Application of multiplex PCR for the simultaneous detection of Taenia spp. from domestic dogs in the north of Iran

Abstract

SummaryThe family Taeniidae is of great importance in the medical and veterinary fi elds, particularly in the tropics and subtropics. Identifi cation of eggs of different Taenia spp. in the fi nal host by morphological examination is diffi cult owing to their similarity. Therefore, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting a mitochondrial gene was applied to identify morphologically indistinguishable eggs. Fecal samples from 100 domestic dogs, from the Mazandaran province in Iran, were examined using the fl otation/sieving method followed by multiplex PCR. Taeniid eggs were observed in 24 % samples, of which 12 %, 10 %, and 2 % were infected with Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia spp., and both E. granulosus and Taenia spp., respectively. E. multilocularis was absent in these samples. The prevalence of E. granulosus in the examined domestic dogs as defi nitive hosts in north of Iran was high (14 %). Therefore, people living in this region of Iran are in danger of acquiring hydatid cyst, which is a serious public health problem.

Molecular detection of Taenia spp. in dogs' feces in Zanjan Province, Northwest of Iran

“…In this study, no 395 bp amplicon, representative of E. multilocularis eggs, was observed in the Taeniid-positive fecal samples of dogs. Our result is in line with a couple of studies performed in north of Iran, in which no E. multilocularis was detected in dog fecal samples [ 16 , 25 ]. Studies have shown that median estimate of the total numbers of AE cases in the world is 18,235 per year [ 34 ].…”

“…Among parasites detected by flotation method, Taeniid eggs were observed in 5.6 % samples which was less than the infection rate reported by Rahimi et al . [ 16 ] in Mazandaran, north of Iran. The cestode family of Taeniidae contains 2 genera, Taenia and Echinococcus , which are closely related to each other, and their zoonotic importance made them the subject of intensive epidemiological studies [ 23 ].…”

“…Likewise, immunological methods (for copro-antigens detection) and serum antibodies are not sufficiently specific to differentiate these pathogens at species level [ 24 ]. To overcome these limitations, various molecular approaches, such as high-sensitivity Multiplex PCR technique, have been developed [ 14 , 16 ]. The results of multiplex PCR in our study showed a 0.45% infection rate with E. granulosus , 3.8% with Taenia spp., and 1.3% coinfection of E. granulosus and Taenia .…”

“…Previous multiplex PCR studies targeting the mitochondrial DNA successfully amplified the DNA of all cysts and eggs and differentiated between Echinococcus spp., and Taenia spp. [ 10 , 15 , 16 ]. In the study area, northwest of Iran, there was no information regarding the infection rate of Taeniid spp.…”

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the genetic characterization of human echinococcosis in Iran, an endemic country

“…CE is an emerging neglected disease and a public health concern in the Middle East that results in substantial economic losses [40,41]. Molecular surveys are considered to be the gold standard for the differential diagnosis of human echinococcosis.…”