New insights into the genetic diversity of Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobiumin Yemen.
BACKGROUND
Human schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease of great importance that remains highly prevalent in Yemen, especially amongst rural communities. In order to investigate the genetic diversity of human Schistosoma species, a DNA barcoding study was conducted on S. mansoni and S. haematobium in Yemen.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect urine and faecal samples from 400 children from five provinces in Yemen. The samples were examined for the presence of Schistosoma eggs. A partial fragment of the schistosome cox1 mitochondrial gene was analysed from each individual sample to evaluate the genetic diversity of the S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections. The data was also analysed together with previous published cox1 data for S. mansoni and S. haematobium from Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.


RESULTS
Overall, 31.8 % of participants were found to be excreting schistosome eggs in either the urine or faeces (8.0 % S. mansoni and 22.5 % S. haematobium). Nineteen unique haplotypes of S. mansoni were detected and split into four lineages. Furthermore, nine unique haplotypes of S. haematobium were identified that could be split into two distinct groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides novel and interesting insights into the population diversity and structure of S. mansoni and S. haematobium in Yemen. The data adds to our understanding of the evolutionary history and phylogeography of these devastating parasites whilst the genetic information could support the control and monitoring of urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis in these endemic areas.
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. hanysady@yahoo.com.|Department of Medical Laboratories, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Hodeidah University, Hodeidah, Yemen. hanysady@yahoo.com.
Hany
H
Sady
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. halmekhlafi@yahoo.com.|Azal National Research Center, Azal University for Human Development, 447, Sana'a, Yemen. halmekhlafi@yahoo.com.|Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, 1247, Sana'a, Yemen. halmekhlafi@yahoo.com.
Hesham M
HM
Al-Mekhlafi
Parasites and Vectors Division, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK. b.webster@nhm.ac.uk.
Bonnie L
BL
Webster
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. skyromano@gmail.com.
Romano
R
Ngui
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. wahib_atrosh@yahoo.com.
Wahib M
WM
Atroosh
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ahmed_soofi@yahoo.com.
Ahmed K
AK
Al-Delaimy
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. nabilnesr@yahoo.com.
Nabil A
NA
Nasr
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. khchua@um.edu.my.
Kek Heng
KH
Chua
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. limailian@um.edu.my.
Yvonne A L
YA
Lim
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. joharisurin@um.edu.my.
Johari
J
Surin
D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007195:Indian Ocean Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D058069:Neglected Diseases; D058974:Phylogeography; D015995:Prevalence; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium / Q000235:genetics*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics*; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D015006:Yemen / Q000453:epidemiology