title: Genetic heterogeneity and phylogeny of Trichuris spp. from captive non-human primates based on ribosomal DNA sequence data.
abstract: Nematodes of the genus Trichuris, known as whipworms, are recognized to infect numerous mammalian species including humans and non-human primates. Several Trichuris spp. have been described and species designation/identification is traditionally based on host-affiliation, although cross-infection and hybridization events may complicate species boundaries. The main aims of the present study were to genetically characterize adult Trichuris specimens from captive Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) and grivets (Chlorocebus aethiops), using the ribosomal DNA (ITS) as molecular marker and to investigate the phylogeny and the extent of genetic variation also by comparison with data on isolates from other humans, non-human primates and other hosts. The phylogenetic analysis of Trichuris sequences from M. fuscata and C. aethiops provided evidences of distinct clades and subclades thus advocating the existence of additional separated taxa. Neighbor Joining and Bayesian trees suggest that specimens from M. fuscata may be distinct from, but related to Trichuris trichiura, while a close relationship is suggested between the subclade formed by the specimens from C. aethiops and the subclade formed by T. suis. The tendency to associate Trichuris sp. to host species can lead to misleading taxonomic interpretations (i.e. whipworms found in primates are identified as T. trichiura). The results here obtained confirm previous evidences suggesting the existence of Trichuris spp. other than T. trichiura infecting non-human living primates.
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavallero
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Liberato
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Bioparco, Viale del Giardino Zoologico, 00197 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Klaus G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, TorVergata University, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Cave
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, TorVergata University, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Masella
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: stefano.damelio@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Amelio
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, TorVergata University, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berrilli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops / Q000469:parasitology; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D008251:Macaca / Q000469:parasitology; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing; D010802:Phylogeny; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014258:Trichuris / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: Non-human primates; Nuclear ribosomal DNA; Species complex; Trichuris