TY - JOUR
T1 - Development, validation, and pilot application of a high throughput molecular xenomonitoring assay to detect Schistosoma mansoni and other trematode species within Biomphalaria freshwater snail hosts
AU - Archer, John
AU - Yeo, Shi Min
AU - Gadd, Grace
AU - Pennance, Tom
AU - Cunningham, Lucas
AU - Juhasz, Alexandra
AU - Jones, Sam
AU - Chammudzi, Priscilla
AU - Kapira, Donales R.
AU - Lally, David
AU - Namacha, Gladys
AU - Mainga, Bright
AU - Makaula, Peter
AU - LaCourse, James
AU - Kayuni, Sekeleghe A.
AU - Musaya, Janelisa
AU - Stothard, Russell
AU - Webster, Bonnie L.
PY - 2024/3/22
Y1 - 2024/3/22
N2 - Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by infection with parasitic trematodes of the genus Schistosoma that can lead to debilitating morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization recommend molecular xenomonitoring of Biomphalaria spp. freshwater snail intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni to identify highly focal intestinal schistosomiasis transmission sites and monitor disease transmission, particularly in low-endemicity areas. A standardised protocol to do this, however, is needed. Here, two previously published primer sets were selected to develop and validate a multiplex molecular xenomonitoring end-point PCR assay capable of detecting S. mansoni infections within individual Biomphalaria spp. missed by cercarial shedding. The assay proved highly sensitive and highly specific in detecting and amplifying S. mansoni DNA and also proved highly sensitive in detecting and amplifying non-S. mansoni trematode DNA. The optimised assay was then used to screen Biomphalaria spp. collected from a S. mansoni-endemic area for infection and successfully detected S. mansoni infections missed by cercarial shedding as well as infections with non-S. mansoni trematodes. The continued development and use of molecular xenomonitoring assays such as this will aid in improving disease control efforts, significantly reducing disease-related morbidities experienced by those in schistosomiasis-endemic areas.
AB - Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by infection with parasitic trematodes of the genus Schistosoma that can lead to debilitating morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization recommend molecular xenomonitoring of Biomphalaria spp. freshwater snail intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni to identify highly focal intestinal schistosomiasis transmission sites and monitor disease transmission, particularly in low-endemicity areas. A standardised protocol to do this, however, is needed. Here, two previously published primer sets were selected to develop and validate a multiplex molecular xenomonitoring end-point PCR assay capable of detecting S. mansoni infections within individual Biomphalaria spp. missed by cercarial shedding. The assay proved highly sensitive and highly specific in detecting and amplifying S. mansoni DNA and also proved highly sensitive in detecting and amplifying non-S. mansoni trematode DNA. The optimised assay was then used to screen Biomphalaria spp. collected from a S. mansoni-endemic area for infection and successfully detected S. mansoni infections missed by cercarial shedding as well as infections with non-S. mansoni trematodes. The continued development and use of molecular xenomonitoring assays such as this will aid in improving disease control efforts, significantly reducing disease-related morbidities experienced by those in schistosomiasis-endemic areas.
KW - Biomphalaria
KW - Disease control and elimination
KW - Disease transmission monitoring
KW - Intestinal schistosomiasis
KW - Molecular epidemiology
KW - Molecular xenomonitoring
U2 - 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100174
DO - 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100174
M3 - Article
SN - 2667-114X
VL - 5
SP - 100174
JO - Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases
JF - Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases
M1 - 100174
ER -
