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Applicability of molecular markers to determine parasitic infection origins in the animal trade: a case study from Sarcoptes mites in wildebeest

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Abstract

The development of non-manipulative molecular tools to determine the origin of parasite infections in the animal trade (if infected before their export or import) is of great interest worldwide for both the animal trade industry and for animal welfare. Molecular tools have a wide range of applications, including forensic identification, wildlife preservation and conservation, veterinary public health protection, and food safety. Nonetheless, genetic markers were not reported to detect the source of infection in the animal trade. In this study we tested the applicability of molecular tools to detect the origin of Sarcoptes mite infection of wildebeest imported by the United Arab Emirate (UAE) from Tanzania. Using one multiplex of seven microsatellite markers and control samples from UAE, Kenya and Italy, we demonstrated the usefulness of the multiplex STR-typing as a molecular tool of pivotal interest to help commercialist, authorities, and conservationists, to identify the geographical origin of parasitic infections.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank R. Rasero and D. Soglia (Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy) for offering laboratory infrastructure. The experiments comply with the current laws of the countries in which the experiments were performed. The research was supported by RNM-6400, Projecto de Excelencia (Junta de Andalucia, Spain), and Juan de la Cierva Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies (IEU), University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland

    Samer Alasaad

  2. Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Americo Vespucio s/n 41092, Sevilla, Spain

    Samer Alasaad, Michael J. Jowers & Ramón C. Soriguer

  3. Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, PO Box 597, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Rolf K. Schuster

  4. Department of Veterinary and Capture Services, Kenya Wildlife Service, Nairobi, Kenya

    Francis Gakuya

  5. Al Wasl Veterynary Clinic, PO Box 75565, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Mohamed Theneyan

  6. Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Epidemiologia ed Ecologia, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy

    Samer Alasaad, Sandra Maione, Annarita Molinar Min & Luca Rossi

Authors
  1. Samer Alasaad
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  2. Rolf K. Schuster
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  3. Francis Gakuya
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  4. Mohamed Theneyan
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  5. Michael J. Jowers
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  6. Sandra Maione
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  7. Annarita Molinar Min
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  8. Ramón C. Soriguer
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  9. Luca Rossi
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Correspondence to Samer Alasaad.

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Alasaad, S., Schuster, R.K., Gakuya, F. et al. Applicability of molecular markers to determine parasitic infection origins in the animal trade: a case study from Sarcoptes mites in wildebeest. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 8, 280–284 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-011-9268-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-011-9268-z

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