Differentiation of Schistosoma haematobium from related species using cloned ribosomal RNA gene probes

Abstract

The ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene units of Schistosoma mansoni (lateral spined eggs) and six species of schistosomes with terminal spined eggs ( S. haematobium, S. curassoni, S. bovis, S. intercalatum, S. margrebowiei and S. mattheei) have been studied. The schistosome rRNA gene unit consists of a regular interspersion of the two genes encoding the large and small rRNA units with two spacers. The large spacer is not transcribed while the small spacer is part of the transcription unit. Variation in the rRNA gene unit of the species studied is demonstrated and takes three forms: First, variation in DNA sequence leads to both reduced homology in the spacer regions between species and loss or gain of restriction sites. Second, variation in the length of the transcribed spacer is demonstrated and DNA insertions of 0.2 kilobases (kb) and 0.1 kb are observed in S. mattheei and S. margrebowiei, respectively. Third, the length of the non-transcribed spacer region varies between species. S. haematobium has a 0.5 kb deletion in this region, while that of S. margrebowiei contains varying numbers of a 0.4 kb DNA insert. These interspecific variations have been shown to be conserved within species. Analysis of the rRNA genes by DNA hybridisation techniques therefore serves as a means of species identification, whereby it is possible to differentiate S. haematobium from other schistosome species with terminal spined eggs. Similarly, S. margrebowiei and S. mattheei may be clearly distinguished, although no major variation has been detected between S. curassoni, S. bovis and S. intercalatum. All these species differ from S. mansoni by the absence of certain restriction sites in the non-transcribed spacer.