Analysis of the genomes of schistosomes and one of their
intermediate hosts, Biomphalaria glabrata, using Random
Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) demonstrated that
intraspecific genetic polymorphism in the parasite is limited
but in the snail is highly pronounced. This suggests an
important role for the snail in the determination of the
epidemiology of the disease. In addition to their
intraspecific stability, schistosome derived RAPDs exhibit a
high level of interspecific polymorphism and are thus ideal
for the construction of phylogenetic trees. For the detection
of intraspecific polymorphisms extensive variation in the
mitochondrial DNA is being exploited for the development of a
PCR based test for Schistosoma mansoni. Gene level
polymorphims are being analyzed by Low Stringency Single
Specific Primer PCR.
