Occurrence of a Hybrid Between Taenia saginata and Taenia asiatica Tapeworms in Cambodia
10.3347/kjp.2021.59.2.179
- Author:
Taehee CHANG
1
;
Bong-Kwang JUNG
;
Sooji HONG
;
Hyejoo SHIN
;
Seungwan RYOO
;
Jeonggyu LEE
;
Keon Hoon LEE
;
Hansol PARK
;
Keeseon S. EOM
;
Virak KHIEU
;
Rekol HUY
;
Woon-Mok SOHN
;
Jong-Yil CHAI
Author Information
1. Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul 07649, Korea
- Publication Type:BRIEF COMMUNICATION
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2021;59(2):179-182
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Human infection with Taenia asiatica or a hybrid between Taenia saginata and T. asiatica has not been reported in Cambodia. We detected for the first time a hybrid form between T. saginata and T. asiatica in Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia. An adult tapeworm specimen, i.e., 75 cm long strobila without scolex, was expelled from a 27-year-old man after praziquantel medication and purging. It was morphologically indistinguishable between T. saginata and T. asiatica. Several proglottids were molecularly analyzed to confirm the tapeworm species. The mitochondrial gene encoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and nuclear genes encoding elongation factor-1α (ef1) and ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM)-like protein (elp) were sequenced, and a single-allele analysis was performed to confirm the haploid genotype. The results revealed that our sample showed a discrepancy between the mitochondrial and 2 nuclear genes. It possessed homozygous sequences typical of T. saginata at cox1 and ef1 loci. However, it was heterozygous at the elp locus, with 1 allele in T. asiatica (elpA) and 1 in T. saginata (elpC), which indicates that it is a hybrid between T. saginata and T. asiatica. The present results confirmed the presence of a hybrid between T. saginata and T. asiatica in Cambodia and strongly suggest the existence of also ‘pure’ T. asiatica in Cambodia.
