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Molecular characterization of Trichuris serrata

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Abstract

Trichuris serrata, a whipworm of cats, can cause inflammation in the cecum and upper portion of the large intestine. It is unknown if the virulence and pathology of T. serrata differ from Trichuris campanula, the other species in cats. Distinguishing the species based on egg size is challenging. In addition, Trichuris eggs can be difficult to distinguish from Capillaria spp. This paper presents the first molecular description of T. serrata. The 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was sequenced from male adult worms sourced from two unrelated cats on St. Kitts. Based on the analysis of 651 base pairs, T. serrata was found to be different than any other Trichuris species for which published sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene is available. A dendrogram was developed using Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis version 6.0, and evolutionary history was inferred using the minimum evolution method. T. serrata was found to be most closely related to Trichuris vulpis, the Trichuris of dogs. Further development of the methodology could enable distinguishing T. serrata, T. campanula, and Capillaria spp. infections in cats and aid in diagnosis.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the contribution of Janel Cawthra for assistance with worm collection.

Ethical standards

All procedures in regard to the decision to euthanize the two cats from which the Trichuris were harvested were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. All institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory and study animals were followed.

Conflict of interest

This study was funded by Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Author notes

  1. Ashutosh Verma

    Present address: Trudeau Institute, 154 Algonquin Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY, 12983, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis (West Indies)

    Jennifer K. Ketzis, Ashutosh Verma & Graham Burgess

  2. College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    Graham Burgess

Authors
  1. Jennifer K. Ketzis
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  2. Ashutosh Verma
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  3. Graham Burgess
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Correspondence to Jennifer K. Ketzis.

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Ketzis, J.K., Verma, A. & Burgess, G. Molecular characterization of Trichuris serrata . Parasitol Res 114, 1993–1995 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4396-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4396-0

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