Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
Parasitology. 2009 Nov;136(13):1801-11. doi: 10.1017/S0031182009990412. Epub 2009 Jul 27.
Molecular approaches are providing new insights into the genetic diversity of schistosomes and their intermediate snail hosts. For instance, molecular tools based on the polymerase chain reaction are being developed for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis and the detection of prepatent schistosome infections in snails at transmission sites. Robust phylogenies of the different species of Schistosoma, Bulinus and Biomphalaria have been determined and novel methods are available to identify the different and cryptic taxa involved. Microsatellite analyses and mitochondrial DNA sequencing methods have been developed and are contributing to a better understanding of the genetic structure of both schistosome and snail populations. New sampling procedures to capture DNA of eggs and larval stages of schistosomes in field situations are facilitating more detailed and ethically advantageous studies on parasite heterogeneity. Knowledge of the genetic diversity of schistosome and snail populations adds a further dimension to the monitoring and surveillance of disease, and the implementation of new molecular-based approaches will be of increasing importance in helping to assess the impact of schistosomiasis control strategies.
分子方法为研究血吸虫及其中间宿主蜗牛的遗传多样性提供了新的见解。例如，基于聚合酶链反应的分子工具正在被开发用于血吸虫病的诊断，以及在传播地点检测蜗牛中的亚临床血吸虫感染。已经确定了不同血吸虫、Bulinus 和 Biomphalaria 物种的稳健系统发育，并且有新的方法可以识别所涉及的不同和隐匿分类群。微卫星分析和线粒体 DNA 测序方法已经开发出来，有助于更好地了解血吸虫和蜗牛种群的遗传结构。在现场情况下捕获血吸虫卵和幼虫阶段 DNA 的新采样程序正在促进对寄生虫异质性进行更详细和更符合伦理的研究。对血吸虫和蜗牛种群遗传多样性的了解为疾病的监测和监视增加了一个新的维度，新的基于分子的方法的实施将越来越重要，有助于评估血吸虫病控制策略的影响。
