ISSN 2756-3391
African Journal of Parasitology Research | Vol. 14, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 597–604
DOI: 10.46882/AJPR/170548
Article Type: Full Length Research Paper
Title: Microgeographic genetic structure and subpopulation connectivity of Schistosoma haematobium in high-transmission zones of the Lake Victoria basin, Kenya
Names of Authors: Collins O. Omondi¹, Agnes C. Kiprop², Bernard N. Ndinya¹
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya. ²School of Sciences and Aerospace Studies, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.
Abstract: Sustained urogenital schistosomiasis transmission in lakeside communities challenges traditional elimination strategies. This study mapped the microgeographic genetic diversity and population structure of Schistosoma haematobium within high-endemic transmission zones along the Lake Victoria basin in western Kenya. A total of 1450 parasite miracidia were isolated from urine samples of 220 infected primary school pupils across eight coastal villages. DNA specimens were genotyped using a panels of 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci alongside sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Genetic diversity indices demonstrated high overall allelic richness (mean number of alleles = 8.4 per locus), accompanied by a low genetic differentiation index among villages separated by distances less than 15 kilometers (Fst = 0.024). This high level of genetic homogeneity suggests significant gene flow and parasite mixing across the region. Reconstructed sibling relationships among miracidia demonstrated that over 34.0 percent of children shed parasites belonging to multiple distinct paternal lineages, indicating frequent re-infection from diverse environmental transmission points. Genetic analysis confirmed that 4.2 percent of the miracidia possessed mitochondrial profiles characteristic of Schistosoma bovis, indicating natural introgressive hybridization between human and bovine schistosomes. These findings suggest high parasite connectivity driven by human mobility and livestock interaction, emphasizing that schistosomiasis interventions must shift from single-village mass drug administration to integrated watershed-wide environmental controls.
Keywords: Schistosoma haematobium, Genetic structure, Microsatellites, Introgressive hybridization, Lake Victoria, Kenya
Manuscript Timeline: Received: 15 June 2026; Revised: 12 July 2026; Accepted: 30 July 2026; Published: 24 August 2026
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