Preliminary genetic evidence of two different populations of Opisthorchis viverrini in Lao PDR

Pitaksakulrat, O. et al. (2017) Preliminary genetic evidence of two different populations of Opisthorchis viverrini in Lao PDR. Parasitology Research, 116(4), pp. 1247-1256. (doi: 10.1007/s00436-017-5401-6) (PMID:28238124)

Abstract

Opisthorchis viverrini is a major public health concern in Southeast Asia. Various reports have suggested that this parasite may represent a species complex, with genetic structure in the region perhaps being dictated by geographical factors and different species of intermediate hosts. We used four microsatellite loci to analyze O. viverrini adult worms originating from six species of cyprinid fish in Thailand and Lao PDR. Two distinct O. viverrini populations were observed. In Ban Phai, Thailand, only one subgroup occurred, hosted by two different fish species. Both subgroups occurred in fish from That Luang, Lao PDR, but were represented to very different degrees among the fish hosts there. Our data suggest that, although geographical separation is more important than fish host specificity in influencing genetic structure, it is possible that two species of Opisthorchis, with little interbreeding, are present near Vientiane in Lao PDR.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Lamberton, Professor Poppy
• Authors: Pitaksakulrat, O., Kiatsopit, N., Laoprom, N., Webster, B. L., Webster, J. P., Lamberton, P. H.L., Laha, T., Andrews, R. H., Petney, T. N., Blair, D., Carlton, E. J., Spear, R. C., and Sithithaworn, P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Parasitology Research
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 0932-0113
• ISSN (Online): 1432-1955
• Published Online: 25 February 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
• First Published: First published in Parasitology Research 116(4):1247-1256
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher