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Zahid O, Butler M, Hopker A, Freeman E, Costa Júnior LM, Chaudhry U, Sargison N. Nemabiome metabarcoding shows a high prevalence of Haemonchus contortus and predominance of Camelostrongylus mentulatus in alpaca herds in the northern UK. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:201. [PMID: 38698272 PMCID: PMC11065920 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08226-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are a common threat faced by pastoral livestock. Since their major introduction to the UK in the early 1990s, South American camelids have been cograzed with sheep, horses, and other livestock, allowing exposure to a range of GIN species. However, there have been no molecular-based studies to investigate the GIN populations present in these camelids. In the current study, we sampled nine alpaca herds from northern England and southern Scotland and used high-throughput metabarcoded sequencing to describe their GIN species composition. A total of 71 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified representing eight known GIN species. Haemonchus contortus was the most prevalent species found in almost all herds in significant proportions. The identification of H. contortus in other livestock species is unusual in the northern UK, implying that alpacas may be suitable hosts and potential reservoirs for infection in other hosts. In addition, the camelid-adapted GIN species Camelostrongylus mentulatus was identified predominantly in herds with higher faecal egg counts. These findings highlight the value of applying advanced molecular methods, such as nemabiome metabarcoding to describe the dynamics of gastrointestinal nematode infections in novel situations. The results provide a strong base for further studies involving cograzing animals to confirm the potential role of alpacas in transmitting GIN species between hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osama Zahid
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
| | - Meghan Butler
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
- Current Address: Galedin Veterinary, Kelso, TD5 7BH, UK
| | - Andy Hopker
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Emily Freeman
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Livio M Costa Júnior
- Pathology Department, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Umer Chaudhry
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
- School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, St. George's Grenada, West Indies, Grenada
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK
| | - Neil Sargison
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
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Khan MA, Afshan K, Firasat S, Abbas M, Sargison ND, Betson M, Chaudhry U. Validation of deep amplicon sequencing of Dicrocoelium in small ruminants from Northern regions of Pakistan. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302455. [PMID: 38683822 PMCID: PMC11057770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Dicrocoelium lancet flukes cause significant production loss in ruminant livestock. Although co-infection with multiple Dicrocoelium species within a host is common, techniques for studying the composition of these complex parasite communities are lacking. The pathogenicity, epidemiology, and therapeutic susceptibility of different helminth species vary, and little is known about the interactions that take place between co-infecting species and their hosts. Here, we describe the first applicationof metabarcoding deep amplicon sequencing method to studythe Dicrocoelium species in sheep and goats. First, rDNA ITS-2 sequences of four Dicrocoelium species (Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Dicrocoelium hospes, Dicrocoelium orientalis, and Dicrocoelium chinensis) were extracted from the NCBI public database. Phylogenetic analysis revealed separate clades of Dicrocoelium species; hence, molecular differentiation between each species is possible in co-infections. Second, 202 flukes belonging to seventeen host populations (morphologically verified as belonging to the Dicrocoelium genus) were evaluated to determine the deep amplicon sequencing read threshold of an individual fluke for each of the four species. The accuracy of the method in proportional quantification of samples collected from single hosts was further assessed. Overall, 198 (98.01%) flukes were confirmed as D. dendriticum and 1.98% produced no reads. The comparison of genetic distances between rDNA ITS-2 revealed 86% to 98% identity between the Dicrocoelium species. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a distinct clustering of species, apart from D. orientalis and D. chinensis, which sit very close to each other in a single large clade whereas D. hospes and D. dendriticum are separated into their own clade. In conclusion each sample was identified as D. dendriticum based on the proportion of MiSeq reads and validated the presence of this group of parasites in the Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan. The metabarcoding deep amplicon sequencing technology and bioinformatics pathway have several potential applications, including species interactions during co-infections, identifying the host and geographical distribution of Dicrocoelium in livestock, drug therapy response evaluation and understanding of the emergence and spread of drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Asim Khan
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Zoology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Kiran Afshan
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Zoology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sabika Firasat
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Zoology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Abbas
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Neil D. Sargison
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Martha Betson
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Umer Chaudhry
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University True Blue, St. George’s Grenada, Caribbean
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Ichikawa-Seki M, Hayashi K, Tashiro M, Khadijah S. Dispersal direction of Malaysian Fasciola gigantica from neighboring southeast Asian countries inferred using mitochondrial DNA analysis. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 105:105373. [PMID: 36202207 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Fasciola gigantica and hybrid Fasciola flukes, responsible for the disease fasciolosis, are found in Southeast Asian countries. In the present study, we performed molecular species identification of Fasciola flukes distributed in Terengganu, Malaysia using multiplex PCR for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (pepck) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for DNA polymerase delta (pold). Simultaneously, phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) was performed for the first time on Malaysian Fasciola flukes to infer the dispersal direction among neighboring countries. A total of 40 flukes used in this study were identified as F. gigantica. Eight nad1 haplotypes were identified in the F. gigantica population of Terengganu. Median-joining network analysis revealed that the Malaysian population was related to those obtained from bordering countries such as Thailand and Indonesia. However, genetic differentiation was detected using population genetics analyses. Nevertheless, the nucleotide diversity (π) value suggested that F. gigantica with the predominant haplotypes was introduced into Malaysia from Thailand and Indonesia. The dispersal direction suggested by population genetics in the present study may not be fully reliable since Fasciola flukes were collected from a single location in one state of Malaysia. Further studies analyzing more samples from many locations are required to validate the dispersal direction proposed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madoka Ichikawa-Seki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, 3-18-8 Ueda, Morioka 020-8550, Japan.
| | - Kei Hayashi
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, 1-3 Ikoinooka, Imabari 794-8555, Japan
| | - Michiyo Tashiro
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, 3-18-8 Ueda, Morioka 020-8550, Japan
| | - S Khadijah
- School of Food Science and Technology, University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia; GYST Parasitology Services, CSIRO Armidale, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW, Australia
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A novel metabarcoded deep amplicon sequencing tool for disease surveillance and determining the species composition of Trypanosoma in cattle and other farm animals. Acta Trop 2022; 230:106416. [PMID: 35317999 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have developed strategies to control trypanosomiasis in humans and livestock in endemic areas. These require a better understanding of the distribution of different Trypanosoma species and improved predictions of where they might appear in the future, based on accurate diagnosis and robust surveillance systems. Here, we describe a metabarcoding deep amplicon sequencing method to identify and determine the Trypanosoma species in co-infecting communities. First, four morphological verified Trypanosoma species (T. brucei, T. congolense, T. vivax and T. theileri) were used to prepare test DNA pools derived from different numbers of parasites to evaluate the method's detection threshold for each of the four species and to assess the accuracy of their proportional quantification. Having demonstrated the accurate determination of species composition in Trypanosoma communities, the method was applied to determine its detection threshold using blood samples collected from cattle with confirmed Trypanosoma infections based on a PCR assay. Each sample showed a different Trypanosoma species composition based on the proportion of MiSeq reads. Finally, we applied the assay to field samples to develop new insight into the species composition of Trypanosoma communities in cattle, camels, buffalo, horses, sheep, and goat in endemically infected regions of Pakistan. We confirmed that Trypanosoma evansi is the major species in Pakistan and for the first time showed the presence of Trypanosoma theileri. The metabarcoding deep amplicon sequencing method and bioinformatics pathway have several potential applications in animal and human research, including evaluation of drug treatment responses, understanding of the emergence and spread of drug resistance, and description of species interactions during co-infections and determination of host and geographic distribution of trypanosomiasis in humans and livestock.
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Rooman M, Assad Y, Tabassum S, Sultan S, Ayaz S, Khan MF, Khan SN, Ali R. A cross-sectional survey of hard ticks and molecular characterization of Rhipicephalus microplus parasitizing domestic animals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255138. [PMID: 34351948 PMCID: PMC8341592 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In tropical and subtropical countries, tick infestation causes major public health problems and considerable financial losses to the livestock industry. This study was aimed to assess the species composition of richness and analyze the phylogeny of Rhipicephalus microplus in the District Bannu of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Methods Collected ticks were identified morphologically and DNA extracted from R. microplus was amplified and subjected to sequencing. Results A total of 3,600 animals were examined among them 1,494 animals were found to be infested with ticks, including 669 cows, 476 buffaloes, 163 goats, and 186 sheep (p = 0.001). Tick infestation was significantly high (43.58%) in animals of age group (<1 year) (p-value = 0.027). Female animals were more (44.05%) infested with ticks than males (34.43%) (p = 0.001). The intensity of infestation was significantly higher in summer (77.49%) (p = 0.001). A total of 5,557 ticks were collected comprising three genera and six species. R. microplus was predominantly prevalent (n = 1,474; 26.52%), followed by Rhipicephalus annulatus (n = 1,215; 21.86%), Hyalomma anatolicum (n = 1,139; 20.49%), Hyalomma marginatum (n = 1,086; 19.54%), and Rhipicephalus turanicus (n = 761; 13.69%), while the least common was Haemaphysalis aciculifer (n = 80; 1.43%) (p = 0.001). Morphologically identified R. microplus species were also analyzed genetically by using two genetic markers 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) genes. The phylogenetic study revealed that R. microplus is genetically diversified and clustered in clade B with R. microplus species from China, India, and Pakistan. Conclusion Ticks infestation was significantly correlated with various factors including age, sex, season, and animal type. R. microplus genetically resembled species reported from India and China. However, major knowledge gaps concerning various species of ticks exist and many areas are still unexplored in Pakistan. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the epidemiological and molecular aspects of various tick species in other regions of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Rooman
- Department of Zoology, Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Yasir Assad
- Department of Zoology, Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Sadia Tabassum
- Department of Zoology, Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- * E-mail: (ST); (SNK); (RA)
| | - Samia Sultan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Garden Campus Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Sultan Ayaz
- College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Abdul Wali Khan University Garden Campus Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Fiaz Khan
- Department of Zoology, Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Shahid Niaz Khan
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- * E-mail: (ST); (SNK); (RA)
| | - Rehman Ali
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- * E-mail: (ST); (SNK); (RA)
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Rehman ZU, Martin K, Zahid O, Ali Q, Rashid I, Hafeez MA, Ahmad N, Ashraf K, Betson M, Sargison ND, Chaudhry U. High-throughput sequencing of Fasciola spp. shows co-infection and intermediate forms in Balochistan, but only Fasciola gigantica in the Punjab province of Pakistan. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 94:105012. [PMID: 34302994 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Fasciola gigantica and Fasciola hepatica are digenetic trematodes causing fasciolosis in ruminants. The host and geographical distribution of both Fasciola species are influenced by environmental and climatic conditions favouring survival and development of free-living stages and intermediate hosts, and livestock management practices. The aim of the present study was to describe the host distribution of the two Fasciola species in buffalo, cattle, goats, and sheep in the Balochistan and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. 359 flukes were collected from a total of 32 livers from the four livestock species. Deep amplicon sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region 2 of ribosomal DNA (rDNA ITS-2) and mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase 1 (mtDNA ND-1) loci confirmed co-infection of F. hepatica and F. gigantica in Balochistan and single species F. gigantica infection in Punjab. In Balochistan, co-infections and hybrids of both Fasciola species were identified in cattle, with more F. hepatica detected than F. gigantica. However, F. hepatica was the only species identified in goats, and F. gigantica was the only species identified in buffalo. In Punjab, all flukes were confirmed as F. gigantica in each of the four livestock species. Overall, the results indicate differences in the host and geographical distribution of F. gigantica and F. hepatica, and provide useful knowledge for the development of control strategies for livestock and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zia Ur Rehman
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Kirsty Martin
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Midlothian, Scotland, UK
| | - Osama Zahid
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Midlothian, Scotland, UK
| | - Qasim Ali
- Department of Parasitology, Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtoon Khah, Pakistan
| | - Imran Rashid
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
| | - Mian Abdul Hafeez
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Nisar Ahmad
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Kamran Ashraf
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Martha Betson
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Neil D Sargison
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Midlothian, Scotland, UK
| | - Umer Chaudhry
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan; Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, UK.
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Alba A, Vazquez AA, Hurtrez-Boussès S. Towards the comprehension of fasciolosis (re-)emergence: an integrative overview. Parasitology 2021; 148:385-407. [PMID: 33261674 PMCID: PMC11010171 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020002255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The increasing distribution and prevalence of fasciolosis in both human and livestock are concerning. Here, we examine the various types of factors influencing fasciolosis transmission and burden and the interrelations that may exist between them. We present the arsenal of molecules, 'adjusting' capabilities and parasitic strategies of Fasciola to infect. Such features define the high adaptability of Fasciola species for parasitism that facilitate their transmission. We discuss current environmental perturbations (increase of livestock and land use, climate change, introduction of alien species and biodiversity loss) in relation to fasciolosis dynamics. As Fasciola infection is directly and ultimately linked to livestock management, living conditions and cultural habits, which are also changing under the pressure of globalization and climate change, the social component of transmission is also discussed. Lastly, we examine the implication of increasing scientific and political awareness in highlighting the current circulation of fasciolosis and boosting epidemiological surveys and novel diagnostic techniques. From a joint perspective, it becomes clear that factors weight differently at each place and moment, depending on the biological, environmental, social and political interrelating contexts. Therefore, the analyses of a disease as complex as fasciolosis should be as integrative as possible to dissect the realities featuring each epidemiological scenario. Such a comprehensive appraisal is presented in this review and constitutes its main asset to serve as a fresh integrative understanding of fasciolosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annia Alba
- Centro de Investigaciones, Diagnóstico y Referencia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical ‘Pedro Kourí’, Havana, Cuba
| | - Antonio A. Vazquez
- Centro de Investigaciones, Diagnóstico y Referencia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical ‘Pedro Kourí’, Havana, Cuba
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Rehman ZU, Tashibu A, Tashiro M, Rashid I, Ali Q, Zahid O, Ashraf K, Shehzad W, Chaudhry U, Ichikawa-Seki M. Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analyses of Fasciola gigantica of buffaloes and goats in Punjab, Pakistan. Parasitol Int 2021; 82:102288. [PMID: 33515742 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Fasciola gigantica is considered to be a major pathogen causing fasciolosis in the Indian subcontinent, resulting in production losses of millions of dollars in the livestock industry. Understading the dispersal origin and the patterns of spread of F. gigantica is important. A total of 53 Fasciola flukes collected from buffaloes and goats in Punjab, Pakistan between 2017 and 2018 were identified as F. gigantica based on the multiplex PCR for the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (pepck) and the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for DNA polymerase delta (pold). A significant genetic difference between F. gigantica from buffaloes and goats was indicated by the genetic analyses of mitochondrial markers, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (cox1). Phylogenetic analysis of the seventeen nad1 haplotypes of F. gigantica from Pakistan with those in neighbouring countries of the Indian subcontinent revealed that all the haplotypes identified in Pakistan were clustered in haplogroup A. fasciola gigantica with the eight haplotypes might be expanded in Pakistan from Indian origin, along with the migration of the domestic animals, since they were related to Indian haplotypes. In contrast, the remaining nine haplotypes were not shared with any neighbouring countries, suggesting independent origin, probably from neighbouring Middle East countries. However, cautious interpretation is required due to the very limited samples size of this study. Our study provides a proof of concept for a method that could be used to investigate the epidemiology of F. gigantica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zia Ur Rehman
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54200, Pakistan
| | - Atsushi Tashibu
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, 3-18-8 Ueda, Morioka 020-8550, Japan
| | - Michiyo Tashiro
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, 3-18-8 Ueda, Morioka 020-8550, Japan
| | - Imran Rashid
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54200, Pakistan.
| | - Qasim Ali
- Department of Parasitology, Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtoon Khah, Pakistan
| | - Osama Zahid
- Department of Parasitology, Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtoon Khah, Pakistan
| | - Kamran Ashraf
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54200, Pakistan
| | - Wasim Shehzad
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54200, Pakistan
| | - Umer Chaudhry
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Midlothian, Scotland EH25 9RG, UK.
| | - Madoka Ichikawa-Seki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, 3-18-8 Ueda, Morioka 020-8550, Japan.
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Khan MA, Afshan K, Nazar M, Firasat S, Chaudhry U, Sargison ND. Molecular confirmation of Dicrocoelium dendriticum in the Himalayan ranges of Pakistan. Parasitol Int 2020; 81:102276. [PMID: 33370606 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Lancet liver flukes of the genus Dicrocoelium (Trematoda: Digenea) are recognised parasites of domestic and wild herbivores. The aim of the present study was to confirm the species identity of Dicrocoeliid flukes collected from the Chitral valley in the Himalayan ranges of Pakistan. The morphology of 48 flukes belonging to eight host populations was examined; but overlapping traits prevented accurate species designation. Phylogenetic comparison of published D. dendriticum ribosomal cistron DNA, and cytochrome oxidase-1 (COX-1) mitochondrial DNA sequences with those from D. chinensis was performed to assess within and between species variation and re-affirm the use of species-specific single nucleotide polymorphism markers. PCR and sequencing of 34 corresponding fragments of ribosomal DNA and 14 corresponding fragments of mitochondrial DNA from the Chitral valley flukes, revealed 10 and 4 unique haplotypes, respectively. These confirmed for the first time the molecular species identity of Pakistani lancet liver flukes as D. dendriticum. This work provides a preliminary illustration of a phylogenetic approach that could be developed to study the ecology, biological diversity, and epidemiology of Dicrocoeliid lancet flukes when they are identified in new settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Asim Khan
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Kiran Afshan
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
| | - Muddassar Nazar
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Sabika Firasat
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Umer Chaudhry
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Neil D Sargison
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, EH25 9RG, UK.
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Chaudhry U, Ali Q, Zheng L, Rashid I, Shabbir MZ, Numan M, Ashraf K, Evans M, Rafiq S, Oneeb M, Morrison LJ, Ivan Morrison W, Sargison ND. Contrasting population genetics of co-endemic cattle- and buffalo- derived Theileria annulata. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101595. [PMID: 33113478 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
A study was designed to improve understanding of the genetics of Theileria annulata populations in sympatric cattle and Asian buffalo (Bubalus bubalus). The study was undertaken in the Punjab province of Pakistan, where the prevalence of tropical theileriosis is high. Parasite materials were collected from infected animals in defined regions, where cattle and Asian buffalo are kept together. Six satellite DNA markers and a mitochondrial cytochrome b marker were used to explore the multiplicity of T. annulata infection and patterns of emergence and spread of different parasite genotypes. The results show differences in the numbers of unique satellite locus alleles, suggesting that T. annulata is genetically more diverse in cattle- than in buffalo-derived populations. Heterozygosity (He) indices based on satellite and cytochrome b loci data show high levels of genetic diversity among the cattle- and buffalo-derived T. annulata populations. When considered in the context of high parasite transmission rates and frequent animal movements between different regions, the predominance of multiple T. annulata genotypes and multiple introductions of infection may have practical implications for the spread of parasite genetic adaptations; such as those conferring vaccine cross-protection against different strains affecting cattle and Asian buffalo, or resistance to antiprotozoal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umer Chaudhry
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK; Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, UK.
| | - Qasim Ali
- Department of Parasitology, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Lynn Zheng
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Imran Rashid
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Numan
- Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Livestock and Dairy Department, Okara, Pakistan
| | - Kamran Ashraf
- Department of Parasitology, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Mike Evans
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Shahzad Rafiq
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Oneeb
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Liam J Morrison
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - W Ivan Morrison
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Neil D Sargison
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK.
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