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Whipworm diversity in West African rodents: a molecular approach and the description of Trichuris duplantieri n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichuridae)

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Abstract

Whipworms were collected from rodents (Muridae) from six West African countries: Burkina-Faso, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and the Republics of Benin, Guinea, Mali and Senegal. Molecular sequences (ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2 of the ribosomal DNA gene) and morphometric characters were analysed in Trichuris (Nematoda: Trichuridae) specimens found in seven host species: Arvicanthis niloticus, Gerbilliscus gambianus, Gerbillus gerbillus, G. tarabuli, Mastomys erythroleucus, M. huberti and M. natalensis. Phylogenetic analyses revealed three clades, one recognised as Trichuris mastomysi, previously recorded in M. natalensis from Tanzania, and the other two previously undescribed. A new species named Trichuris duplantieri n. sp., found in Gerbillus spp. from Mauritania, was characterised using molecular and morphometric methods.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Agence Nationale de la Recherche for providing funds for the ENEMI project (ANR-11-JSV7-0006) and the French Embassy in Senegal for having offered a Ph.D. scholarship. We are also grateful to K. Bâ, J.M Duplantier, M. Kyelem, L. Granjon, K. Mouline and E. Fichet-Calvet for the collection of certain rodent specimens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ird, CBGP (UMR INRA / IRD / Cirad / Montpellier SupAgro), Campus International de Baillarguet, Montferrier sur Lez, France

    Alexis Ribas, Christophe Diagne & Carine Brouat

  2. Section of Parasitology, Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Alexis Ribas

  3. Ird, CBGP (UMR INRA / IRD / Cirad / Montpellier SupAgro), Campus ISRA/IRD de Bel Air, Dakar, Senegal

    Christophe Diagne & Mamoudou Diallo

  4. Inra, CBGP (UMR INRA / IRD / Cirad / Montpellier SupAgro), Campus International de Baillarguet, Montferrier sur Lez, France

    Caroline Tatard

  5. Biodiversity Research Group, Faculty of Science, Udon Thani Rajabhat University, Udon Thani, 41000, Thailand

    Srisupaph Poonlaphdecha

Authors
  1. Alexis Ribas
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  2. Christophe Diagne
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  3. Caroline Tatard
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  4. Mamoudou Diallo
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  5. Srisupaph Poonlaphdecha
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  6. Carine Brouat
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Correspondence to Alexis Ribas.

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Ribas, A., Diagne, C., Tatard, C. et al. Whipworm diversity in West African rodents: a molecular approach and the description of Trichuris duplantieri n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichuridae). Parasitol Res 116, 1265–1271 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5404-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5404-3

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