A population genetic analysis of the nematode <i>Strongyloides stercoralis</i> in Asia shows that human infection is not a zoonosis from dogs.


Liu, Yuchen, Sarker, AHM Raihan, Sripa, Banchob ORCID: 0000-0001-8899-5919, Tangkawattana, Sirikachorn ORCID: 0000-0002-5662-8636, Khieu, Virak ORCID: 0000-0002-1725-3843, Nevin, William, Paterson, Steve ORCID: 0000-0002-1307-2981 and Viney, Mark ORCID: 0000-0002-4857-1238 (2025) A population genetic analysis of the nematode <i>Strongyloides stercoralis</i> in Asia shows that human infection is not a zoonosis from dogs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 122 (29). e2424630122-. ISSN 0027-8424, 1091-6490

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Abstract

Gut nematode worms are important parasites of people and other animals. The parasitic nematode <i>Strongyloides stercoralis</i> infects an estimated 600 million people worldwide and is one of the soil-transmitted helminthiases, a WHO-defined neglected tropical disease. It has long been suggested that human <i>S. stercoralis</i> infection may be a zoonosis from dogs. We investigated this by whole genome sequence analysis of <i>S. stercoralis</i> from sympatric human and dog populations in Asia. We find that human- and dog-derived <i>S. stercoralis</i> have genetically distinct nuclear genomes, but we also find evidence of rare cross-infection. Analysis of the <i>S. stercoralis</i> mitochondrial genome reveals evidence of historical introgression between human- and dog-derived parasites. Based on these data, we suggest that <i>S. stercoralis</i> was originally a parasite of canids, that began to infect humans when people domesticated dogs, since when human- and dog-derived parasites have differentiated, but have not become separate species.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Animals, Dogs, Humans, Strongyloides stercoralis, Zoonoses, Strongyloidiasis, Dog Diseases, Genetics, Population, Phylogeny, Asia, Genome, Mitochondrial
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 16 Jul 2025 08:38
Last Modified: 02 Aug 2025 15:56
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2424630122
Open Access URL: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2424630122
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URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3193742
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