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Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasit Vectors / Molecular detection of Strongyloides sp. in Australian Thoro...
Parasites & vectors2021; 14(1); 444; doi: 10.1186/s13071-021-04966-1

Molecular detection of Strongyloides sp. in Australian Thoroughbred foals.

Abstract: Strongyloides westeri is found in the small intestine of young horses, mainly in foals up to about 16 weeks of age. The main source of infection for foals is through transmammary transmission, and foals can develop acute diarrhoea, weakness, dermatitis and respiratory signs. The epidemiology of S. westeri in Australia is largely unknown. Further, molecular techniques have never been employed for detection of S. westeri in horses. This pilot study aimed to assess the utility of a molecular phylogenetic method for the detection of S. westeri in the faeces of foals. Methods: Faecal samples were collected from a foal of less than 2 months of age, and eggs of Strongyloides sp. were detected using the modified McMaster technique. DNA was extracted from purified eggs, and a partial fragment of the small subunit of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (18S) was characterised using polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic methods. Results: Microscopic examination of faeces revealed small ellipsoidal eggs typical of Strongyloides sp. The 18S sequence generated by PCR in this study revealed 98.4% identity with that of a reference sequence of S. westeri available from GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a polyphyletic clustering of S. westeri sequences. Conclusions: This is the first study reporting the detection of DNA of Strongyloides sp. in faeces of a foal using a molecular phylogenetic approach targeting the variable region of 18S rDNA. It is anticipated that this study will allow future molecular epidemiological studies on S. westeri in horses.
© 2021. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2021-09-03 PubMed ID: 34479608PubMed Central: PMC8414860DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04966-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research is a pilot study detailing the use of molecular methods to detect Strongyloides westeri, a harmful parasite, in the faeces of young horses in Australia.

Introduction: Strongyloides and Its Impact on Horses

  • Strongyloides westeri is a parasite prevalent in the digestive tract of young horses, specifically foals less than 16 weeks old. Infection commonly happens via transmammary transmission and results in diarrhoea, weakness, skin problems and respiratory issues.
  • The dynamics of S. westeri in Australia is mostly unexplored, and no molecular techniques have been used for its detection in horses so far, highlighting the need for studies like these.

Objective: Employing Molecular Detection Techniques

  • The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a molecular phylogenetic method in detecting S. westeri in the faeces of foals. This technique involves DNA characterisation and sequencing as well as phylogenetic analysis.

Methodology: DNA Extraction and Analysis

  • The researchers collected faecal samples from a young horse less than 2 months old and identified Strongyloides sp eggs using the modified McMaster technique.
  • The DNA was then isolated from purified eggs, and a fragment of the 18S section of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was characterised using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic methods.

Results: Identification of S. westeri DNA

  • Microscopic study of the faeces showed small ellipsoidal eggs typical of Strongyloides sp.
  • The 18S sequence produced through the PCR process showed a 98.4% match with a reference sequence of S. westeri obtained from GenBank, a DNA sequence database.
  • Phylogenetic analyses revealed a polyphyletic grouping (coming from different ancestors) of S. westeri sequences.

Conclusion: The First Detection of Strongyloides Using Molecular Phylogenetics

  • This pilot study is significant because it is the first to report the detection of DNA of the Strongyloides sp. in foal’s faeces using a molecular phylogenetic approach targeting the variable region of the 18S rDNA.
  • The results from this study will likely enable future molecular epidemiological studies on S. westeri in horses, deepening our understanding of its epidemiology in the Australian context.

Cite This Article

APA
Abbas G, Ghafar A, Koehler AV, Bauquier J, Wilkes EJA, Jacobson C, Beasley A, Hurley J, Cudmore L, Carrigan P, Tennent-Brown B, El-Hage C, Nielsen MK, Gauci CG, Hughes KJ, Beveridge I, Jabbar A. (2021). Molecular detection of Strongyloides sp. in Australian Thoroughbred foals. Parasit Vectors, 14(1), 444. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04966-1

Publication

Parasites & vectors
ISSN: 1756-3305
NlmUniqueID: 101462774
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 1
Pages: 444
PII: 444

Researcher Affiliations

Abbas, Ghazanfar
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Australia.
Ghafar, Abdul
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Australia.
Koehler, Anson V
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Australia.
Bauquier, Jenni
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Australia.
Wilkes, Edwina J A
  • School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia.
Jacobson, Caroline
  • Centre for Animal Production and Health, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia.
Beasley, Anne
  • School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia.
Hurley, John
  • Swettenham Stud, Nagambie, Australia.
Cudmore, Lucy
  • Scone Equine Hospital, Scone, Australia.
Carrigan, Peter
  • Scone Equine Hospital, Scone, Australia.
Tennent-Brown, Brett
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Australia.
El-Hage, Charles
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Australia.
Nielsen, Martin K
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Gauci, Charles G
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Australia.
Hughes, Kristopher J
  • School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia.
Beveridge, Ian
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Australia.
Jabbar, Abdul
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Australia. jabbara@unimelb.edu.au.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Antiparasitic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Breeding
  • DNA, Helminth / genetics
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Ivermectin / therapeutic use
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Phylogeny
  • Pilot Projects
  • Strongyloides / classification
  • Strongyloides / drug effects
  • Strongyloides / genetics
  • Strongyloides / isolation & purification
  • Strongyloidiasis / drug therapy
  • Strongyloidiasis / epidemiology
  • Strongyloidiasis / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Abbas G, Nielsen MK, E-Hage C, Ghafar A, Beveridge I, Bauquier J, Beasley A, Wilkes EJA, Carrigan P, Cudmore L, Jacobson C, Hughes KJ, Jabbar A. Recent advances in intestinal helminth parasites of horses in the Asia-Pacific region: Current trends, challenges and future directions. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2025 Dec;29:100622.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2025.100622pubmed: 41135277google scholar: lookup
  2. Abbas G, Stevenson MA, Bauquier J, Beasley A, Jacobson C, El-Hage C, Wilkes EJA, Carrigan P, Cudmore L, Hurley J, Beveridge I, Nielsen MK, Hughes KJ, Jabbar A. Assessment of worm control practices recommended by equine veterinarians in Australia. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1305360.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1305360pubmed: 38026649google scholar: lookup
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