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. 2019 Dec;57(6):639-645.
doi: 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.6.639. Epub 2019 Dec 31.

Identity of Spirometra theileri from a Leopard (Panthera pardus) and Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Tanzania

Keeseon S Eom  1 , Hansol Park  1 , Dongmin Lee  1 , Seongjun Choe  1 , Yeseul Kang  1 , Mohammed Mebarek Bia  1 , Barakaeli Abdieli Ndosi  1   2 , Tilak Chandra Nath  1   3 , Chatanun Eamudomkarn  4 , Julius Keyyu  5 , Robert Fyumagwa  5 , Simon Mduma  5 , Hyeong-Kyu Jeon  1
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Identity of Spirometra theileri from a Leopard (Panthera pardus) and Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Tanzania

Keeseon S Eom et al. Korean J Parasitol. 2019 Dec.

Abstract

In the present study, a Spirometra species of Tanzania origin obtained from an African leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) was identified based on molecular analysis of cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit I (nad1) as well as by morphological observations of an adult tapeworm. One strobila and several segments of a Spirometra species were obtained from the intestine of an African male leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta Crocuta) in the Maswa Game Reserve of Tanzania. The morphological characteristics of S. theileri observed comprised 3 uterine loops on one side and 4 on the other side of the mid-line, a uterine pore situated posterior to the vagina and alternating irregularly either to the right or left of the latter, and vesicular seminis that were much smaller than other Spirometra species. Sequence differences in the cox1 and nad1 genes between S. theileri (Tanzania origin) and S. erinaceieuropaei were 10.1% (cox1) and 12.0% (nad1), while those of S. decipiens and S. ranarum were 9.6%, 9.8% (cox1) and 13.0%, 12.6% (nad1), respectively. The morphological features of the Tanzania-origin Spirometra specimens coincided with those of S. theileri, and the molecular data was also consistent with that of S. theileri, thereby demonstrating the distribution of S. theileri in Tanzania. This places the leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta Crocuta) as new definitive hosts of this spirometrid tapeworm.

Keywords: Spirometra theileri; Tanzania; cox1; morphology; nad1.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

We have no conflict of interest related to this work.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Gravid proglottids of Spirometra theileri (Tanzania origin) collected from a leopard (Panthera pardus) (A) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) (B). (A, B) Whole mounted specimens of proglottids showing the genital pore (GP), vaginal pore (VP), and uterus (U) (×40), (C) Longitudinal section of a gravid proglottid showing the cirrus sac (CS), seminal vesicle (SV), and uterus (U) (H&E stain).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Phylogenetic relationship of Spirometra species based on cox1 and nad1 sequences. Numbers on branches represent bootstrap values for maximum likelihood (ML) and the support value of Bayesian inference (BI). GenBank No. MK955901 and MN244299 are registered as S. theileri by complete mitochondrial cox1 and nad1 sequences.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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