These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Genetic variability and identification of the intermediate snail hosts of Schistosoma mansoni.
    Author: Vidigal TH, Dias Neto E, Spatz L, Nunes DN, Pires ER, Simpson AJ, Carvalho OS.
    Journal: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz; 1998; 93 Suppl 1():103-10. PubMed ID: 9921330.
    Abstract:
    Studies based on shell or reproductive organ morphology and genetic considerations suggest extensive intraspecific variation in Biomphalaria snails. The high variability at the morphological and genetic levels, as well as the small size of some specimens and similarities between species complicate the correct identification of these snails. Here we review our work using methods based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification for analysis of genetic variation and identification of Biomphalaria snails from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Arbitrarily primed-PCR revealed that the genome of B. glabrata exhibits a remarkable degree of intraspecific polymorphism. Low stringency-PCR using primers for 18S rRNA permitted the identification of B. glabrata, B. tenagophila and B. occidentalis. The study of individuals obtained from geographically distinct populations exhibits significant intraspecific DNA polymorphism, however, specimens from the same species, exhibit some species specific LSPs. We also showed that PCR-restriction fragment of length polymorphism of the internal transcribed spacer region of Biomphalaria rDNA, using Ddel permits the differentiation of the three intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni. the molecular biological techniques used in our studies are very useful for the generation of new knowledge concerning the systematics and population genetics of Biomphalaria snails.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]