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Host–parasite population genetics: a cross-sectional comparison of Bulinus globosus and Schistosoma haematobium

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 1999

C. M. DAVIES
Affiliation:
Wellcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
J. P. WEBSTER
Affiliation:
Wellcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
O. KRÜGER
Affiliation:
Wellcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
A. MUNATSI
Affiliation:
Blair Research Laboratory, Joshua Tongogara Av./Mazowe Street, P.O. Box CY 573, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe
J. NDAMBA
Affiliation:
Blair Research Laboratory, Joshua Tongogara Av./Mazowe Street, P.O. Box CY 573, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe Current address: Institute of Water and Sanitation Development, Alexandra Park, P.O. Box MP422, Harare, Zimbabwe.
M. E. J. WOOLHOUSE
Affiliation:
Wellcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK Current address: Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.

Abstract

The genetic population structures of the freshwater snail Bulinus globosus and its trematode parasite Schistosoma haematobium from 8 river sites in the Zimbabwean highveld were compared using randomly amplified DNA(RAPD) markers. There was significant variability between snail populations collected at different sites, but schistosome populations only showed differentiation at a wider geographical scale (between 2 non-connected river systems). For snails, genetic distance was better correlated with proximity along rivers than absolute geographical separation. In contrast, schistosome genetic distance was better correlated with absolute geographical separation than proximity along rivers. These results are consistent with different dispersal mechanisms for snails and schistosomes and the implications for host–parasite coevolution are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1999 Cambridge University Press

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