1.DNA barcoding relates Trichuris species from a human and a man’s best friend to non-human primate sources
Brandon-Mong, G.J. ; Ketzis, J.K. ; Choy, J.S. ; Boonroumkaew, P. ; Tooba, M. ; Sawangjaroen, N. ; Yasiri, A ; Janwan, P. ; Tan, T.C. ; Nissapatorn, V.
Tropical Biomedicine 2018;35(4):1131-1139
Trichuris trichiura, the whipworm of humans, is one of the most prevalent soiltransmitted
helminths (STH) reported worldwide. According to a recent study, out of 289
STH studies in Southeast Asia, only three studies used molecular methods. Hence, the
genetic assemblages of Trichuris in Southeast Asia are poorly understood. In this study,
we used partial mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 or COI) sequences for
analysis. Trichuris grouped in a same clade with different hosts indicate the potential of
cross infection between hosts. Based on COI, the adult Trichuris isolated from a Malaysian
patient was most closely related to Trichuris isolated from Papio anubis (olive baboons)
from the USA. The Trichuris isolated from the dog from Malaysia was genetically similar
to a Trichuris species isolated from Macaca silenus (lion-tailed macaque) from Czech
Republic. Both the human and dog isolated Trichuris grouped in clades with different
hosts indicating the potential of cross infection between hosts. Specific PCR primers
based on the partial COI of T. trichiura isolated from African green monkey and T. serrata
were designed and successfully amplified using multiplex PCR of the pooled DNA samples.
Our results suggest a complex parasite-host relationship, and support the theory of cross
infection of Trichuris between humans and non-human primates as suggested in previous
publications.