Trichuris trichiura isolated from Macaca sylvanus: morphological, biometrical, and molecular study

Abstract

Background Recent studies have reported the existence of a Trichuris species complex parasitizing primate. Nevertheless, the genetic and evolutionary relationship between Trichuris spp. parasitizing humans and Non-Human Primates (NHP) is poorly understood. The hypothesised existence of different species of Trichuris in primates opens the possibility to evaluate these primates as reservoir hosts of human trichuriasis and other putative new species of whipworms. Results In this paper, we carried out a morphological, biometrical and molecular study of Trichuris population parasitizing Macaca sylvanus from Spain based on traditional morpho-biometrical methods, PCA analysis and ribosomal (ITS2) and mitochondrial (cox1 and cob) DNA sequencing. Morphological results revealed that Trichuris sp. from M. sylvanus is Trichuris trichiura. Ribosomal datasets revealed that phylogenetic relationships of populations of Trichuris sp. from M. sylvanus were unresolved. The phylogeny inferred on mitochondrial datasets (partitioned and concatenated) revealed similar topologies; Thus, phylogenetic trees supported the existence of clear molecular differentiation between individuals of Trichuris sp. from M. sylvanus appearing in two different subclades. Conclusions Based on morphological parameters, biometrical measurements, and molecular sequence analysis, we conclude that the whipworms isolated from M. sylvanus were T. trichiura. Further, the evolutionary relationship showed that these worms belonged to two genotypes within the T. trichiura lineage. Since T. trichiura is of public health importance, it is important to carry out further studies to improve the understanding of its hosts range, evolution and phylogeography.

Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Trichuristrichiura from Macaca sylvanus and Papio papio

“…(clade 1 and clade 2) parasitizing humans and NHPs. As reported by previous authors [ 19 , 23 , 38 , 39 , 41 , 48 ], Trichuris populations parasitizing humans and NHPs showed a species complex in primates. In addition, the high difference in nucleotide and amino acid sequences between T. trichiura (clade 3) and the minority population of Trichuris sp.…”

“…Previous studies have reported the hypothesis that a complex whipworm species exists in primates, suggesting that different Trichuris species infect primates and humans [ 3 , 19 , 23 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”

Identification of Ectoparasites and Endoparasites on Java Langurs (Trachypithecus sp.) and Silvery Gibbons (Hylobates moloch) in The Aspinall Foundation Indonesia Program

“…Taylor et al (2016) also stated that species from the genus Trichuris (whip worms) that can infect humans and NHP (Nonhuman primates) are Trichuris trichiura species. Rivero et al (2020) stated that many species of Trichuris can infect humans, but only Trichuris trichiura which for many years has been considered a whipworm that is specific to primates.…”

The Use of MALDI-TOF MS as a Diagnostic Tool for Adult Trichuris Species

“…Adult worms were defrosted and dried at room temperature. The morphological identification of different Trichuris species was carried out according to previous studies ( 15 , 18 , 20 , 50 – 52 ). Nonetheless, morphologically the different species of Trichuris are difficult to differentiate.…”