A Novel Bacterial Pathogen of Biomphalaria glabrata: A Potential Weapon for Schistosomiasis Control?

David Duval (1) , Richard Galinier (1) , Gabriel Mouahid (1) , Eve Toulza (1) , Jean-François J. F. Allienne (1) , Julien Portela (1) , Christophe Calvayrac (2) , Anne Rognon (1) , Nathalie Arancibia (1) , Guillaume Mitta (1) , André Théron (1) , Benjamin Gourbal (1)

1 IHPE - Interactions Hôtes-Pathogènes-Environnements
2 LCBE - Laboratoire de Chimie des Biomolécules et de l'Environnement

The present paper reports the isolation and the characterization of a new microbial pathogen of the freshwater snail, Biomphalaria glabrata. Genetic analyses revealed that the species has not been previously described and could be classified into the Paenibacillus genus. These bacteria invade most snail tissues and proliferate, causing massive lethality. Moreover, the bacterial infection can be transmitted both vertically and horizontally to other snails, causing their death in 30 days. This discovery is potentially important because B. glabrata, as an intermediate host, plays an important role in transmitting schistosomiasis, the second-most widespread human parasitic disease. The World Health Organization’s objective of schistosomiasis eradication in a decade encourages the development of multiple approaches for countering the disease, one of which is vector population control. This new bacterial strain clearly could be a potential agent for such a strategy.

Domains: Environmental Sciences; Biodiversity and Ecology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Biodiversity; Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE]

David Duval, Richard Galinier, Gabriel Mouahid, Eve Toulza, Jean-François J. F. Allienne, et al.. A Novel Bacterial Pathogen of Biomphalaria glabrata: A Potential Weapon for Schistosomiasis Control?. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2015, 9 (2), pp.e0003489. ⟨10.1371/journal.pntd.0003489.s002⟩. ⟨hal-01162649⟩