title: Molecular identification of the trematode Paragonimus in faecal samples from the wild cat Prionailurus bengalensis in the Da Krong Nature Reserve, Vietnam.
abstract: Conventional identification of Paragonimus species and their natural definitive hosts is based on the morphological features of adult parasites isolated from the lungs of wild mammalian hosts. However, wild animals are protected by strict regulations and sampling is not always possible. Recently, molecular techniques have been developed to identify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of Paragonimus eggs in faeces/sputum of human patients. Also, mammalian hosts can be identified using the D-loop sequence of mitochondrial DNA in faecal samples. In this study, we used molecular techniques on faeces from wild animals collected in Da Krong Nature Reserve, Quang Tri province, central Vietnam, where Paragonimus metacercariae are highly prevalent in mountain crabs, to identify Paragonimus species and their natural definitive hosts. The results indicated that wild cats, Prionailurus bengalensis, were infected with at least three different Paragonimus species, P. westermani, P. skrjabini and P. heterotremus. Because all of these species can infect humans in Asian countries, human paragonimiasis should be considered in this area.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology,Hanoi,Viet Nam.
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Doanh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology,Hanoi,Viet Nam.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Hien
authors.affiliation: Vietnam National Lung Hospital, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Agriculture and Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki,Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Agriculture and Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki,Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Horii
authors.affiliation: Research Affairs Office, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University,Khon Kaen,Thailand.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D045989:Felidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010237:Paragonimiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010238:Paragonimus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer