title: Molecular identification of the strongyloid nematode Oesophagostomum aculeatum in the Asian wild elephant Elephas maximus.
abstract: The transmission of zoonoses by wildlife, including elephants, is a growing global concern. In this study, we screened for helminth infections among Asian wild elephants (Elephas maximus) of the Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Elephant faecal samples (45) were collected from the sanctuary grounds during January through November 2013 and assayed individually using the tetranucleotide microsatellite technique. Microscopic examination indicated a high prevalence of strongylids (93.0%) and low prevalences of trichurids (2.3%) and ascarids (2.3%). To identify the strongylid species, small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences were amplified from copro-DNA and compared with sequences in GenBank. The generated SSU-rDNA sequences comprised five distinct haplotypes that were closely related to Oesophagostomum aculeatum. A phylogenetic analysis that incorporated related nematodes yielded a tree separated into two main clades, one containing our samples and human and domestic animal hookworms and the other consisting of Strongyloides. The present results indicate that O. aculeatum in local elephants is a potential source of helminthiasis in human and domestic animals in this wild-elephant irrupted area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Helminthology,Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi,Bangkok10400,Thailand.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Phuphisut
authors.affiliation: Department of Helminthology,Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi,Bangkok10400,Thailand.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maipanich
authors.affiliation: Department of Helminthology,Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi,Bangkok10400,Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pubampen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health,Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Mahidol University, Phuttamonthon,Nakorn-pathom73170,Thailand.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yindee
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology,Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Ratchathewi, Mahidol University,Bangkok10400,Thailand.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kosoltanapiwat
authors.affiliation: Department of Helminthology,Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi,Bangkok10400,Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nuamtanong
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology,Armed Force Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Ratchathewi,Bangkok10400,Thailand.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ponlawat
authors.affiliation: Department of Helminthology,Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi,Bangkok10400,Thailand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adisakwattana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004606:Elephants / Q000469:parasitology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006239:Haplotypes; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008853:Microscopy; D009814:Oesophagostomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009815:Oesophagostomum / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S