The occurrence of Toxocara malaysiensis in cats in China, confirmed by sequence-based analyses of ribosomal DNA.
Non-isotopic polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analyses of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were utilized to genetically characterise ascaridoids from dogs and cats from China by comparison with those from other countries. The study showed that Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati, and Toxascaris leonina from China were genetically the same as those from other geographical origins. Specimens from cats from Guangzhou, China, which were morphologically consistent with Toxocara malaysiensis, were the same genetically as those from Malaysia, with the exception of a polymorphism in the ITS-2 but no unequivocal sequence difference. This is the first report of T. malaysiensis in cats outside of Malaysia (from where it was originally described), supporting the proposal that this species has a broader geographical distribution. The molecular approach employed provides a powerful tool for elucidating the biology, epidemiology, and zoonotic significance of T. malaysiensis.
Li
Ming-Wei
MW
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Huguangyan, Zhanjiang, 524088, Guangdong Province, PR China.
Zhu
Xing-Quan
XQ
Gasser
Robin B
RB
Lin
Rui-Qing
RQ
Sani
Rehana A
RA
Lun
Zhao-Rong
ZR
Jacobs
Dennis E
DE
D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats / Q000469:parasitology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D014119:Toxocara / Q000235:genetics*; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer