PCR diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica in field-collected Lymnaea columella and Lymnaea viatrix snails

Fasciolosis, caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica, is a zoonosis of economic importance in livestock that is emerging as a chronic disease in humans. The intermediate hosts are lymnaeid snails, in which diagnosis of infection is traditionally based on cercarial shedding, tissue sectioning and crushing. We developed a PCR assay for the sensitive and specific detection of F. hepatica in field-collected Lymnaea sp. snails. A primer pair was designed to amplify a 405 bp fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene of F. hepatica. The PCR assay showed a limit of detection of 10 pg of genomic F. hepatica DNA. No cross-reactions were observed with samples from other related trematode species or from the snail hosts Lymnaea columella and Lymnaea viatrix. DNA sequencing of the amplicon showed 100% homology with F. hepatica, and 75-89% homology with other trematodes on regions that did not include the entire set of primers. Two samples from Argentina were analysed. For snails in sample 1 (n = 240), identified as L. columella, the infection rate was 17.5 and 51.3% by direct examination and PCR, respectively. For snails in sample 2 (n = 34), identified as L. viatrix, the infection rate was 2.9 and 61.8% by direct examination and PCR, respectively. Differences in infection rates between these diagnosis methods were significant for both samples. Our PCR technique showed to be effective for detecting specific F. hepatica infections of low intensity in the intermediate host, and hence it could be used to study the epidemiological situation in a given area, as well as to assess host suitability for the parasite.     

The effect of cyclic temperatures on the growth of Fasciola hepatica and Lymnaea viatrix

The experiment aimed to measure the effect of constant and variable temperatures on the growth of Lymnaea viatrix snails, on the development of a Peruvian isolate of Fasciola hepatica eggs and on the development of F. hepatica in the snails. This was carried out by cultivating infected and uninfected snails and fluke eggs in artificial, temperature controlled chambers. L. viatrix snails were found to develop at a rate dependent on environmental temperature, but developed at least as well under conditions of varying temperature as at the same mean constant temperature. F. hepatica eggs held at constant or varying temperatures, developed at a rate comparable to other reports. However, eggs developing at varying temperatures appeared to have reduced hatchability. Parasite development within the snails was slow, though within the limits calculated from the literature, and varying temperature did not appear to reduce development compared to constant temperatures.     

Molecular characterization of the ITS-2 fragment of Paramphistomum leydeni (Trematoda: Paramphistomidae)

Paramphistomosis has shown an increased spread over the last years in Argentina, being in some regions an emerging parasitosis, which has motivated their study and identification. Even when morphological features were reported, molecular characterization appears as a complementary and reliable tool. Samples of Paramphistomum leydeni collected since 2002 from different origin, definitive hosts, natural or experimental infections and preservation method were subjected to PCR-RFLP for ITS2+ fragment, and compared to Fasciola hepatica and Notocotilidae cercarie. Frozen and ethanol fixed samples amplified fragments of 500 bp for P. leydeni and Notocotilidae samples, while F. hepatica eggs produced a 540 bp amplicon. Restriction fragments obtained from endonucleases HinfI, HhaI, BsuRI, TaqI, and TruI were identical for all P. leydeni samples, supporting the morphological classification previously performed. Four selected amplicons were sequenced and reported at GenBank, given a consensus sequence ITS-2+ of 441 bp. This first report of molecular characterization for P. leydeni, improves the current knowledge of the genus and establishes precedents for further specimen classifications.     

安氏隐孢子虫PCR检测方法的建立

经BLAST检索,以HSP70基因设计一对引物(5'-CAATCGAATTGGATTCTTTGTC-3'和5'-CACCTTCAAAT-ACTTGAATAAGT-3')对奶牛安氏隐孢子虫进行了PCR试验.结果显示所建立的PCR检测方法只能特异扩增隐孢子虫GD株DNA,而对照样本如微小隐孢子虫、弓形虫、圆孢子虫、纤毛虫、肝片吸虫、血矛线虫、莫尼茨绦虫、牛粪便以及大肠杆菌均为阴性;通过对6个浓度梯度的虫体DNA进行PCR反应,结果表明当样本中含有445个隐孢子虫卵囊的DNA时,即可扩增产生清晰可辩的条带.测得该序列长度为494bp,序列分析为牛型C.andersoni.表明该引物能特异扩增C.andersoni,敏感性较高,适合于奶牛安氏隐孢子虫的检测.     

Detection of Fasciola gigantica infection in snails by polymerase chain reaction

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect Fasciola gigantica infection in the snail intermediate host. Fasciola specific primers amplified a 124 bp fragment in PCR when the genomic DNA isolated from F. gigantica infected Lymnaea auricularia snails was used as template. In addition to the 124 bp amplicon, a ladder of DNA fragments representing amplification of the 124 bp repetitive sequences was observed. Genomic DNA of the parasite was used as a positive control, which also gave an amplification of the 124 bp fragment. DNA isolated from non-infected snails was used as a negative control and no amplification of this sequence was observed. This technique is highly specific and sensitive and possesses fairly good prospects of its utility as an epidemiological tool for ascertaining the infectivity status in ubiquitous snail populations.     

Detection of Chlamydophila abortus in sheep and goat flocks in southern Italy by PCR using four different primer sets

An epidemiological survey was performed to detect the presence of Chlamydophila (C.) abortus and other members of the order Chlamydiales in ovine and caprine flocks with a history of abortion in southern Italy. Four pairs of primers were compared to evaluate their ability to detect Chlamydiales using purified DNA preparations and tissue samples from aborted foetuses with suspected chlamydial infections. As expected, amplification of DNA of the reference strain C. abortus using primer pairs U23F/23Sigr, 16SF2/23R, CTU/CTL and CpsiA/CpsiB produced fragments of about 600 bp, 585 bp, 1000 bp and 300 bp, respectively. The detection limits of the four PCR tests performed on serial DNA dilutions of the C. abortus reference strain were of 10 pg, 0.1 pg, 0.1 pg and 1 fg of DNA, respectively. The most sensitive amplification of DNA extracted from the organ tissues was obtained with primer pairs CpsiA/CpsiB, which detected Chlamydophila spp. DNA in all infected tissue samples. Only C. abortus was identified during the survey. The presence of this agent was confirmed in 3 out of 27 ovine and caprine flocks included in the survey suggesting that abortion due to C. abortus is uncommon in southern Italy.     

Natural Fasciola hepatica infection in nutria (Myocastor coypus) in Uruguay

Fascioliasis, the zoonotic disease caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica, is expanding worldwide, with a 17 million people at risk. Rodents, often recognized as a major source of zoonotic diseases, are affected by F. hepatica, with some species playing important roles in the disease epidemiology. The case reported here in a nutria or kiyá (Myocastor coypus) is the first documented case of F. hepatica in this species in Uruguay. Parasitic burden and total egg production detected are markedly higher than reported previously for this species, confirming its potential role as an effective reservoir and disseminator of liver flukes. Although further research is needed, nutria should be considered when designing effective control programs for fascioliasis.     

PCR-based detection of Pythium and Lagendium DNA in frozen and ethanol-fixed animal tissues

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of previously described Pythium insidiosum‐ and Lagenidium‐specific nested PCR assays to the detection of oomycete DNA in animal tissues. DNA was extracted from 15 frozen and 10 ethanol‐fixed tissues obtained from six animals with pythiosis, five animals with lagenidiosis, one animal with nonoomycotic skin disease and two animals without skin disease. First‐round PCR, which utilized universal fungal primers ITS1 and ITS2P, amplified a single product of the expected size for each of the P. insidiosum‐ and Lagenidium‐infected tissues, but not for tissues obtained from animals without fungal disease. Second‐round PCR using the P. insidiosum‐specific primers PI1 and PI2 produced a single 105‐bp product for the P. insidiosum‐infected tissues, but not for any of the other tissues. Second‐round PCR using the Lagenidium‐specific primers LAG1 and LAG2 produced a single 76‐bp product for the Lagenidium‐infected tissues, but not for any of the other tissues.     

PCR-based species-specific amplification of ITS of Mecistocirrus digitatus and its application in identification of GI nematode eggs in bovine faeces

Differential diagnosis of Mecistocirrus digitatus infection relies on morphological examination of either eggs in faecal samples or L3 larvae developed in vitro. Technical limitations hinder the practicability of these approaches. Hence, in order to develop a specific diagnostic measure for M. digitatus infection, we determined the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of its ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and designed primers for PCR-based species-specific amplification of the ITS to differentiate between M. digitatus and other common gastrointestinal (GI) nematode species. The newly designed primers amplified a single specific 520 base pair (bp) fragment from the M. digitatus ITS, and its detection limit was as low as 0.001 ng. Further, this sensitivity suggested that the specific fragment could be amplified even from a unicellular egg that collected directly from uteri of an adult M. digitatus female. In fact, we designed a method that employs a small piece of a cover slip and a filter paper by which we could differentially amplify a PCR fragment from a unicellular egg. The reliability of the specific PCR assay was also demonstrated with 10 oval samples that collected from bovine faeces by using sugar flotation method. These data suggested that the specific PCR assay of the ITS region of M. digitatus rDNA could be useful for the identification of GI nematodes.     

Rapid identification and differentiation of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica by a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay

The present study developed and validated a species-specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection and discrimination of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. The LAMP assay is inexpensive, easy to perform and shows rapid reaction, wherein the amplification can be obtained in 45 min under isothermal conditions of 61 °C or 62 °C by employing a set of four species-specific primer mixtures and results can be checked through naked-eye visualization. The optimal assay conditions with no cross-reaction with other closely related trematodes (Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini, Orientobilharzia turkestanicum and Schistosoma japonicum) as well as within the two Fasciola species were established. The assay was validated by examining F. gigantica DNA in the intermediate host snails and in faecal samples. The results indicated that the LAMP assay is approximately 10(4) times more sensitive than the conventional specific PCR assays. These findings indicate that this Fasciola species-specific LAMP assay may have a potential clinical application for detection and differentiation of Fasciola species, especially in endemic countries.     

基于ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2序列兔肝球虫PCR检测方法的建立

通过对多种鸡球虫和松鼠球虫18S rRNA和28S rRNA进行序列比对分析,在18S rRNA 3’端和28S rRNA 5’端保守区设计艾美耳属通用引物,以斯氏艾美耳球虫洛阳分离株LY卵囊基因组DNA为模板首次成功克隆到斯氏艾美耳球虫完整的ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2序列,其大小为1178bp,其中ITS1序列长度为423bp,5.8S rRNA为155 bp,ITS2为600 bp,斯氏艾美耳球虫LY株ITS1/2序列高度变异,与鸡球虫、啮齿动物球虫的序列同源性低于60%。然后在斯氏艾美耳球虫ITS1/2序列超变区设计种特异引物,建立了灵敏、特异的PCR检测方法。本研究结果将为兔球虫强致病种的临床诊断和揭示兔球虫种群遗传特征提供有效的分子工具。     

斯氏艾美耳球虫ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2序列的克隆及PCR检测方法的建立

通过对多种鸡球虫和松鼠球虫18SrRNA和28SrRNA进行序列比对分析,在18SrRNA 3′端和28SrRNA 5′端保守区设计艾美耳属通用引物,以斯氏艾美耳球虫洛阳分离株LY卵囊基因组DNA为模板首次成功克隆到斯氏艾美耳球虫完整的ITS1-5.8SrRNA-ITS2序列,其大小为1 178bp,其中ITS1序列长度为423bp,5.8SrRNA为155bp,ITS2为600bp,斯氏艾美耳球虫LY株ITS1/2序列高度变异,与鸡球虫、啮齿动物球虫的序列相似性低于60%。然后在斯氏艾美耳球虫ITS1/2序列超变区设计种特异引物,建立了灵敏、特异的PCR检测方法。本研究结果将为兔球虫强致病种的临床诊断和揭示兔球虫种群遗传特征提供有效的分子工具。     

Detection of Chlamydophila abortus in sheep and goat flocks in southern Italy by PCR using four different primer sets

An epidemiological survey was performed to detect the presence of Chlamydophila (C.) abortus and other members of the order Chlamydiales in ovine and caprine flocks with a history of abortion in southern Italy. Four pairs of primers were compared to evaluate their ability to detect Chlamydiales using purified DNA preparations and tissue samples from aborted foetuses with suspected chlamydial infections. As expected, amplification of DNA of the reference strain C. abortus using primer pairs U23F/23Sigr, 16SF2/23R, CTU/CTL and CpsiA/CpsiB produced fragments of about 600 bp, 585 bp, 1000 bp and 300 bp, respectively. The detection limits of the four PCR tests performed on serial DNA dilutions of the C. abortus reference strain were of 10 pg, 0.1 pg, 0.1 pg and 1 fg of DNA, respectively. The most sensitive amplification of DNA extracted from the organ tissues was obtained with primer pairs CpsiA/CpsiB, which detected Chlamydophila spp. DNA in all infected tissue samples. Only C. abortus was identified during the survey. The presence of this agent was confirmed in 3 out of 27 ovine and caprine flocks included in the survey suggesting that abortion due to C. abortus is uncommon in southern Italy.     

Cysteine proteinases Fas1 and Fas2 are diagnostic markers for Fasciola hepatica infection in alpacas (Lama pacos)

Circulating antibody against Fasciola hepatica antigens was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoelectrophoresis in alpacas naturally exposed to F. hepatica. Serological assay parameters were established by using sera from eight infected animals and seven controls with no record of this parasitic infection. Excretory--secretory (ES-) products, Fas1- and Fas2-ELISA were used to survey 307 alpacas from a F. hepatica endemic area in the Peruvian Andes. Seroprevalence of F. hepatica infection varied from 56.7, 64.8 and 66.8% measured by Fas1-, Fas2- and ES-ELISA, respectively. The sensitivity for ES-ELISA was 95%, corresponding Fas1- and Fas2-ELISA sensitivity values were 90 and 95%. In this population, 7% of animals were positive for F. hepatica eggs in faeces, other parasites detected were Trichuris sp. (40%), Nematodirus sp. (34.6%), Lamanema sp. (12.8%) and Eimeria sp. (11.8%). The results show that F. hepatica infected animals elicit circulating antibodies against ES, Fas1 and Fas2. Fas2-ELISA may be proposed as a sensitive assay for the immunodiagnosis of fasciolosis in alpacas.     

Development of species-specific PCR techniques for the detection of tortoise herpesvirus.

Previously, a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed with consensus degenerate primers targeting highly conserved motifs within herpesviral DNA polymerase genes to detect a newly described tortoise herpesvirus. However, nucleotide sequence information obtained from the final amplified fragment was restricted to a small region of 181 bp. In the present study, additional sequences flanking this segment were determined from a PCR product successfully amplified using a set of known degenerate primers, which covered a 692-bp region within the tortoise herpesviral DNA polymerase gene. Polymerase chain reaction primers for specific amplification of the tortoise herpesviral DNA were designed on the basis of these nucleotide sequences and successfully amplified tortoise herpesviral DNA from the tissues of tortoises that were well characterized histopathologically with herpesviral infection. The lower limit of detection was 1,000 herpesviral DNA equivalents in the presence of normal tortoise genomic DNA. Furthermore, a more sensitive and specific PCR technique for the identification of herpesviral infections in tortoises was developed employing a heminested form, which will enable the detection of latent infections or herpesvirus carriers in tortoises.     

进境太平洋鳕鱼寄生的异尖科线虫rDNA-ITS 序列的PCR扩增及分析

以日本进境的冻太平洋鳕鱼体内分离出的异尖科线虫为研究对象,采用寄生虫通用引物NC5和NC2扩增其核糖体DNA(rDNA)的内转录间隔区(ITS)序列,进行克隆、转化、测序和序列分析,并对样品进行分子鉴定。结果表明,扩增的异尖科线虫样品的ITS序列片段大小为906 bp,包含部分的18S、28S及全部的ITS1(353 bp)、5.8S(157 bp)和ITS2(299 bp)序列,ITS1和ITS2序列与GenBank登录的伪新地蛔线虫(Pseudoterranova decipiens)同源性均为在99.7%以上,与其他线虫的相似性较低。由ITS1和ITS2序列构建的系统进化树可知,从鳕鱼中分离到的线虫ITS1和ITS2均与伪新地蛔线虫处于同一分支。本研究结果为异尖科线虫种属的确定及进一步的分子生物学研究奠定基础。     

Infection of Lymnaea truncatula and Lymnaea glabra by Fasciola hepatica and Paramphistomum daubneyi in farms of central France

Natural infection of Lymnaea glabra and Lymnaea truncatula by Fasciola hepatica and/or Paramphistomum daubneyi was studied at two periods of risk (June-July and September-October) in 11 French farms known for their high prevalences of F. hepatica infection in ruminants. A total of 1,778 L. truncatula and 2,396 L. glabra measuring 6 mm or more in height were collected to determine the prevalence of natural infection with F. hepatica and P. daubneyi. The role of four factors, i.e. season, snail co-infection (F. hepatica-P. daubneyi), ruminant host and the existence of single or mixed intermediate host communities, was investigated. There were no differences in prevalences between the two risk periods. Co-infections in L. glabra were more frequent than expected. The prevalences of infection with F. hepatica or P. daubneyi in L. glabra were higher in farms rearing sheep than in farms rearing cattle. A similar finding was also noted for L. truncatula infected with P. daubneyi only. L. glabra was a much better intermediate host for F. hepatica and P. daubneyi when it was the only available snail, possibly indicating an adaptation of parasites to their less usual host in local conditions. The two trematodes preferably developed in L. truncatula rather than in L. glabra when both host species lived in the same places.     

Molecular characterization of parthenogenic Fasciola sp. in Korea on the basis of DNA sequences of ribosomal ITS1 and mitochondrial NDI gene

Nucleotide sequences of ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) and mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase I (NDI) gene were analyzed to genetically characterize aspermic Fasciola forms in Korea. From the difference in ITS1 sequences, Korean flukes were divided into 3 haplotypes represented by Kor1, Kor2 and Kor1/2, which had nucleotides identical to F. hepatica, F. gigantica and those overlapped between the two species, respectively. NDI sequences also showed that Korean flukes could be classified into 3 distinct haplotypes (Kor1: F. hepatica-type, Kor2a and Kor2b: F. gigantica-type). The sequences of Kor1 and Kor2a were 100% identical to those of the haplotypes Fsp1and Fsp2, respectively, which are major Fasciola forms in Japan. These findings strongly suggest that aspermic Fasciola forms in Korea and Japan originated from same ancestors and have recently spread throughout both countries.     

Dynamics of Fasciola hepatica infection in two species of snails in a rural locality of Mexico

The aim of the present study was to identify the species that are natural intermediate hosts of Fasciola hepatica in a Research Centre in Chapa de Mota, State of Mexico, Mexico, where temperate and humid conditions prevail. Also, the magnitude and dynamics of the natural infection in four biotopes were analysed. The study was performed between October 2000 and November 2001. The molluscs were collected, identified and studied for trematode infection. Soil humidity and temperature were determined monthly. A total of 4042 snails were collected 3372 (83%) were Fossaria humilis and 670 (17%) F. bulimoides. F. hepatica was present in 2537 (75.2%) and 515 (76.9%) of the two snail species, respectively. Temperature, soil humidity and microenvironment affected the dynamics of the host population and the parasite infestation, with a significant increase from August to November 2001. The highest prevalence was observed in the warmer and more humid biotopes.     

片形吸虫DNA随机扩增多态性分析

为区别从南京市江宁县采集的片形吸虫非典型形态虫体，应用随机扩增多态性DNA（RAPD）技术，对6株片形吸虫总DNA进行了扩增。结果，10条引物中有8条能产生扩增图谱，电泳图谱经聚类分析，与传统的分类结果一致，并表明来自江宁的片形吸虫既有形态典型的肝片形吸虫，也有形态不典型的大片形吸虫。