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Background <p>Though being prevalent worldwide, <i>Mansonella</i> parasites are among the most neglected filarial nematodes. The true prevalence and genetic diversity of this genus have yet to be fully understood. <i>Mansonella</i> sp. “DEUX” is a recently described filarial nematode infecting humans and other primates in Gabon and Cameroon, although its status as distinct species has been controversial. We investigated four different polymorphic regions to further explore the genetic differences between <i>Mansonella</i> species and to support their status as distinct species.</p> Methods <p>We screened whole blood samples collected in EDTA tubes from individuals from rural areas in Gabon for mono-infections with only one <i>Mansonella</i> species, either <i>Mansonella</i> sp. “DEUX” or <i>Mansonella perstans</i>, as determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting the ITS1 region. We also included nine blood samples from Togo that had been collected as dried blood spots on 903™ protein saver cards and identified as <i>M. perstans</i> mono-infection. We further amplified, sequenced, and analyzed three molecular marker regions <i>cox1</i>, <i>12S</i> rDNA, and <i>28S</i> rDNA for their potential to discriminate between the two <i>Mansonella</i> species.</p> Results <p>In total, 93 mono-infected blood samples were identified. Distinct single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) patterns for the two investigated <i>Mansonella</i> species were consistently detected in all four loci. The observed nucleotide divergences were comparable to other Onchocercidae family members. Species identification based on the ITS1 marker region was fully concordant with the SNP patterns in all samples. A complete genetic dimorphism could be observed in each of the four marker regions investigated.</p> Conclusions <p>The four polymorphic markers, ITS1, <i>cox1</i>, <i>12S</i> rDNA, and <i>28S</i> rDNA, consistently demonstrated clear dimorphism between the two <i>Mansonella</i> species. Our results support the classification of <i>Mansonella</i> sp. “DEUX” as a distinct, nonrecombining <i>Mansonella</i> species within the Onchocercidae family.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Polymorphic marker regions support divergence of Mansonella sp. “DEUX” and M. perstans

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月27日

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  • Mara Fischer,
  • Miriam Rodi,
  • Prithivi Jung Thapa,
  • Capucine Marie Sicard,
  • Juliana Inoue,
  • Lilith Berner,
  • Pierre Blaise Matsiegui,
  • Carsten Köhler,
  • Andrea Kreidenweiss,
  • Michael Ramharter,
  • Selidji Todagbe Agnandji,
  • Stephan Ossowski,
  • Jana Held

摘要

Background

Though being prevalent worldwide, Mansonella parasites are among the most neglected filarial nematodes. The true prevalence and genetic diversity of this genus have yet to be fully understood. Mansonella sp. “DEUX” is a recently described filarial nematode infecting humans and other primates in Gabon and Cameroon, although its status as distinct species has been controversial. We investigated four different polymorphic regions to further explore the genetic differences between Mansonella species and to support their status as distinct species.

Methods

We screened whole blood samples collected in EDTA tubes from individuals from rural areas in Gabon for mono-infections with only one Mansonella species, either Mansonella sp. “DEUX” or Mansonella perstans, as determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting the ITS1 region. We also included nine blood samples from Togo that had been collected as dried blood spots on 903™ protein saver cards and identified as M. perstans mono-infection. We further amplified, sequenced, and analyzed three molecular marker regions cox1, 12S rDNA, and 28S rDNA for their potential to discriminate between the two Mansonella species.

Results

In total, 93 mono-infected blood samples were identified. Distinct single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) patterns for the two investigated Mansonella species were consistently detected in all four loci. The observed nucleotide divergences were comparable to other Onchocercidae family members. Species identification based on the ITS1 marker region was fully concordant with the SNP patterns in all samples. A complete genetic dimorphism could be observed in each of the four marker regions investigated.

Conclusions

The four polymorphic markers, ITS1, cox1, 12S rDNA, and 28S rDNA, consistently demonstrated clear dimorphism between the two Mansonella species. Our results support the classification of Mansonella sp. “DEUX” as a distinct, nonrecombining Mansonella species within the Onchocercidae family.

Graphical Abstract