Molecular phylogeny of trematodes in Family Heterophyidae based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mCOI)

AbstractObjectiveTo analyze a phylogenetic tree for understanding the molecular systematic of trematode in Family Heterophyidae, which are highly distributed in Thailand.MethodsBased on thirteen sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mCOI) gene from six genera of heterophyid trematodes, viz. Haplorchis, Stellantchasmus, Centrocestus, Metagonimus, Pygidopsis, and Haplorchoides were aligned automatically using the Clustal × 2.0 program. A phylogenetic tree was constructed by maximum likeinghood (ML) and neighbor-joining (NJ) methods, with 1 000 bootstrap using the 5.0 program.ResultsThe phylogenetic relationship from both methods was similar and separated into three groups consisting of Haplorchoides pumilio group, Haplorchoides taichui group and another heterophyid genera.ConclusionsThe sequence data of mtCOI can be used to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of trematodes at the genus level. Each clade of different genera of heterophyid trematodes can be separated into sister groups that correlated with the morphological characteristic, kind of secondary intermediate host and geographic distribution

Paleoparasitological Studies on Mummies of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea

Paleoparasitology is the application of conventional or molecular investigative techniques to archeological samples in order to reveal parasitic infection patterns among past populations. Although pioneering studies already have reported key paleoparasitological findings around the world, the same sorts of studies had not, until very recently, been conducted in sufficient numbers in Korea. Mummified remains of individuals dating to the Korean Joseon Dynasty actually have proved very meaningful to concerned researchers, owing particularly to their superb preservation status, which makes them ideal subjects for paleoparasitological studies. Over the past several years, our study series on Korean mummies has yielded very pertinent data on parasitic infection patterns prevailing among certain Joseon Dynasty populations. In this short review, we summarized the findings and achievements of our recent paleoparasitological examinations of Joseon mummies and discussed about the prospects for future research in this vein

Paleoparasitological Studies on Mummies of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea

Paleoparasitology is the application of conventional or molecular investigative techniques to archeological samples in order to reveal parasitic infection patterns among past populations. Although pioneering studies already have reported key paleoparasitological findings around the world, the same sorts of studies had not, until very recently, been conducted in sufficient numbers in Korea. Mummified remains of individuals dating to the Korean Joseon Dynasty actually have proved very meaningful to concerned researchers, owing particularly to their superb preservation status, which makes them ideal subjects for paleoparasitological studies. Over the past several years, our study series on Korean mummies has yielded very pertinent data on parasitic infection patterns prevailing among certain Joseon Dynasty populations. In this short review, we summarized the findings and achievements of our recent paleoparasitological examinations of Joseon mummies and discussed about the prospects for future research in this vein

Taxonomy of \u3ci\u3eEchinostoma revolutum\u3c/i\u3e and 37-Collar-Spined \u3ci\u3eEchinostoma\u3c/i\u3e spp.: A Historical Review

Echinostoma flukes armed with 37 collar spines on their head collar are called as 37-collar-spined Echinostoma spp. (group) or ‘Echinostoma revolutum group’. At least 56 nominal species have been described in this group. However, many of them were morphologically close to and difficult to distinguish from the other, thus synonymized with the others. However, some of the synonymies were disagreed by other researchers, and taxonomic debates have been continued. Fortunately, recent development of molecular techniques, in particular, sequencing of the mitochondrial (nad1 and cox1) and nuclear genes (ITS region; ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), has enabled us to obtain highly useful data on phylogenetic relationships of these 37-collar-spined Echinostoma spp. Thus, 16 different species are currently acknowledged to be valid worldwide, which include E. revolutum, E. bolschewense, E. caproni, E. cinetorchis, E. deserticum, E. lindoense, E. luisreyi, E. mekongi, E. miyagawai, E. nasincovae, E. novaezealandense, E. paraensei, E. paraulum, E. robustum, E. trivolvis, and Echinostoma sp. IG of Georgieva et al., 2013. The validity of the other 10 species is retained until further evaluation, including molecular analyses; E. acuticauda, E. barbosai, E. chloephagae, E. echinatum, E. jurini, E. nudicaudatum, E. parvocirrus, E. pinnicaudatum, E. ralli, and E. rodriguesi. In this review, the history of discovery and taxonomic debates on these 26 valid or validity-retained species are briefly reviewed

TOLL-LIKE RECEPTOR 2 AND MUC2 EXPRESSION ON HUMAN INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS BY GYMNOPHALLOIDES SEOI ADULT ANTIGEN

Goblet cell hyperplasia and mucin hypersecretion are important for the expulsion of the intestinal trematode, Gymnophalloides seoi, from mice. However, regulatory mechanisms underlying these processes remain elusive. To better understand the effects of G. seoi antigen on the host`s intestinal epithelial cells, we determined whether G. seoi induces expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and in mucin-related (MUC) genes on a human intestinal epithelial cell line (HT29 cells). We treated HT29 cells with G. senior other adult helminth antigens and measured mRNAs of TLRs and MUCs. We also performed reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry to determine whether TLR and MUC expression is regulated by interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin-4, or monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against G. seoi 46 kDa antigen. Gymnophalloides seoi antigen significantly induced expression of TLR2 and MUC2 in HT29 cells, and IFN-gamma was found to upregulate TLR2 expression on the surface of the cells. The expression of MUC2 was increased by IFN-gamma, but was decreased significantly via the combination of mAbs-to-human TLRs and G. seal antigen. These results demonstrated that G. seoi antigen upregulates TLR2 and MUC2 expression on human intestinal epithelial cells. These effects reflect a helminth-induced. IFN-gamma dependent, and innate mucosal immune mechanism in this human intestinal cell line.Guk SM, 2009, J PARASITOL, V95, P581, DOI 10.1645/GE-1807.1Ueno K, 2008, AM J RESP CELL MOL, V38, P263, DOI 10.1165/rcmb.2007-0336RCKraft M, 2008, EUR RESPIR J, V31, P43, DOI 10.1183/09031936.00103307Andrianifahanana M, 2007, ONCOGENE, V26, P7251, DOI 10.1038/sj.onc.1210532Ikeda H, 2007, LAB INVEST, V87, P559, DOI 10.1038/labinvest.3700556Mueller T, 2006, J IMMUNOL, V176, P5805Harris G, 2006, WORLD J GASTROENTERO, V12, P2149Yamauchi J, 2006, APMIS, V114, P270, DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2006.apm_353.xSchroder K, 2006, IMMUNOBIOLOGY, V211, P511, DOI 10.1016/j.imbio.2006.05.007Chen XM, 2005, J IMMUNOL, V175, P7447Ding SZ, 2005, HELICOBACTER, V10, P193Campos-Rodriguezp R, 2005, PARASITE IMMUNOL, V27, P1Akira S, 2004, NAT REV IMMUNOL, V4, P499, DOI 10.1038/nri1391Cario E, 2004, GASTROENTEROLOGY, V127, P224, DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2004.04.015KAMMANADIMINTI SJ, 2004, FASEB J, V18, P155Seo M, 2003, J PARASITOL, V89, P1080, DOI 10.1645/GE-3182RNMoncada DM, 2003, TRENDS PARASITOL, V19, P305, DOI 10.1016/S1471-4922(03)00122-3McGuinness DH, 2003, TRENDS PARASITOL, V19, P312, DOI 10.1016/S1471-4922(03)00123-5Chai JY, 2003, TRENDS PARASITOL, V19, P109, DOI 10.1016/S1471-4922(02)00068-5Reddy PK, 2003, EUR J CANCER, V39, P397Coelho PS, 2002, J LEUKOCYTE BIOL, V71, P837Rose MC, 2001, AM J RESP CELL MOL, V25, P533Shekels LL, 2001, DIGEST DIS SCI, V46, P1757, DOI 10.1023/A:1010622125040Gouyer V, 2001, BBA-MOL CELL RES, V1539, P71DEPLANCKE B, 2001, AM J CLIN NUTR, V73, P1131CHAI JY, 2001, KOREAN J PARASITOL, V39, P23Enss ML, 2000, INFLAMM RES, V49, P162ONAH DN, 2000, KOREAN J PARASITOLOG, V38, P209Dabbagh K, 1999, J IMMUNOL, V162, P6233Cohn L, 1999, J IMMUNOL, V162, P6178LEE SH, 1994, AM J TROP MED HYG, V51, P281NAWA Y, 1994, PARASITE IMMUNOL, V16, P333LEE SH, 1993, J PARASITOL, V79, P677CHOMCZYNSKI P, 1987, ANAL BIOCHEM, V162, P159BEAVER PC, 1984, CLIN PARASITOLOGY

Prevalence of the Intestinal Flukes Haplorchis taichui and H. yokogawai in a Mountainous Area of Phongsaly Province, Lao PDR

Phongsaly Province, located in the northernmost area of Lao PDR, was previously suggested to be endemic for the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini infection. To confirm, or rule out, this suggestion, the Phonxay village in the Khoua District, Phongsaly Province, was selected for a survey. Ten volunteers (8 men and 2 women aged 31-57 years) who consumed raw freshwater fish and had gastrointestinal troubles were treated with a single dose of praziquantel (40 mg/kg) and pyrantel pamoate (10 mg/kg) and purged with magnesium sulfate to recover any worm parasites. Eight of the 10 volunteers expelled 1 or more species of trematodes, nematodes, or cestodes (worm positive rate; 80%). The worms were morphologically identified as H. taichui (861 worms from 8 people), H. yokogawai (59 from 6 people), Phaneropsolus bonnei (1 from 1 person), Trichostrongylus sp. (2 from 2 people), Ascaris lumbricoides (2 from 1 person), Enterobius vermicularis (11 from 3 people), and Taenia saginata (1 strobila with scolex from 1 person). The results indicate that the mountainous area of Phongsaly Province, Lao PDR, is not endemic for the liver fluke but endemic for intestinal flukes, in particular, Haplorchis taichui and H. yokogawai

Differential Change in the Prevalence of the Ascaris, Trichuris and Clonorchis infection Among Past East Asian Populations.

As we learn more about parasites in ancient civilizations, data becomes available that can be used to see how infection may change over time. The aim of this study is to assess how common certain intestinal parasites were in China and Korea in the past 2000 years, and make comparisons with prevalence data from the 20th century. This allows us to go on to investigate how and why changes in parasite prevalence may have occurred at different times. Here we show that Chinese liver fluke (Clonorchis sinensis) dropped markedly in prevalence in both Korea and China earlier than did roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) and whipworm (Trichuris trichiura). We use historical evidence to determine why this was the case, exploring the role of developing sanitation infrastructure, changing use of human feces as crop fertilizer, development of chemical fertilizers, snail control programs, changing dietary preferences, and governmental public health campaigns during the 20th century

Dirofilaria repens in Vietnam: Detection of 10 Eye and Subcutaneous Tissue Infection Cases Identified by Morphology and Molecular Methods

From 2006 to 2010, hospitals in Hanoi treated 10 human patients for dirofilariasis. The worms were collected from parasitic places, and identification of the species was completed by morphology and molecular methods. Ten parasites were recovered either from the conjunctiva (n=9) or subcutaneous tissue (n=1). The parasites were 4.0-12.5 cm in length and 0.5-0.6 mm in width. Morphological observations suggested all parasites as Dirofilaria repens. Three of the 10 parasites (1 from subcutaneous tissue and 2 from eyes) were used for molecular confirmation of the species identification. A portion of the mitochondrial cox1 (461 bp) was amplified and sequenced. Nucleotide and amino acid homologies were 95% and 99-100%, respectively, when compared with D. repens (Italian origin, GenBank AJ271614; DQ358814). This is the first report of eye dirofilariasis and the second report of subcutaneous tissue dirofilariasis due to D. repens in Vietnam

A Case of Severe Anemia by Necator americanus Infection in Korea

This report describes clinical and parasitological findings of an 82-yr-old female patient who lived in a local rural village and suffered from severe chronic anemia for several years. She was transferred to the National Police Hospital in Seoul for management of severe dyspnea and dizziness. At admission, she showed symptoms or signs of severe anemia. Gastroduodenoscopy observed hyperemic mucosa of the duodenum and discovered numerous moving roundworms on the mucosa. Endoscopy isolated seven of them, which were identified as Necator americanus by characteristic morphology of cutting plates in the buccal cavity. The patient was treated with albendazole and supportive measures for anemia, and her physical condition much improved. This case suggests the possibility that hookworm N. americanus is still transmitted in a remote local mountainous area in Korea