Prevalence, Infection Intensity and Molecular Diagnosis of Mixed Infections with Metastrongylus spp. (Metastrongylidae) in Wild Boars in Uzbekistan

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to characterize the diversity of Metastrongylus spp. in wild boars and the earthworm intermediate host species contributing to the maintenance of the life cycle. Here, wild boars were subjected to parasitological necropsies, and lungworm species were identified morphologically, followed by confirmation using ITS-2 sequencing and a phylogenetic analysis. Earthworms were collected from wild boar habitats and investigated for the presence of larvae. The prevalence of Metastrongylus spp. in wild boars was 78.8%, and many individuals were positive for all three detected species, Metastrongylus pudendotectus, Metastrongylus salmi and Metastrongylus elongatus. The phylogenetic analysis did not clearly resolve all species, except for M. pudendotectus. Age group and season had no influence on prevalence, while intensity was significantly higher in autumn than in spring and summer (Kruskal–Wallis followed by Dunn’s test). Three out of six investigated earthworm species were positive for metastrongyloid larvae (prevalence of 10.4–16.7%), but neither their phylogenetic relationship nor ecological microhabitats were able to explain these differences. Further sequence data should be used to improve the resolution in phylogenetic trees to determine potential cryptic species in the genus, while the application of deep sequencing approaches might provide insights into species-specific epidemiology and pathology.

Morphological and molecular characterization of root-knot nematodes from Uzbekistan

“…The sequence and results of the primers used to identify RKN and other nematodes are consistent with the results of previous studies (Correa et al, 2013;Janssen et al, 2017;Kuchboev & Krücken, 2022). The species analysis we conducted based on the analysis of morphological and molecular genetic indicators of root-knot nematodes is important because it was conducted for the first time in Central Asia.…”

Morphological and molecular characteristics of the species Cosmocerca commutata and C. ornata (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) in Uzbekistan

“…PCR was performed in 20 µL PCR reaction mixture containing 40 ng of each template, 1.5 µL of each primer, 0.6 µL of dNTP, 0.6 µL of Taq polymerase, 2 µL of PCR buffer (Sileks M (Moscow, Russia)), and 13.8 µL of distilled water with ProFlex PCR system (Applied Biosystems). The thermal conditions consisted of an initial step of 3 min at 95°C followed by 35 cycles of 20 s at 93°C, 30 s at 55°C, and 2 min at 72°C, followed by a final extension of 10 min at 72°C (Kuchboev and Krücken 2022). PCR products were separated by electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel with edithium bromide and refined by Sileks M (Moscow, Russia).…”

Identification of nematodes of the genus Teladorsagia parasites of ruminants with the help of species-specific markers based on ITS2 rDNA

“…This research initiative is driven by the pressing need for accurate and reliable diagnostic tools within the domain of veterinary science. The intricate interplay between host animals and parasitic nematodes necessitates a meticulous understanding of species diversity and distribution [11]. Through the strategic utilization of species-specific markers harnessed from the ITS2 rDNA region, this study seeks to offer a breakthrough solution to this challenge.…”