biostudies-literatureLong JKey Technologies Research and Development ProgramNational Natural Science Foundation of Chinae0012931https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11949366biostudies-literatureUnknown19(3)<h4>Background</h4>Schistosoma japonicum is a multi-host parasite, including asexual amplification in snail hosts and sexual reproduction in mammalian hosts. The genetic diversity of S. japonicum by host switching is less understood, which could help elucidate the genetic evolution of S. japonicum under host pressure and provide instruction for host sampling and the infection pattern to make S. japonicum infection models.<h4>Methods</h4>Different developmental stages of S. japonicum were collected and genotyped with 24 microsatellite loci, including 345 cercariae from naturally infected snails and 472 and 540 adult worms from artificially infected mice and rabbits, separately. The genetic distribution of S. japonicum within and among hosts by different sampling was assessed, and the genetiPLoS neglected tropical diseasesPopulation genetic diversity of Schistosoma japonicum arises from the host switching in the life cycle.PMC119493662021YFC23008043216114303682473688814729262021YFC23008003231154001332170506Wu JMa LZhu ZLong JHao YXiao SXu ZYZhou ZZhao QPFeng LLi SZong HQian PWang WYan HYuan YfalsePopulation genetic diversity of Schistosoma japonicum arises from the host switching in the life cycle.<h4>Background</h4>Schistosoma japonicum is a multi-host parasite, including asexual amplification in snail hosts and sexual reproduction in mammalian hosts. The genetic diversity of S. japonicum by host switching is less understood, which could help elucidate the genetic evolution of S. japonicum under host pressure and provide instruction for host sampling and the infection pattern to make S. japonicum infection models.<h4>Methods</h4>Different developmental stages of S. japonicum were collected and genotyped with 24 microsatellite loci, including 345 cercariae from naturally infected snails and 472 and 540 adult worms from artificially infected mice and rabbits, separately. The genetic distribution of S. japonicum within and among hosts by different sampling was assessed, and the geneti2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2026-07-15T08:30:28.644Z2025-07-05T03:04:31.377ZS-EPMC119493664010641410.1371/journal.pntd.0012931