Compatibility of Schistosoma haematobium, S. intercalatum and their hybrids with Bulinus truncatus and B. forskalii

Abstract

Schistosoma haematobium and S. intercalatum readily hybridize with each other producing generations of viable hybrid offspring. Experiments were designed to investigate the infectivity and viability of the S. haematobium×S. intercalatum F1 and F2 hybrid larvae in their two intermediate snail hosts compared with the parental species. Analysis of the data obtained suggested that the S. haematobium [male ]×S. intercalatum [female] F1 hybrid miracidia were more infective to Bulinus truncatus than to B. forskalii, and also more infective to B. truncatus compared with the parental S. haematobium miracidia. This hybrid was also observed to have a greater cercarial productivity from both intermediate hosts and these cercariae were shown to be more infectious and to have a longer longevity compared with the cercariae of S. haematobium, S. intercalatum and the S. haematobium [female]×S. intercalatum [male ] F1 hybrid cercariae. The S. haematobium [female]×S. intercalatum [male ] F1 hybrid was shown not to be very successful in all stages of the investigations. The results indicate that the S. haematobium [male ]×S. intercalatum [female] F1 hybrid may have many reproductive advantages over the reciprocal hybrid and the parental schistosome species. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to the epidemiological consequences occurring in Loum, Cameroon, and other areas where S. haematobium and S. intercalatum are sympatric and able to hybridize.