Journal
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
Volume 29, Issue 9, Pages 449-459Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2013.06.004
Keywords
Schistosomatidae; life cycle; evolution; phylogeny; parasite
Categories
Funding
- National Institutes of Health [1P20RR18754, R01 AI101438]
- National Science Foundation [DEB 1021427]
- Direct For Biological Sciences
- Division Of Environmental Biology [1021427] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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This review provides an update of ongoing efforts to expand our understanding of the diversity inherent within the Schistosomatidae, the parasites responsible for causing schistosomiasis and cercarial dermatitis. By revealing more of the species present, particularly among understudied avian schistosomes, we gain increased understanding of patterns of schistosome diversification, and their abilities to colonize new hosts and habitats. Schistosomes reveal a surprising ability to switch into new snail and vertebrate host species, into new intrahost habitats, and may adopt novel body forms in the process. Often these changes are not associated with deep splits or long branches in their phylogeny, suggesting some are of relatively recent origin. Several hypotheses prompted by the new observations are discussed, helping to focus thinking on processes influencing not only schistosome diversification but also their pathogenicity and abundance.
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