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Genetic evidence for the role of non-human primates as reservoir hosts for human schistosomiasis.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic disease, that affects over 207 million people and causes over 200,000 deaths annually, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Although many health measures have been carried out to limit parasite transmission, significant numbers of non-human primates such as Chlorocebus aethiops (Ch. aethiops) (vervet) and Papio anubis (baboon) are infected with S. mansoni, notably in Ethiopia, where they are expected to have potentially significant implications for transmission and control efforts. OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to assess and compare the genetic diversity and population structure of S. mansoni isolates from human and non-human primates free-ranging in close proximity to villages in selected endemic areas of Ethiopia. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted in three transmission sites: Bochesa, Kime and Fincha. A total of 2,356 S. mansoni miracidia were directly isolated from fecal specimens of 104 hosts (i.e. 60 human hosts and 44 non-human primates). We performed DNA extraction and PCR amplification using fourteen microsatellite loci. RESULTS:At population scale we showed strong genetic structure between the three sample sites. At the definitive host scale, we observed that host factors can shape the genetic composition of parasite infra-populations. First, in male patients, we observed a positive link between parasite genetic diversity and the age of the patients. Second, we observed a difference in genetic diversity which was high in human males, medium in human females and low in non-human primates (NHPs). Finally, whatever the transmission site no genetic structure was observed between human and non-human primates, however, there appears to be little barriers, if any, host specificity of the S. mansoni populations with cross-host infections. CONCLUSION:Occurrence of infection of a single host with multiple S. mansoni strains and inter- and intra-host genetic variations was observed. Substantial genetic diversity and gene flow across the S. mansoni population occurred at each site and non-human primates likely play a role in local transmission and maintenance of infection. Therefore, public health and wildlife professionals should work together to improve disease control and elimination strategies.

SUBMITTER: Kebede T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7500647 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Genetic evidence for the role of non-human primates as reservoir hosts for human schistosomiasis.

Kebede Tadesse T Bech Nicolas N Allienne Jean-François JF Olivier Rey R Erko Berhanu B Boissier Jerome J

PLoS neglected tropical diseases 20200908 9

<h4>Background</h4>Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic disease, that affects over 207 million people and causes over 200,000 deaths annually, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Although many health measures have been carried out to limit parasite transmission, significant numbers of non-human primates such as Chlorocebus aethiops (Ch. aethiops) (vervet) and Papio anubis (baboon) are infected with S. mansoni, notably in Ethiopia, where they are expected to have potentially significant implications ...[more]

PMID: 32898147

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Project description:Environmental and anthropogenic changes are expected to promote emergence and spread of pathogens worldwide. Since 2013, human urogenital schistosomiasis is established in Corsica island (France). Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease affecting both humans and animals. The parasite involved in the Corsican outbreak is a hybrid form between Schistosoma haematobium, a human parasite, and Schistosoma bovis, a livestock parasite. S. bovis has been detected in Corsican livestock few decades ago raising the questions whether hybridization occurred in Corsica and if animals could behave as a reservoir for the recently established parasite lineage. The latter hypothesis has huge epidemiological outcomes since the emergence of a zoonotic lineage of schistosomes would be considerably harder to control and eradicate the disease locally and definitively needs to be verified. In this study we combined a sero-epidemiological survey on ruminants and a rodent trapping campaign to check whether schistosomes could shift on vertebrate hosts other than humans. A total of 3,519 domesticated animals (1,147 cattle; 671 goats and 1,701 sheep) from 160 farms established in 14 municipalities were sampled. From these 3,519 screened animals, 17 were found to be serologically positive but were ultimately considered as false positive after complementary analyses. Additionally, our 7-day extensive rodent trapping (i.e. 1,949 traps placed) resulted in the capture of a total of 34 rats (Rattus rattus) and 4 mice (Mus musculus). Despite the low number of rodents captured, molecular diagnostic tests showed that two of them have been found to be infected by schistosomes. Given the low abundance of rodents and the low parasitic prevalence and intensity among rodents, it is unlikely that neither rats nor ruminants play a significant role in the maintenance of schistosomiasis outbreak in Corsica. Finally, the most likely hypothesis is that local people initially infected in 2013 re-contaminated the river during subsequent summers, however we cannot definitively rule out the possibility of an animal species acting as reservoir host.

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Genetic evidence for the role of non-human primates as reservoir hosts for human schistosomiasis.

Publications

Genetic evidence for the role of non-human primates as reservoir hosts for human schistosomiasis.

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