title: A Genome Wide Comparison to Identify Markers to Differentiate the Sex of Larval Stages of Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma bovis and their Respective Hybrids.
abstract: For scientists working on gonochoric organisms, determining sex can be crucial for many biological questions and experimental studies, such as crossbreeding, but it can also be a challenging task, particularly when no sexual dimorphism is visible or cannot be directly observed. In metazoan parasites of the genus Schistosoma responsible for schistosomiasis, sex is genetically determined in the zygote with a female heterogametic ZW/ZZ system. Adult flukes have a pronounced sexual dimorphism, whereas the sexes of the larval stages are morphologically indistinguishable but can be distinguished uniquely by using molecular methods. Therefore, reliable methods are needed to identify the sex of larvae individuals. Here, we present an endpoint PCR-based assay using female-specific sequences identified using a genome-wide comparative analysis between males and females. This work allowed us to identify sex-markers for Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma bovis but also the hybrid between both species that has recently emerged in Corsica (France). Five molecular sex-markers were identified and are female-specific in S. haematobium and the hybrid parasite, whereas three of them are also female-specific in S. bovis. These molecular markers will be useful to conduct studies, such as experimental crosses on these disease-causing blood flukes, which are still largely neglected but no longer restricted to tropical areas.
authors.affiliation: Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, IHPE UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kincaid-Smith
authors.affiliation: Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, IHPE UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boissier
authors.affiliation: Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, IHPE UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Allienne
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Laboratory, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca (IRNASA, CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oleaga
authors.affiliation: Université des Montagnes‬ Faculty of Health Sciences, ‬Bangangté, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Félicité
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Djuikwo-Teukeng
authors.affiliation: Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, IHPE UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toulza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D049751:Genome, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins