The vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) as a natural host of Dictyocaulus filaria in Peru.

Lungworm infection, or verminous pneumonia, is a parasitic disease that causes serious problems in small and large ruminants. Despite the fact that nematodes of the genus Dictyocaulus in cattle and sheep are the main cause of this disease, there are few studies on the natural infections of South American camelids. For this reason, this study aims to report the natural infection by Dictyocaulus filaria in vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) for the first time. During a shearing season (chaku) in Cuzco, Peru, two accidentally killed adult vicunas were submitted to the IVITA-Marangani research center in Cuzco for their respective necropsies. The tracheas of both vicunas had numerous nematodes, as seen during the necropsy. The nematodes were collected in 70% ethanol and were morphologically identified as D. filaria. Likewise, the DNA of six nematodes was extracted, and the ITS2 region and the 28S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced. The nucleotide sequences of both genetic markers were up to 100% identical with previously reported D. filaria DNA sequences found in the goat yearlings from Turkey, sheep from Iran, Turkey, and India, and the argali from Uzbekistan, which confirmed the morphological diagnosis. This finding represents the first molecular confirmation of a natural D. filaria infection in a South American camelid. It will be necessary to carry out future studies to know the current situation of verminous pneumonia in domestic and wild South American camelids and to know the negative effects of the disease on them.

Identification of wild rodents as intermediate hosts for Hydatigera taeniaeformis in Peru.

Hydatigera taeniaeformis is a cestode that uses felines and rodents as definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. Its larval stage, or metacestode, infects a wide variety of rodent species and develops in the liver parenchyma into a cyst. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of H. taeniaeformis metacestode in various species of wild rodents from Peru. For this, the livers of 356 rodents were macroscopically examined for any parasitic form compatible with metacestodes. Metacestodes were identified by measuring characteristic morphological parameters, and the diagnosis was confirmed by molecular analysis of a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1). Five rodents: two small-eared pygmy rice rats (Oligoryzomys microtis), two white-naped squirrels (Simosciurus nebouxii), and one pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys sp.) were infected with H. taeniaeformis metacestodes. The cox1 sequences from our metacestodes showed up to 100% identity with previous H. taeniaeformis sequences from the GenBank. These results demonstrated the occurrence of H. taeniaeformis in new intermediate hosts, as well as the first molecular contribution for H. taeniaeformis from Peru.

Development of novel DNA marker for species discrimination of Fasciola flukes based on the fatty acid binding protein type I gene.

BACKGROUND: Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for nuclear phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (pepck) and polymerase delta (pold), respectively, have been used to differentiate Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, and hybrid Fasciola flukes. However, discrimination errors have been reported in both methods. This study aimed to develop a multiplex PCR based on a novel nuclear marker, the fatty acid binding protein type I (FABP) type I gene. METHODS: Nucleotide sequence variations of FABP type I were analyzed using DNA samples of F. hepatica, F. gigantica, and hybrid Fasciola flukes obtained from 11 countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. A common forward primer for F. hepatica and F. gigantica and two specific reverse primers for F. hepatica and F. gigantica were designed for multiplex PCR. RESULTS: Specific fragments of F. hepatica (290 bp) and F. gigantica (190 bp) were successfully amplified using multiplex PCR. However, the hybrid flukes contained fragments of both species. The multiplex PCR for FABP type I could precisely discriminate the 1312 Fasciola samples used in this study. Notably, no discrimination errors were observed with this novel method. CONCLUSIONS: Multiplex PCR for FABP type I can be used as a species discrimination marker in place of pepck and pold. The robustness of the species-specific primer should be continuously examined using a larger number of Fasciola flukes worldwide in the future since nucleotide substitutions in the primer regions may cause amplification errors.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Sarcoptes scabiei from vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) from Southern Peruvian Andes.

Sarcoptic mange is a disease caused by an infectious parasite in the vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) from South America. Although molecular studies have provided much information about the epidemiology of this disease, this information is still unknown in vicuñas. This study determined the prevalence and molecular characterization of Sarcoptes scabiei from vicuñas from Southern Peruvian Andes. During the 2018 shearing season, 181 vicuñas were clinically evaluated for lesions compatible with mange. Sarcoptes scabiei was detected in 35 (19.3%) vicuñas, and 50 mites from 25 vicuñas were selected for molecular analyses of the mitochondrial (cox1) and nuclear (ITS2) genetic markers. Molecular analyses of the cox1 and ITS2 sequences showed an identity of 94­99% and 99.8­100% with previous S. scabiei sequences registered in the GenBank, respectively. Sequence polymorphisms were more evident in the ITS2 than in the cox1, but only the cox1 had an association with the host. Phylogenetic analysis of S. scabiei cox1 sequences from vicuñas showed a cluster with S. scabiei cox1 sequences from canids, suggesting that the origin of S. scabiei from vicuña is associated with canid mites. This research is the first molecular analysis of S. scabiei from vicuñas. Future molecular studies will be necessary to determine the species variety, geographic segregation and host­parasite adaptation for this vicuña's mite.

Ocurrencia de Mesocestoides sp. (Cestoda: Mesocestoididae) en el zorro andino (Lycalopex culpaeus) / Occurrence of Mesocestoides sp. (Cestoda: Mesocestoididae) in the Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus)

Resumen En este trabajo, informamos Mesocestoides sp. parasitando a un individuo de Lycalopex culpaeus (zorro andino) procedente del Abra la Raya, departamento de Cusco, Perú. El individuo fue necropsiado en el Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura (IVITA), sede de Maranganí. Numerosos cestodos se recolectaron del intestino delgado y se analizaron morfológicamente. Se proporciona una breve descripción morfológica de los especímenes de Mesocestoides, así como una discusión con respecto de especies anteriormente registradas para Perú.

Abstract In this work, we report Mesocestoides sp. parasiting one individual of Lycalopex culpaeus (Andean fox) captured from the Abra la Raya, Department of Cusco, Peru. The individual was necropsed in the Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura (IVITA), Maranganí Headquarters. Numerous cestodes collected from the small intestine and morphologically analyzed. We provided a brief morphological description of Mesocestoides specimenes, and discuss concerning previous Mesocestoides species registered in Peru.

Infección natural por Fasciola hepatica en cérvidos del Perú / Natural infection of Fasciola hepatica in cervids from Peru

En el presente trabajo se registra la infección natural por Fasciola hepatica en un venado de cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus) y en una taruca (Hippocamelus antisensis), ambos procedentes del departamento de Cusco. Los animales fueron remitidos al Instituto Veterinario (IVITA-Maranganí, FMV, UNMSM) por las autoridades del Servicio Nacional de Flora y Fauna (SERFOR, Sede Cusco). Durante la necropsia de los animales se colectaron seis trematodos de los conductos biliares, los cuales fueron preservados en etanol al 70%. Las observaciones morfológicas indicaron que se trataban de F. hepatica. Esto fue confirmado analizando el ADN mitocondrial de los parásitos amplificando parcialmente los genes citocromo c oxidasa subunidad 1 (cox1) y el NADH deshidrogenasa subunidad 1 (nad1). El análisis de estos genes tuvo una identidad mayor al 99% comparado con registros del banco de genes (GenBank). El presente estudio demuestra la presencia de F. hepatica en estos cérvidos, agregando así dos nuevos hospederos definitivos para el parásito.

Natural infection by Fasciola hepatica is recorded in a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and a taruca (Hippocamelus antisensis), both from the department of Cusco. Animals were remitted to the Veterinary Institute (IVITA-Maranganí, FMV, UNMSM) by the authorities of the National Service of Flora and Fauna (SERFOR, Cusco Headquarters). Six trematodes were collected from the bile ducts during the necropsy of the animals, and they were preserved in 70% ethanol. Morphological analysis indicated that they correspond to F. hepatica. This was confirmed by analyzing of the mitochondrial DNA of the parasites by partially amplifying the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) genes. Analysis of these genes had an identity greater than 99% compared to genes from GenBank. The present study demonstrates the occurrence of F. hepatica in these cervids, thus adding two new definitive hosts for the parasite.

First finding of nymphal stages of Linguatula serrata in a South American camelid, a vicuña from Peru.

Linguatula serrata, a pentastomid, was found parasitizing the lungs of a vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) from Cuzco, Peru. A total of 13 larvae were found encysted in the parenchymal tissue of the lungs. All larvae were identified as nymphal stages of L. serrata by morphological methods Diagnosis was confirmed by molecular analysis amplifying the cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene of three nymphs. Nucleotide sequences from the isolates were compared to previous sequences from GenBank, and it showed high similarity between them (>99%). This finding constitutes the first detection of L. serrata in a South American camelid.