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The Population Genetic Structure Of Biomphalaria Choanomphala In Lake Victoria, East Africa: Implications For Schistosomiasis Transmission, Claire J. Standley, Sara L. Goodacre, Christopher M. Wade, J. Russell Stothard
The Population Genetic Structure Of Biomphalaria Choanomphala In Lake Victoria, East Africa: Implications For Schistosomiasis Transmission, Claire J. Standley, Sara L. Goodacre, Christopher M. Wade, J. Russell Stothard
Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications
Background
The freshwater snail Biomphalaria acts as the intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni, a globally important human parasite. Understanding the population structure of intermediate host species can elucidate transmission dynamics and assist in developing appropriate control methods.
Methods
We examined levels of population genetic structure and diversity in 29 populations of Biomphalaria choanomphala collected around the shoreline of Lake Victoria in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, where S. mansoni is hyper-endemic. Molecular markers were utilized to estimate the degree to which snail populations are genetically differentiated from one another.
Results
High levels of snail genetic diversity were found coupled with …