Mapping freshwater snails in north-western Angola: distribution, identity and molecular diversity of medically important taxa
Abstract Background This study was designed to determine the distribution and identity of potential intermediate snail hosts of Schistosoma spp. in Bengo, Luanda, Kwanza Norte and Malanje Provinces in north-western Angola. This is an area where infection with Schistosoma haematobium, causing urogeni...
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doaj-08e268b404264df1b9c4ef60357ac5802020-11-25T01:39:11ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052017-10-0110111010.1186/s13071-017-2395-yMapping freshwater snails in north-western Angola: distribution, identity and molecular diversity of medically important taxaFiona Allan0Jose Carlos Sousa-Figueiredo1Aidan M. Emery2Rossely Paulo3Clara Mirante4Alfredo Sebastião5Miguel Brito6David Rollinson7Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical LaboratoriesDepartment of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical LaboratoriesDepartment of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical LaboratoriesCentro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (Health Research Center in Angola), Rua direita do Caxito, Hospital ProvincialCentro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (Health Research Center in Angola), Rua direita do Caxito, Hospital ProvincialCentro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (Health Research Center in Angola), Rua direita do Caxito, Hospital ProvincialCentro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (Health Research Center in Angola), Rua direita do Caxito, Hospital ProvincialDepartment of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical LaboratoriesAbstract Background This study was designed to determine the distribution and identity of potential intermediate snail hosts of Schistosoma spp. in Bengo, Luanda, Kwanza Norte and Malanje Provinces in north-western Angola. This is an area where infection with Schistosoma haematobium, causing urogenital schistosomiasis, is common but little is yet known about transmission of the disease. Angola has had a varied past with regard to disease control and is revitalising efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases. Methods Snails were sampled from 60 water-contact points. Specimens of the genera Bulinus, Biomphalaria or Lymnaea were screened for trematode infections by inducing cercarial shedding. Snails were initially identified using shell morphology; subsequently a cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene fragment was amplified from a subset of snails from each site, for molecular identification. Cercariae were captured onto FTA cards for molecular analysis. Specimens of Bulinus angolensis collected from the original locality of the type specimen have been characterised and comparisons made with snails collected in 1957 held at the Natural History Museum, London, UK. Results In total snails of nine genera were identified using morphological characteristics: Biomphalaria, Bulinus, Gyraulus, Lanistes, Lentorbis, Lymnaea, Melanoides, Physa and Succinea. Significant for schistosomiasis transmission, was the discovery of Bulinus globosus, B. canescens, B. angolensis, B. crystallinus and Biomphalaria salinarum in their type-localities and elsewhere. Bulinus globosus and B. angolensis occurred in two distinct geographical areas. The cox1 sequence for B. globosus differed markedly from those from specimens of this species collected from other countries. Bulinus angolensis is more closely related to B. globosus than originally documented and should be included in the B. africanus group. Schistosoma haematobium cercariae were recovered from B. globosus from two locations: Cabungo, Bengo (20 snails) and Calandula, Malanje (5 snails). Schistosoma haematobium cercariae were identified as group 1 cox1 corresponding to the type common throughout the African mainland. Conclusions Various freshwater bodies in north-western Angola harbour potential intermediate snail hosts for urogenital schistosomiasis, highlighting the need to map the rest of the country to identify areas where transmission can occur and where control efforts should be targeted. The molecular phylogeny generated from the samples confirmed that considerable variation exists in B. globosus, which is the primary snail host for S. haematobium in many regions of Africa.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-017-2395-yAngolaSchistosomiasis transmissionBulinus globosusBiomphalaria spp.Schistosoma haematobium |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Fiona Allan Jose Carlos Sousa-Figueiredo Aidan M. Emery Rossely Paulo Clara Mirante Alfredo Sebastião Miguel Brito David Rollinson |
spellingShingle |
Fiona Allan Jose Carlos Sousa-Figueiredo Aidan M. Emery Rossely Paulo Clara Mirante Alfredo Sebastião Miguel Brito David Rollinson Mapping freshwater snails in north-western Angola: distribution, identity and molecular diversity of medically important taxa Parasites & Vectors Angola Schistosomiasis transmission Bulinus globosus Biomphalaria spp. Schistosoma haematobium |
author_facet |
Fiona Allan Jose Carlos Sousa-Figueiredo Aidan M. Emery Rossely Paulo Clara Mirante Alfredo Sebastião Miguel Brito David Rollinson |
author_sort |
Fiona Allan |
title |
Mapping freshwater snails in north-western Angola: distribution, identity and molecular diversity of medically important taxa |
title_short |
Mapping freshwater snails in north-western Angola: distribution, identity and molecular diversity of medically important taxa |
title_full |
Mapping freshwater snails in north-western Angola: distribution, identity and molecular diversity of medically important taxa |
title_fullStr |
Mapping freshwater snails in north-western Angola: distribution, identity and molecular diversity of medically important taxa |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mapping freshwater snails in north-western Angola: distribution, identity and molecular diversity of medically important taxa |
title_sort |
mapping freshwater snails in north-western angola: distribution, identity and molecular diversity of medically important taxa |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Parasites & Vectors |
issn |
1756-3305 |
publishDate |
2017-10-01 |
description |
Abstract Background This study was designed to determine the distribution and identity of potential intermediate snail hosts of Schistosoma spp. in Bengo, Luanda, Kwanza Norte and Malanje Provinces in north-western Angola. This is an area where infection with Schistosoma haematobium, causing urogenital schistosomiasis, is common but little is yet known about transmission of the disease. Angola has had a varied past with regard to disease control and is revitalising efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases. Methods Snails were sampled from 60 water-contact points. Specimens of the genera Bulinus, Biomphalaria or Lymnaea were screened for trematode infections by inducing cercarial shedding. Snails were initially identified using shell morphology; subsequently a cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene fragment was amplified from a subset of snails from each site, for molecular identification. Cercariae were captured onto FTA cards for molecular analysis. Specimens of Bulinus angolensis collected from the original locality of the type specimen have been characterised and comparisons made with snails collected in 1957 held at the Natural History Museum, London, UK. Results In total snails of nine genera were identified using morphological characteristics: Biomphalaria, Bulinus, Gyraulus, Lanistes, Lentorbis, Lymnaea, Melanoides, Physa and Succinea. Significant for schistosomiasis transmission, was the discovery of Bulinus globosus, B. canescens, B. angolensis, B. crystallinus and Biomphalaria salinarum in their type-localities and elsewhere. Bulinus globosus and B. angolensis occurred in two distinct geographical areas. The cox1 sequence for B. globosus differed markedly from those from specimens of this species collected from other countries. Bulinus angolensis is more closely related to B. globosus than originally documented and should be included in the B. africanus group. Schistosoma haematobium cercariae were recovered from B. globosus from two locations: Cabungo, Bengo (20 snails) and Calandula, Malanje (5 snails). Schistosoma haematobium cercariae were identified as group 1 cox1 corresponding to the type common throughout the African mainland. Conclusions Various freshwater bodies in north-western Angola harbour potential intermediate snail hosts for urogenital schistosomiasis, highlighting the need to map the rest of the country to identify areas where transmission can occur and where control efforts should be targeted. The molecular phylogeny generated from the samples confirmed that considerable variation exists in B. globosus, which is the primary snail host for S. haematobium in many regions of Africa. |
topic |
Angola Schistosomiasis transmission Bulinus globosus Biomphalaria spp. Schistosoma haematobium |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-017-2395-y |
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