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Food and waterborne parasitology2024; 34; e00219; doi: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00219

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Echinococcus multilocularis from horses raised in Canada or Japan, using mitochondrial cytochrome b gene-targeted PCR.

Abstract: Alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by a larval-stage infection. Geographical haplotyping targeting the parasite's mitochondrial cytochrome () gene has been reported for isolates from definitive and intermediate hosts (wild canids and rodents); however, there are limited reports on strain typing for the dead-end host, the horse, which could act as a sentinel for E. Accordingly, we investigated the diversity of in isolates obtained from slaughtered Japanese and Canadian horses originating from the Iburi and Hidaka regions in Hokkaido and from Alberta, respectively, with PCR and haplogroup analyses targeting gene sequences obtained. Seventy horses were diagnosed with alveolar echinococcosis based on histopathology and -gene PCR testing. The detected in these horses was classified as either an Asian (for Hokkaido-raised horses) or a European (for Alberta-raised horses) haplogroup, based on the obtained -gene sequence analysis. In addition, haplotype network analysis revealed that isolated from Hokkaido-raised horses is highly homologous to Kazakhstan isolates, and isolated from Alberta-raised horses is highly homologous to Austrian isolates. The results of this study suggest that -gene-targeted PCR analysis could be useful for the geographical genetic characterization of isolated from horses.
© 2024 The Authors.
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Publication Date: 2024-01-13 PubMed ID: 38298421PubMed Central: PMC10827676DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00219Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Objective Overview

Alveolar echinococcosis is a disease caused by the larval stage of the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis. This study performs genetic analysis using mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences to understand the geographical origins and diversity of E. multilocularis strains found in horses from Canada and Japan.

Background

  • Alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis.
  • The parasite typically infects wild canids and rodents, which act as definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively.
  • Horses are considered dead-end hosts; although they do not contribute to transmission, they can act as sentinels indicating parasite presence.
  • Previous research has mainly focused on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene-based haplotyping in wild hosts, with limited data for horses.

Research Purpose

  • To investigate the genetic diversity of E. multilocularis isolates from horses raised in two different geographic regions: Hokkaido, Japan, and Alberta, Canada.
  • To use mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene-targeted PCR and haplogroup analyses for molecular phylogenetic characterization of the isolates.

Methods

  • Sample Collection: Seventy horses diagnosed with alveolar echinococcosis based on histopathology and PCR testing targeting the cytb gene.
  • Geographical Origin of Samples:
    • Japanese horses from Iburi and Hidaka regions of Hokkaido
    • Canadian horses from Alberta province
  • DNA Analysis:
    • PCR targeting the mitochondrial cytb gene of E. multilocularis isolates.
    • Sequencing of PCR products to obtain cytb gene sequences.
  • Phylogenetic Analysis:
    • Haplogroup classification based on sequence similarity.
    • Haplotype network analysis to determine homology with strains from other geographical regions.

Key Findings

  • The isolates from Japanese horses showed cytb sequences classified into the Asian haplogroup.
  • Isolates from Canadian horses were classified into the European haplogroup based on cytb sequences.
  • Haplotype network analysis revealed:
    • High sequence homology between Hokkaido horse isolates and Kazakhstan isolates, supporting an Asian lineage.
    • High sequence homology between Alberta horse isolates and Austrian isolates, supporting a European lineage.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The mitochondrial cytb gene-targeted PCR method is effective in differentiating E. multilocularis strains from horses based on geographic origin.
  • Distinct Asian and European haplogroups were confirmed among isolates corresponding to their respective geographic regions.
  • Horses, though dead-end hosts, can serve as useful sentinels for monitoring the geographical distribution and genetic diversity of E. multilocularis.
  • This approach may contribute to better epidemiological surveillance and understanding of E. multilocularis spread and evolution.

Cite This Article

APA
Hifumi T, Tanaka T, Suzu I, Sato M, Akioka K, Fujimata C, Shinkai R, Maeda T, Kusakisako K, Ikadai H, Miyoshi N. (2024). Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Echinococcus multilocularis from horses raised in Canada or Japan, using mitochondrial cytochrome b gene-targeted PCR. Food Waterborne Parasitol, 34, e00219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00219

Publication

Food and waterborne parasitology
ISSN: 2405-6766
NlmUniqueID: 101762332
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 34
Pages: e00219
PII: e00219

Researcher Affiliations

Hifumi, Tatsuro
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Histopathology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
Tanaka, Tetsuya
  • Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
Suzu, Ichinosuke
  • Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
Sato, Miho
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Histopathology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
Akioka, Kohei
  • Kumamoto Prefectural Meat Inspection Office, 1314 Sosaki, Shichijo-machi, Kikuchi, Kumamoto 861-1344, Japan.
Fujimata, Chiaki
  • Kumamoto Prefectural Meat Inspection Office, 1314 Sosaki, Shichijo-machi, Kikuchi, Kumamoto 861-1344, Japan.
Shinkai, Ryohei
  • Fukuoka Prefecture Meat Safety Inspection Center, 4-5-34 Futsukaichichuo, Chikushino, Fukuoka 818-0072, Japan.
Maeda, Tsutomu
  • Fukuoka Prefecture Meat Safety Inspection Center, 4-5-34 Futsukaichichuo, Chikushino, Fukuoka 818-0072, Japan.
Kusakisako, Kodai
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, 23-35-1 Higashi, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan.
Ikadai, Hiromi
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, 23-35-1 Higashi, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan.
Miyoshi, Noriaki
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Histopathology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could appear to have influenced the work reported in this paper.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Rachel F, Conraths FJ, Maksimov P. Genetic diversity and genotyping of Echinococcus multilocularis: a minireview.. Front Parasitol 2025;4:1721690.
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