A genetic analysis of Trichuris trichiura and Trichuris suis from Ecuador.

Hayley Meekums; Mohamed Bf Hawash; Alexandra M. Sparks; Yisela Oviedo; Carlos Sandoval; Martha E. Chico; Russell Stothard; Philip J. Cooper; Peter Nejsum; Martha Betson

doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0782-9

A genetic analysis of Trichuris trichiura and Trichuris suis from Ecuador.

Hayley Meekums, Mohamed Bf Hawash, Alexandra M. Sparks, Yisela Oviedo, Carlos Sandoval, Martha E. Chico, Russell Stothard, Philip J. Cooper, Peter Nejsum, Martha Betson

Tropical Disease Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Since the nematodes Trichuris trichiura and T. suis are morphologically indistinguishable, genetic analysis is required to assess epidemiological cross-over between people and pigs. This study aimed to clarify the transmission biology of trichuriasis in Ecuador.

FINDINGS

Adult Trichuris worms were collected during a parasitological survey of 132 people and 46 pigs in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador. Morphometric analysis of 49 pig worms and 64 human worms revealed significant variation. In discriminant analysis morphometric characteristics correctly classified male worms according to host species. In PCR-RFLP analysis of the ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS-2) and 18S DNA (59 pig worms and 82 human worms), nearly all Trichuris exhibited expected restriction patterns. However, two pig-derived worms showed a "heterozygous-type" ITS-2 pattern, with one also having a "heterozygous-type" 18S pattern. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit partitioned worms by host species. Notably, some Ecuadorian T. suis clustered with porcine Trichuris from USA and Denmark and some with Chinese T. suis.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study in Latin America to genetically analyse Trichuris parasites. Although T. trichiura does not appear to be zoonotic in Ecuador, there is evidence of genetic exchange between T. trichiura and T. suis warranting more detailed genetic sampling.

Original language	English
Article number	168
Pages (from-to)	e168
Journal	Parasites and Vectors
Volume	8
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0782-9
Publication status	Published - 19 Mar 2015

Keywords

Ecuador
Human
Phylogenetics
Pig
Trichuris
Whipworm
Zoonosis

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title = "A genetic analysis of Trichuris trichiura and Trichuris suis from Ecuador.",

abstract = "BACKGROUNDSince the nematodes Trichuris trichiura and T. suis are morphologically indistinguishable, genetic analysis is required to assess epidemiological cross-over between people and pigs. This study aimed to clarify the transmission biology of trichuriasis in Ecuador.FINDINGSAdult Trichuris worms were collected during a parasitological survey of 132 people and 46 pigs in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador. Morphometric analysis of 49 pig worms and 64 human worms revealed significant variation. In discriminant analysis morphometric characteristics correctly classified male worms according to host species. In PCR-RFLP analysis of the ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS-2) and 18S DNA (59 pig worms and 82 human worms), nearly all Trichuris exhibited expected restriction patterns. However, two pig-derived worms showed a {"}heterozygous-type{"} ITS-2 pattern, with one also having a {"}heterozygous-type{"} 18S pattern. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit partitioned worms by host species. Notably, some Ecuadorian T. suis clustered with porcine Trichuris from USA and Denmark and some with Chinese T. suis.CONCLUSIONThis is the first study in Latin America to genetically analyse Trichuris parasites. Although T. trichiura does not appear to be zoonotic in Ecuador, there is evidence of genetic exchange between T. trichiura and T. suis warranting more detailed genetic sampling.",

keywords = "Ecuador, Human, Phylogenetics, Pig, Trichuris, Whipworm, Zoonosis",

author = "Hayley Meekums and Hawash, \{Mohamed Bf\} and Sparks, \{Alexandra M.\} and Yisela Oviedo and Carlos Sandoval and Chico, \{Martha E.\} and Russell Stothard and Cooper, \{Philip J.\} and Peter Nejsum and Martha Betson",

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T1 - A genetic analysis of Trichuris trichiura and Trichuris suis from Ecuador.

AU - Meekums, Hayley

AU - Hawash, Mohamed Bf

AU - Sparks, Alexandra M.

AU - Oviedo, Yisela

AU - Sandoval, Carlos

AU - Chico, Martha E.

AU - Stothard, Russell

AU - Cooper, Philip J.

AU - Nejsum, Peter

AU - Betson, Martha

PY - 2015/3/19

Y1 - 2015/3/19

N2 - BACKGROUNDSince the nematodes Trichuris trichiura and T. suis are morphologically indistinguishable, genetic analysis is required to assess epidemiological cross-over between people and pigs. This study aimed to clarify the transmission biology of trichuriasis in Ecuador.FINDINGSAdult Trichuris worms were collected during a parasitological survey of 132 people and 46 pigs in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador. Morphometric analysis of 49 pig worms and 64 human worms revealed significant variation. In discriminant analysis morphometric characteristics correctly classified male worms according to host species. In PCR-RFLP analysis of the ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS-2) and 18S DNA (59 pig worms and 82 human worms), nearly all Trichuris exhibited expected restriction patterns. However, two pig-derived worms showed a "heterozygous-type" ITS-2 pattern, with one also having a "heterozygous-type" 18S pattern. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit partitioned worms by host species. Notably, some Ecuadorian T. suis clustered with porcine Trichuris from USA and Denmark and some with Chinese T. suis.CONCLUSIONThis is the first study in Latin America to genetically analyse Trichuris parasites. Although T. trichiura does not appear to be zoonotic in Ecuador, there is evidence of genetic exchange between T. trichiura and T. suis warranting more detailed genetic sampling.

AB - BACKGROUNDSince the nematodes Trichuris trichiura and T. suis are morphologically indistinguishable, genetic analysis is required to assess epidemiological cross-over between people and pigs. This study aimed to clarify the transmission biology of trichuriasis in Ecuador.FINDINGSAdult Trichuris worms were collected during a parasitological survey of 132 people and 46 pigs in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador. Morphometric analysis of 49 pig worms and 64 human worms revealed significant variation. In discriminant analysis morphometric characteristics correctly classified male worms according to host species. In PCR-RFLP analysis of the ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS-2) and 18S DNA (59 pig worms and 82 human worms), nearly all Trichuris exhibited expected restriction patterns. However, two pig-derived worms showed a "heterozygous-type" ITS-2 pattern, with one also having a "heterozygous-type" 18S pattern. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit partitioned worms by host species. Notably, some Ecuadorian T. suis clustered with porcine Trichuris from USA and Denmark and some with Chinese T. suis.CONCLUSIONThis is the first study in Latin America to genetically analyse Trichuris parasites. Although T. trichiura does not appear to be zoonotic in Ecuador, there is evidence of genetic exchange between T. trichiura and T. suis warranting more detailed genetic sampling.

KW - Ecuador

KW - Human

KW - Phylogenetics

KW - Pig

KW - Trichuris

KW - Whipworm

KW - Zoonosis

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DO - 10.1186/s13071-015-0782-9

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SN - 1756-3305

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JO - Parasites and Vectors

JF - Parasites and Vectors

IS - 1

M1 - 168

ER -

A genetic analysis of Trichuris trichiura and Trichuris suis from Ecuador.

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Keywords

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