Genomic data reveal a north-south split and introgression history of blood fluke populations across Africa

Roy N. Platt (), Egie E. Enabulele, Ehizogie Adeyemi, Marian O. Agbugui, Oluwaremilekun G. Ajakaye, Ebube C. Amaechi, Chika P. Ejikeugwu, Christopher Igbeneghu, Victor S. Njom, Precious Dlamini, Grace A. Arya, Robbie Diaz, Muriel Rabone, Fiona Allan, Bonnie Webster, Aidan Emery, David Rollinson and Timothy J. C. Anderson ()
Additional contact information
Roy N. Platt: Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Egie E. Enabulele: Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Ehizogie Adeyemi: University of Benin Teaching Hospital
Marian O. Agbugui: Edo State University
Oluwaremilekun G. Ajakaye: Adekunle Ajasin University
Ebube C. Amaechi: University of Ilorin
Chika P. Ejikeugwu: Enugu State University of Science and Technology
Christopher Igbeneghu: Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
Victor S. Njom: Enugu State University of Science and Technology
Precious Dlamini: Central Public Health Offices
Grace A. Arya: Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Robbie Diaz: Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Muriel Rabone: Natural History Museum
Fiona Allan: Natural History Museum
Bonnie Webster: Natural History Museum
Aidan Emery: Natural History Museum
David Rollinson: Natural History Museum
Timothy J. C. Anderson: Texas Biomedical Research Institute

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract The human parasitic fluke, Schistosoma haematobium hybridizes with the livestock parasite S. bovis in the laboratory, but the frequency of hybridization in nature is unclear. Here, we analyze 34.6 million single nucleotide variants in 162 samples from 18 African countries, revealing a sharp genetic discontinuity between northern and southern S. haematobium. We find no evidence for recent hybridization. Instead the data reveal admixture events that occurred 257–879 generations ago in northern S. haematobium populations. Fifteen introgressed S. bovis genes are approaching fixation in northern S. haematobium with four genes potentially driving adaptation. Further, we identify 19 regions that are resistant to introgression; these are enriched on the sex chromosomes. These results (i) suggest strong barriers to gene flow between these species, (ii) indicate that hybridization may be less common than currently envisaged, but (iii) reveal profound genomic consequences of rare interspecific hybridization between schistosomes of medical and veterinary importance.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58543-6

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