Molecular Characterization of Paramphistomum cervi in Buffaloes

Abstract

Background: Paramphistomiasis (Rumen fluke disease) in ruminants is a major health problem, while documented reports on Paramphistomum species are limited in Asian countries. The present study aimed to identify paramphistomoid flukes that infects buffaloes with the goal of characterization of prevalence in Pakistan and its comparison with neighbor countries.Materials, Methods & Results: In 2018, a total of 178 slaughtered buffaloes aged four to six years were examined and flukes were collected from their infected rumen and reticulum using sterilized forceps. After amplification and sequencing of 18S rRNA partial fragment, the generated sequences were edited (810bp) and aligned with the other sequences of Paramphistomum species retrieved from NCBI. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using maximum likelihood method in MEGA X. The 18S rRNA sequence was found 100% similar with Paramphistomum cervi of China and 98% with Paramphistomum epiclitum and other Paramphistomum species of India. The parasitic Pharamphistomum species was identified molecularly as P. cervi.Discussion: Molecular studies provide insight into the biology and phylogenetic relationship among various parasites. These studies are reliable in the genetic-based identification and description of several disease causing agents. The 18S rRNA sequence of P. cervi generated in this study was found closely identical to the P. cervi of the neighbor countries (China and India) which may be due to the similar geographical, environmental conditions and transboundary movement of infected hosts. This is the first nature of study which provides the molecular-based evidence of P. cervi existence in Pakistan and revealed the 18S rRNA as novel molecular marker for the identification and further characterization of Paramphistomum species across Pakistan. The submitted sequence of this study will provide a baseline for further molecular characterization and to compare with other Paramphistoma species from different regions of Pakistan.

Rumen Fluke in Cattle and Buffaloes in Asia: A Review

“…In the rumen, the fluke attaches to the ruminal pillar's surface, develops to the adult stage, and sheds the eggs (Taylor et al, 2007) (Figure 4). Among the reported species of rumen fluke in Asian countries, Paramphistomum cervi and Paramphistomum epiclitum are the most common species of rumen fluke and the most significant cause of diseases in cattle and buffaloes (Bhatia et al, 2016;Javed Khan et al, 2006;Rafiq et al, 2020). The present review in Asian countries shows the genus of rumen fluke detected by sedimentation method, fluke count The sedimentation method may quickly discover eggs in the faeces of an animal carrying an adult fluke.…”

“…Molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques providing rDNA ITS2 sequence proved to be a good tool for identifying rumen fluke up to species level and determining their phylogenetic relationship (Itagaki et al, 2003;Martinez-Ibeas et al, 2016;Rafiq et al, 2020)…”

“…The distribution of rumen fluke infecting ruminants has been well documented globally owing to the economic importance from the veterinary standpoint (Huson et al, 2017;Nisar et al, 2021;Pfukenyi & Mukaratirwa, 2018), with a broad geographical spread, particularly in Nigeria, Thailand, and India (Dube, 2010;Kaewnoi et al, 2020;Malathi et al, 2021). Different rumen fluke species predominated in other parts of the world (Rafiq et al, 2020). In areas such as Pakistan and Mexico, Paramphistomum cervi is the most frequent species of rumen fluke (Iqbal et al, 2013;Rangel-Ruiz et al, 2003), whereas Cotylophoron cotylophorum is the most prevalent species in Australia (Hotessa & Kanko, 2020).…”

Changes in the Prevalence of Natural Paramphistomum Cercariae Infection in Indoplanorbis and Lymnaea Intermediate Hosts Influenced by Meteorological Factors

“…[ 5 ]. Paramphistomosis leads to lower conversion of nutrition and a decrease in the production of weight and milk in ruminant grazing [ 6 ]. Paramphistomosis prevalence is high in all subtropical and tropical regions, particularly in Russia, Australia, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa [ 5 , 7 – 9 ].…”

Prevalence, risk factors and first record of mitochondrial cox1 gene-based molecular characterization of Paramphistomum epiclitum from Pakistan

“…Paramphistomum epiclitum is the plug feeders ( 15 ) that burry themselves in the duodenal mucosa and feed on cells of Brunner's gland leading to diarrhea, anemia, hypoproteinemia, and weakness ( 16 ). The infection results in a poor feed conversion ratio, poor weight gain, and decreased milk production in affected animals ( 17 ). Recently the parasite has been found to cause significant losses in production ( 10 , 18 ).…”