Introgression in Lake Malaŵi: increasing the threat of human urogenital schistosomiasis?

Ecohealth. 2014 Jun;11(2):251-4. doi: 10.1007/s10393-013-0882-y. Epub 2013 Oct 18.

Abstract

For the last 15 years, we have studied the relationships among cichlid snail-eating fishes, intermediate snail-host density, and the prevalence of human infection of Schistosoma haematobium in Lake Malaŵi and concluded that the increase of human infection is correlated with the decrease in snail-eating fishes in the shallow waters of the lake. We postulated that a strain of S. haematobium from other parts of Africa, which was introduced into the Cape Maclear region of Lake Malaŵi by tourists, was compatible with Bulinus nyassanus-which is a close relative of B. truncatus, and interbred with the indigenous strain of S. haematobium, which ultimately produced via introgression a strain that can use both B. globosus and B. nyassanus as intermediate hosts. This actively evolving situation involving intermediate snail-host switching and decline of Trematocranus placodon, a natural cichlid snail predator, will impact on transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis within the local communities and on tourists who visit Lake Malaŵi.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cichlids
  • Genetic Speciation
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Lakes / parasitology
  • Malawi / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Schistosoma haematobium / genetics*
  • Schistosoma haematobium / parasitology
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / epidemiology
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / parasitology
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / transmission*
  • Snails