USE OF RAPD-PCR TO DIFFERENTIATE GENETICALLY DEFINED LINES OF AN INTERMEDIATE HOST OF SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI, BIOMPHALARIA-GLABRATA

The genetic differentiation among several laboratory-maintained pedigr ee snail lines of Biomphalaria glabrata (with different susceptibility phenotypes to Schistosoma mansoni infection) was assessed with the ra ndom amplified polymorphic DNA method. Out of the 20 primers tested, 2 (OPA-01 and OPA-06) gave reproducible markers with either individual or bulked DNA samples from resistant (BS-90, 10-R2, LAC-line) and susc eptible (M-line) snails. Arbitrary primer, OPA-01, amplification of BS -90 DNA identified a 180-bp strain-specific fragment and a 400-bp mark er in the susceptible M-line stock. In the 10-R2 and LAC snail lines, OPA-01 specific markers of 200 bp and 550 bp were identified. Amplific ation with primer OPA-06 identified several major strain-specific mark ers in the BS-90 (150 bp, 400 bp, 800 bp) and M-line (1,100 bp) snails . The heritability of the RAPD markers was evaluated in progeny snails derived from a cross between the BS-90 and M-line stocks. Results sho wed that markers were inherited in a dominant or codominant fashion. T he 1,100-bp M-line marker was inherited in all susceptible progeny sna ils analyzed.