Title
A morphological, molecular and life cycle study of the capybara parasite Hippocrepis hippocrepis (Trematoda: Notocotylidae)
Date Issued
01 August 2019
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Publisher(s)
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Hippocrepis hippocrepis is a notocotylid that has been widely reported in capybaras; however, the molluscs that act as intermediate hosts of this parasite remain unknown. Furthermore, there are currently no molecular data available for H. hippocrepis regarding its phylogenetic relationship with other members of the family Notocotylidae. In the present study, we collected monostome cercariae and adult parasites from the planorbid Biomphalaria straminea and in the large intestine of capybaras, respectively, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We subjected them to morphological and molecular (amplification and sequencing of partial regions of 28S and cox-1 genes) studies. Adult parasites collected from the capybaras were identified as H. hippocrepis and the sequences obtained for both molecular markers showed 100% similarity with monostome cercariae found in B. straminea. The sequences obtained for H. hippocrepis were compared with data available in public databases; analysis revealed this species differs from other notocotylids with available sequences (1.5-3.8% with respect to 28S and 11.4%-13.8% with respect to cox-1). On the phylogenetic analyses, H. hippocrepis appeared to be a distinct lineage in relation to other notocotylids. Some ecological aspects related to the infection of capybaras with H. hippocrepis are briefly discussed.
Volume
14
Issue
8
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Ciencias médicas, Ciencias de la salud
Parasitología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85071301654
PubMed ID
Source
PLoS ONE
ISSN of the container
19326203
Source funding
National Council for Higher Education
Sponsor(s)
National Council for Higher Education
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus