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PCR-based identification
reveals unique Southern African
internal
transcribed spacer
(ITS)
haplotypes of hookworms (Ancylostoma) of dogs from
the Durban metropole, South Africa
Jennifer Lamb, Melanie Napier and Samson
Mukaratirwa*
School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University
of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, South Ridge Road,
Westville, Durban 4001, South Africa.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
mukaratirwa@ukzn.ac.za. Tel: +27 78 869 5542. Fax: +27
31 260 2029.
Accepted 28 December, 2011 |
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Previous studies on helminths of dogs have revealed a
relatively high prevalence of Ancylostoma spp. in
dogs in Southern Africa. Ancylostoma caninum, and to
a lesser extent, A. braziliense have been reported as
the predominant species in dogs based on either morphology
of eggs or of adult parasites. The reliability of both
methods is questionable and hence the aim of this study was
to identify the species infecting dogs in the Durban
metropole, South Africa, by comparing morphology of the eggs
and results from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based
test applied to the third stage larvae of the parasites.
Morphology of the egg (measurements of width and length of
egg) revealed that the mean length and width of all
specimens collected were compatible with A. caninum.
However, phylogenetic analysis of the ITS-5.8S-ITS2 region
of the DNA of third stage larvae of the same specimens
revealed the presence of A. caninum and A.
braziliense; the most common haplotype of each species
had been previously reported, whilst the others were novel.
Ancylostoma eggs were identified in 19 of the 63 dogs
sampled (30%). Of these, 18 (95%) were infected with A.
caninum, whereas 5 (26%) were infected with A.
braziliense. Four (21%) of specimens had mixed
infections of both A. caninum and A. brasiliense.
Key words:
Ancylostoma spp., hookworms, dogs, Durban metropole,
egg morphology, PCR, ITS sequencing. |
