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Molecular identification of Diphyllobothrium latum and a brief review of diphyllobothriosis in China

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Abstract

Two tapeworm specimens collected in northeast China in 2009 and 2011 were identified as Diphyllobothrium latum based on morphological criteria. Molecular methods were used to confirm their identity and analyze genetic variations compared with published data for this species. Species identity was confirmed by molecular characterization of the 18S rDNA partial sequence, complete sequences of internal transcribed spacers (ITSs) and 5.8S rDNA, and partial sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5). PCR amplification and sequence analysis of 18S rDNA (1472 bp), ITS regions (1218 bp), cox1 (885 bp), and nad5 (1028 bp) revealed that these four sequences showed more than 99% identity to reference sequences for D. latum, confirming that this species is D. latum. To date, a total of 12 diphyllobothriosis cases have been documented in China. This study represents the first molecular characterization of D. latum in China, providing molecular evidence of human diphyllobothriosis in China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of the Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, China

    Ai-Jiang Guo, Wei Gong, Xue-Nong Luo, Hong-Bin Yan, Song-Buo Zhao & Wan-Zhong Jia

  2. CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Kan Liu & Song-Nian Hu

  3. Graduate University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Kan Liu

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  1. Ai-Jiang Guo
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  2. Kan Liu
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  3. Wei Gong
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  4. Xue-Nong Luo
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  5. Hong-Bin Yan
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  6. Song-Buo Zhao
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  7. Song-Nian Hu
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  8. Wan-Zhong Jia
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Correspondence to Ai-Jiang Guo or Wan-Zhong Jia.

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Guo, AJ., Liu, K., Gong, W. et al. Molecular identification of Diphyllobothrium latum and a brief review of diphyllobothriosis in China. Acta Parasit. 57, 293–296 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-012-0036-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-012-0036-3

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