Abstract
The two species of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica are the causative agents of fasciolosis in domestic animals and humans. Based on the morphometric data, differential diagnosis between these flukes is problematic. In addition, intermediate forms of Fasciola have recently been found in the Northern Iran, based on morphometrical analysis. The aim of the present study was to indicate the phenotypic and genetic characterization of the causative agent of human fasciolosis in the endemic area of Gilan province, Northern Iran. Sequence analysis of ribosomal (ITS1) and mitochondrial (CO1 and ND1) genes were used for the genetic characterization of two fasciolid adult specimens directly obtained from humans. Comparison of the morphometric and sequencing data of the Iranian Fasciola samples obtained in the present study with those previously reported for F. hepatica, F. gigantica, and the “intermediate Fasciola” revealed that both of our human Fasciola samples represent F. hepatica. This is the first demonstration of the existence of F. hepatica in the Iranian population by a genetic approach. Also, the results of the present study showed the occurrence of a similar sequence polymorphism for CO1 and ND1 in both Iranian human F. hepatica isolates, which exhibit 100% identity in ITS1 and CO1, to those of F. hepatica previously reported from a Japanese man.
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Acknowledgments
This study was supported by Shiraz University (Grant 87-GR-VT-24,47). We also thank Ms. Boroumand and Mr. Taravat for providing human Fasciola samples. We acknowledge Ms. Masoudian for helping with the DNA extraction and PCR.
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Sharifiyazdi, H., Moazeni, M. & Rabbani, F. Molecular characterization of human Fasciola samples in Gilan province, Northern Iran on the basis of DNA sequences of ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA genes. Comp Clin Pathol 21, 889–894 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-011-1193-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-011-1193-8