Plagiorchis sp. in small mammals of Senegal and the potential emergence of a zoonotic trematodiasis
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Trematodes of the genus Plagiorchis have a wide geographical distribution and can exploit a variety of hosts. The occurrence and zoonotic potential of Plagiorchis spp. have been characterised across several countries in Asia; in contrast, information on Plagiorchis parasites in Africa remains anecdotal. We isolated a previously undescribed Plagiorchis species from the biliary tract and small intestine of 201 out of 427 small mammals collected in the region of Lake Guiers, Senegal, with local prevalence ranging from 38.6% to 77.0%. Conversely, Plagiorchis isolates were not observed in the 244 small mammals sampled in and around the town of Richard Toll, Senegal. Molecular phylogenetics of the internal transcribed spacer region, nuclear ribosomal DNA, and of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene, mitochondrial DNA, supported the monophyly and multi-host spectrum of this newly discovered West African Plagiorchis species. Sequencing of individual cercariae shed by Radix natalensis (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) suggested that these freshwater snails may act as suitable first intermediate hosts. Phylogenetic analysis yielded a highly resolved topology indicating two different clades, one composed by Plagiorchis spp. infecting rodents, insectivores, and birds, while the other included parasites of bats. Our findings showed the low host specificity and high prevalence of the isolated Plagiorchis sp. in the Lake Guiers region, with Hubert's multimammate mice (Mastomys huberti) appearing to play a primary role in the epidemiology of this parasite. The results raise concern about the zoonotic potential of Plagiorchis sp. in local communities of the Lake Guiers region, and highlight food-borne trematodiases and their link to land-use change as a neglected public health issue in regions of West Africa.
Date Issued
2019-04-01
Date Acceptance
2019-02-13
Citation
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 2019, 8, pp.164-170
ISSN
2213-2244
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
164
End Page
170
Journal / Book Title
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
Volume
8
Copyright Statement
© 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian Society for Parasitology. This is an open access article under the CC BY
license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/).
license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/).
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000462495200022&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Ecology
Parasitology
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
Plagiorchis
Parasite
Trematode
West Africa
Wildlife
Zoonoses
SPECIES-DIVERSITY
DIGENEA
TRANSMISSION
INFECTION
RODENTS
HOSTS
MODEL
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-02-14