First report of Fasciola hepatica in Equus caballus host species from Tunisia based on the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions

Authors : Nabil AMOR, Sarra FARJALLAH, Khaled SAID, Badreddine Ben SLIMANE

Pages : 319-324

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Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola spp. insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Platyhelminthes: Trematoda: Digenea); is considered the most important helminth infection of ruminants in tropical countries, causing considerable socioeconomic problems. Samples identified morphologically as Fasciola sp. in Equus caballus host species from the city of Tunis insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(north of Tunisia); were genetically characterized, for the first time, by sequences of the 1st insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ITS-1);, the 5.8S and 2nd insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ITS-2); Internal Transcribed Spacers insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ITS); of nuclear ribosomal DNA insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(rDNA);. Comparison of the ITS of the Tunisian samples with sequences of Fasciola spp. from GenBank showed that the specimens examined had sequences identical to those of F. hepatica sequences selected as reference. The nucleotide sequencing of ITS rDNA showed no nucleotide variation in the ITS-1, 5.8S, or ITS-2 rDNA sequences among all F. hepatica samples parasitizing horses from Tunis, versus 2 ITS-2 haplotypes in standard F. hepatica, showing a substitution C/T in position 859, reported previously from Tunisia, Algeria, and Spain. The present study is the first demonstration of the existence of the most frequent haplotype insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FhITS-H1); of F. hepatica species in horses from Tunis insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(north of Tunisia); by the genetic approach using ITS rDNA as genetic marker, providing a foundation for further studies on Fasciola sp. in North African countries.
Keywords : Key words Fasciola hepatica, Equus caballus, Tunis, PCR, ITS, genetic characterization