Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Molecular phylogenetic identification and morphological characteristics of Raillietina echinobothrida (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea: Davaineidae) in commercial chickens in North China

  • Genetics, Evolution, and Phylogeny - Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Raillietina echinobothrida (R. echinobothrida) is one of the most pathogenic and prevalent tapeworms threat to the commercial chickens in China. However, there is a lack of research on their molecular identification and morphological characteristics. This study explored the molecular identification markers for R. echinobothrida in North China based on 18s ribosomal RNA (18s rRNA) gene and the ribosomal DNA second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) gene. The BLAST results of 18s rRNA (1643 bp) and ITS-2 (564 bp) gene sequences showed that the isolated intestinal tapeworms were R. echinobothrida. Phylogenetic trees obtained by maximum likelihood (ML) or neighbor-joining (NJ) method revealed that the R. echinobothrida in North China had the closest evolutionary relationship with the species found on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China. Morphological observations by hematoxylin staining and scanning electron microscope showed four round suckers and a retractable rostellum on the spherical scolex of R. echinobothrida. Two rows of alternately arranged hooks distributed around the rostellum. There were 30–40 testes in each mature segment. A well-developed cirrus pouch lied outside the excretory duct of mature segment. The gravid segment contained 200–400 eggs and there was a well-developed oncosphere in each egg. In addition, abundant ultrastructural features in mature proglottid of R. echinobothrida in North China were identified by transmission electron microscopy. In conclusion, the present study established ways of molecular phylogenetic identification for R. echinobothrida based on 18s rRNA and ITS-2 gene, and identified the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of R. echinobothrida in North China.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al Quraishy S, Abdel-Gaber R, Alajmi R, Dkhil MA, Al Jawher M, Morsy K (2019) Morphological and molecular appraisal of cyclophyllidean cestoda parasite Raillietina saudiae sp. nov. infecting the domestic pigeon Columba livia domestica and its role as a bio-indicator for environmental quality. Parasitol Int 71:59–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Álvarez I, Wendel JF (2003) Ribosomal ITS sequences and plant phylogenetic inference. Mol Phylogenet Evol 29:417–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arbabi M, Hooshyar H, Lotfinia M, Bakhshi MA (2020) Molecular detection of Trichostrongylus species through PCR followed by high resolution melt analysis of ITS-2 rDNA sequences. Mol Biochem Parasit 236:111260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bikash Ranjan G, Bishnupada R, Santi Prasad SB (2013) Evidence of apoptosis in Raillietina echinobothrida induced by methanolic extracts of three traditional medicinal plants of Northeast India. Exp Parasitol 134:466–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borkowski EA, Redman EM, Chant R, Avula J, Peregrine AS (2020) Comparison of ITS-2 rDNA nemabiome sequencing with morphological identification to quantify gastrointestinal nematode community species composition in small ruminant feces. Vet Parasitol 282:109104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butboonchoo P, Wongsawad C, Rojanapaibul A, Chai JY (2016) Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Raillietina spp. (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea: Davaineidae) from domestic chickens in Thailand. Korean J Parasitol 54(6):777–786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Challam M, Roy B, Tandon V (2010) Effect of Lysimachia ramosa (Primulaceae) on helminth parasites: motility, mortality and scanning electron microscopic observations on surface topography. Vet Parasitol 169(1):214–218

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta S, Roy B, Tandon V (2010) Ultrastructural alterations of the tegument of Raillietina echinobothrida treated with the stem bark of Acacia oxyphylla (Leguminosae). J Ethnopharmacol 127:568–571

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta S, Giri BR, Roy B (2013) Ultrastructural observations on Raillietina echinobothrida exposed to crude extract and active compound of Securinega virosa. Micron 50:62–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giri BR, Roy B (2014) Resveratrol induced structural and biochemical alterations in the tegument of Raillietina echinobothrida. Parasitol Int 63(2):432–437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jajere SM, Lawal JR, Atsanda NN, Hamisu TM, Goni MD (2018) Prevalence and burden of gastrointestinal helminthes among grey-breasted helmet guinea fowls (Numida meleagris galeata) encountered in Gombe state, Nigeria. Int J Vet Sci Med 6(1):73–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johanne et al (2000) Prevalence and distribution of gastro-intestinal helminths and haemoparasites in young scavenging chickens in upper eastern region of Ghana, West Africa. Prev Vet Med 45(3):237–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalchhandama K (2010) In vitro effects of albendazole on Raillietina echinobothrida, the cestode of chicken, Gallus domesticus. J Young Pharm 2(4):374–378

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lalchhandama, Kholhring (2013) Efficacy and structural effects of Acacia pennata root bark upon the avian parasitic helminth, Raillietina echinobothrida. Pharmacogn J 5(1):17–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mostafa J, Tahmineh G-F, Narges K (2019) Comparison of ELISA and PCR of the 18S rRNA gene for detection of human strongyloidiasis using serum sample. Infect Dis 51(5):360–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nadakal AM, Mohandas A, Muraleedharan KOJ (1973) Contribution to the biology of the fowl cestode Raillietina echinobothrida with a note on its pathogenicity. Trans Am Microsc Soc 92(2):273–276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramnath JDB, Dutta AK, Das B, Tandon V (2014) Molecular characterization of the Indian poultry nodular tapeworm, Raillietina echinobothrida (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea: Davaineidae) based on rDNA internal transcribed spacer 2 region. J Parasit Dis 38(1):22–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Redman E, Queiroz C, Bartley DJ, Levy M, Gilleard JS (2019) Validation of ITS-2 rDNA nemabiome sequencing for ovine gastrointestinal nematodes and its application to a large scale survey of UK sheep farms. Vet Parasitol 275:108933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.108933

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roy B, Dasgupta S, Manivel V, Parameswaran PS, Giri BR (2012) Surface topographical and ultrastructural alterations of Raillietina echinobothrida and Ascaridia galli induced by a compound isolated from Acacia oxyphylla. Vet Parasitol 185:322–326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryusei T et al (2014) Assessment of helminth biodiversity in wild rats using 18S rDNA based metagenomics. Plos One 9:e110769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawada I (1954) Morphological studies on the chicken tapeworm, Raillietina (Raillietina) echinobothrida. Zool Mag 63:200–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Surhone LM, Timpledon MT, Marseken SF (2010) Raillietina. Betascript Publishing

  • Wolf M, Achtziger M, Schultz J, Dandekar T, Müller T (2005) Homology modeling revealed more than 20,000 rRNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) secondary structures. RNA 11:1616–1623

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the Fund Program for the Scientific Activities of Selected Returned Overseas Professionals in Shanxi Province, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2020M670694), and Scientific and Technological Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi (No. 2020L0150).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, Taigu, People’s Republic of China

    Ding Zhang, Guodong Wu, Xiaoyu Yang, Wenxia Tian & Nairui Huo

  2. Shanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China

    Ding Zhang

Authors
  1. Ding Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guodong Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiaoyu Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wenxia Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nairui Huo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nairui Huo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Section Editor: Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

ESM 1

(DOCX 852 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, D., Wu, G., Yang, X. et al. Molecular phylogenetic identification and morphological characteristics of Raillietina echinobothrida (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea: Davaineidae) in commercial chickens in North China. Parasitol Res 120, 1303–1310 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-021-07081-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-021-07081-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation