6 research outputs found
First Case Report of Canthariasis in an Infant Caused by the Larvae of Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)
We report an unusual cause of gastrointestinal infection occurring in a 1-year-old infant patient who was brought to a public hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Larvae passed out in the patient's feces were confirmed by DNA barcoding as belonging to the species, Lasioderma serricorne (F.), known as the cigarette beetle. We postulate that the larvae were acquired from contaminated food and were responsible for gastrointestinal symptoms in the patient. To our knowledge, this the first report of human canthariasis caused by larvae of L. serricorne
DNA barcoding of medically-important arthropods including molecular detection of associated potential pathogens in head lice / Aida Syafinaz Mokhtar
Ectoparasitic infestation of humans is of particular interest because some species
can act as vectors of pathogens resulting in wide-ranging pathogenic effects.
Identification of ectoparasites using morphological keys is not applicable in some
instances, especially if the ectoparasite specimen is damaged or in an immature state of
development. DNA barcoding serves as an alternative technique to identify ectoparasite
specimens to species by using a fragment of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI)
mitochondrial gene as an identification key. Similarly, isolation of pathogens from
ectoparasites is tedious and time-consuming, therefore a molecular approach is
preferred as it offers rapidity, specificity and sensitivity. The main objective of this
thesis is to determine the genetic diversity of medically-important ectoparasites and
their associated pathogens in welfare homes from two different geographical areas of
Peninsular Malaysia. People living in welfare homesare prone to ectoparasitic
infestation as they live in densely packed institutions, often with unhygienic practices,
therefore identification of ectoparasite species and any pathogens these ectoparasites
might harbour is crucial to avoid transmission of diseases among occupants. The
identification of arthropod specimens, submitted to the Department of Parasitology,in
medical case reports was also attempted and discussed. A total of 900 head lice and 26
bedbugs were collected from 15 welfare homes across Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang
Valley (KL/KV) and 832 head lice were collected from 10 welfare homes across Kedah.
Pediculosis infestation rates ranging from 13.0% to 100% and 34.3% to 100% in
Greater KL/KV and Kedah, respectively. DNA barcoding identified the head lice,
Pediculus humanus capitis collected from both areas as belonging to three clades
corresponding with three Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) in the Barcode of Life
Datasystems (BOLD): Clade A (41%) (=BOLD: AAA1556), Clade B (2%) (= BOLD:
AAA1557) and Clade D (57%) (=BOLD:AAW5034). Nine welfare homes in Greater
iv
KL/KV and seven welfare homes in Kedah had head lice from multiple clades. Head
lice of Clade B and Clade D were found living on the same human head at Pusat Jagaan
Nuri welfare home in Kuala Lumpur. DNA fromAcinetobacter spp. wasdetected in 52
(20%) head lice belonging to clade A and D and were identified as Acinetobacter
guillouiae (8.5%), Acinetobacter junii (6.2%), Acinetobacter baumannii (3.8%), and
Acinetobacter nosocomialis (1.5%). In addition, DNA from Serratia marcescens was
detected in five (1.9%) head lice and DNA from Staphylococcus aureus was detected in
20 (7.7%) head lice. DNA barcoding confirmed the bedbugs collected from a single
welfare home in Kuala Lumpur as beingCimex hemipterus (BOLD ID:BBCH001-16).
DNA barcoding identified arthropod specimens presented to the Department of
Parasitology in three medical case reports as ticks of the genus Dermacentor, larvae of
filter fly Clogmia albipunctatus and larvae of cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne.
This is the first report on the genetic diversity of head lice in Malaysiathrough DNA
barcoding; as well as the first to provide molecular evidence on the type of bacteria
occurring in head lice, suggesting potential transmission of these pathogens to
Malaysian populations. The data obtained provide fundamental data so that necessary
planning, funding and control measures can be undertaken by the health authorities to
prevent the occurrence of head lice infestations in welfare homes. It is anticipated that
the DNA barcoding technique used in this study is able to provide rapid and accurate
identification of arthropods especially of the medically-important ones
First Case Report of Canthariasis in an Infant Caused by the Larvae of Lasioderma serricorne
We report an unusual cause of gastrointestinal infection occurring in a 1-year-old infant patient who was brought to a public hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Larvae passed out in the patient’s feces were confirmed by DNA barcoding as belonging to the species, Lasioderma serricorne (F.), known as the cigarette beetle. We postulate that the larvae were acquired from contaminated food and were responsible for gastrointestinal symptoms in the patient. To our knowledge, this the first report of human canthariasis caused by larvae of L. serricorne