Evolutionary relationships of the human Schistosoma haematobium clade and its intermediate hosts

Abstract Purpose In this research, I investigated the phylogenetic relationships of Schistosoma haematobium clade as well as the relationships of its intermediate hosts. Results Nucleotide BLAST revealed that Schistosoma haematobium DQ677664.1 shares 89.83% identity with S. guineensis DQ677663.1, 88.14% identity with S. bovis, and 84.1% identity with S. intercalatum. Schistosoma haematobium is derived from East Africa in Lake Victoria, i.e., Kenya, Tanzania, or Uganda. In this study, it was derived from Kenya. The African mainland S. haematonium and the Indian Ocean Islands S. haematobium have low genetic diversity. Schistosoma haematobium can infect B. truncatus, B. globosus, B. forskalii, B. nasutus, and B. productus. Schistosoma bovis infects B. tropicus. Bulinus wrighti is the same species as B. nasutus in the Indian Ocean Islands. Bulinus wrighti should be named B. nasutus wrighti. Conclusions Schistosoma haematobium has low genetic diversity. Schistosoma haematobium came from Kenya. Bulinus wrighti belongs to B. nasutus. It should be named B. nasutus wrighti.