RESTRICTION ENZYME MAPPING OF RIBOSOMAL DNA OF SCHISTOSOMA-SPINDALE AND S-LEIPERI (DIGENEA) AND ITS APPLICATION TO INTERSPECIFIC DIFFERENTIATION

Restriction maps were determined for the ribosomal RNA gene complex of Schistosoma spindale and S. leiperi. The restriction map of the S. sp indale rRNA gene complex was found to differ from those of other schis tosomes previously described by the presence of an additional EcoRI si te in the non transcribed spacer region. In common with S. mattheei an d S. margrebowiei, both S. leiperi and S. spindale appear to have inse rtions in the transcribed spacer region, relative to S. mansoni. EcoRI digests of genomic DNA, probed with pSM 889, enabled differentiation of S. spindale and S. leiperi from four other species of schistosome.