemiological merits, there has been little consideration of how host heterogeneities affect the evolutionary trajectories of parasite populations. We assessed the genetic composition of natural populations of the parasite Schistosoma mansoni in northern Senegal. A total of 1346 parasites were collected from 14 snail and 57 human hosts within three villages and individually genotyped using nine microsatellite markers. Human host demographic parameters (age, gender and village of residence) and co-infection with Schistosoma haematobium were documented, and S. mansoni infection intensities were quantified. F-statistics and clustering

SUBMITTER: Van den Broeck F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4815646 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature