First report of Fasciola hepatica in Equus caballus host species from Tunisia based on the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions
Journal Article
Amor, Nabil . 2011
Publication Online URL:
Magazine \ Newspaper:
Turk. J. Vet. Anim. Sci
Issue Number:
35
Volume Number:
5
Pages:
319-324
Publication Abstract:
Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola spp. (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda: Digenea) is considered the most important helminth infection of ruminants in tropical countries, causing considerable socioeconomic problems. Samples identifi ed morphologically as Fasciola sp. in Equus caballus host species from the city of Tunis (north of Tunisia) were genetically characterized, for the fi rst time, by sequences of the 1st (ITS-1), the 5.8S and 2nd (ITS-2) Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Comparison of the ITS of the Tunisian samples with sequences of Fasciola spp. from GenBank showed that the specimens examined had sequences identical to those of F. hepatica sequences selected as reference. Th e nucleotide sequencing of ITS rDNA showed no nucleotide variation in the ITS-1, 5.8S, or ITS-2 rDNA sequences among all F. hepatica samples parasitizing horses from Tunis, versus 2 ITS-2 haplotypes in standard F. hepatica, showing a substitution C/T in position 859, reported previously from Tunisia, Algeria, and Spain. Th e present study is the fi rst demonstration of the existence of the most frequent haplotype (FhITS-H1) of F. hepatica species in horses from Tunis (north of Tunisia) by the genetic approach using ITS rDNA as genetic marker, providing a foundation for further studies on Fasciola sp. in North African countries.