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Archer J, Yeo SM, Gadd G, Pennance T, Cunningham LJ, Juhàsz A, Jones S, Chammudzi P, Kapira DR, Lally D, Namacha G, Mainga B, Makaula P, LaCourse JE, Kayuni SA, Musaya J, Stothard JR, Webster BL. Development, validation, and pilot application of a high throughput molecular xenomonitoring assay to detect Schistosoma mansoni and other trematode species within Biomphalaria freshwater snail hosts. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis 2024; 5:100174. [PMID: 38618156 PMCID: PMC11010794 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by infection with parasitic trematodes of the genus Schistosoma that can lead to debilitating morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization recommend molecular xenomonitoring of Biomphalaria spp. freshwater snail intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni to identify highly focal intestinal schistosomiasis transmission sites and monitor disease transmission, particularly in low-endemicity areas. A standardised protocol to do this, however, is needed. Here, two previously published primer sets were selected to develop and validate a multiplex molecular xenomonitoring end-point PCR assay capable of detecting S. mansoni infections within individual Biomphalaria spp. missed by cercarial shedding. The assay proved highly sensitive and highly specific in detecting and amplifying S. mansoni DNA and also proved highly sensitive in detecting and amplifying non-S. mansoni trematode DNA. The optimised assay was then used to screen Biomphalaria spp. collected from a S. mansoni-endemic area for infection and successfully detected S. mansoni infections missed by cercarial shedding as well as infections with non-S. mansoni trematodes. The continued development and use of molecular xenomonitoring assays such as this will aid in improving disease control efforts, significantly reducing disease-related morbidities experienced by those in schistosomiasis-endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Archer
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5HD, UK
| | - Shi Min Yeo
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5HD, UK
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Grace Gadd
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5HD, UK
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Tom Pennance
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5HD, UK
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific – Northwest, Western University of Health Sciences, Lebanon, OR, 97355, USA
| | - Lucas J. Cunningham
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Alexandra Juhàsz
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, H-1089, Hungary
| | - Sam Jones
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Priscilla Chammudzi
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - Donales R. Kapira
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - David Lally
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - Gladys Namacha
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - Bright Mainga
- Laboratory Department, Mangochi District Hospital, Mangochi, P.O. Box 42, Malawi
| | - Peter Makaula
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
| | - James E. LaCourse
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Sekeleghe A. Kayuni
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - Janelisa Musaya
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, P.O. Box 30096, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Oral Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, 360, Malawi
| | - J. Russell Stothard
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Bonnie L. Webster
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5HD, UK
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