Isolation and characterization of the first polymorphic microsatellite markers for Schistosoma haematobium and their application in multiplex reactions of larval stages

The ability of microsatellite loci to reveal genetic diversity within the trematode Schistosoma haematobium is demonstrated for the first time. Nine novel polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated and their viability assessed on 36 S. haematobium adult worm individuals from three geographical populations. Allelic diversity and gene diversity ranged from two to seven and from 0.29 to 0.76, respectively, suggesting high variability between individuals and between unrelated populations. Three primers also amplified Schistosoma mansoni and two Schistosoma japonicum. The results suggest these primers are useful for population genetic analyses of S. haematobium.