Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38326886›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2024

Molecular insights versus morphological traits: rethinking identification of the closely related Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Angiostrongylus malaysiensis.

Chanisara Kaenkaew, Abigail Hui En Chan, Naowarat Saralamba, Jiraporn Ruangsittichai, Kittipong Chaisiri, Vachirapong Charoennitiwat, Urusa Thaenkham

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Article in Parasites & vectors, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

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4citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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  4. Insights into the genetic diversity ofFood and waterborne parasitology · 2024
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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Chanisara KaenkaewDepartment of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Abigail Hui En ChanDepartment of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Naowarat SaralambaDepartment of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Jiraporn RuangsittichaiDepartment of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Kittipong ChaisiriDepartment of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Vachirapong CharoennitiwatDepartment of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Urusa ThaenkhamDepartment of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. urusa.tha@mahidol.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe closely related Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Angiostrongylus malaysiensis have been reported to coexist in Thailand and share similar hosts and life cycles. Recently, in an angiostrongyliasis outbreak in Thailand, both A. cantonensis and A. malaysiensis were found in the cerebrospinal fluid of affected patients. Morphological similarities, overlapping distribution, shared hosts and habitats, and the close genetics of the two Angiostrongylus species can complicate accurate species identification. Addressing these challenges, this study aims to evaluate whether a correlation between the morphological and genetic identities of A. cantonensis and A. malaysiensis can improve species identification accuracy.

methodsAngiostrongylus spp. specimens from five zoogeographical regions in Thailand were subjected to morphological and molecular identification using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS2). The morphological characters for males and females were then validated using the species identity obtained from the nuclear ITS2 region.

resultsThe results revealed that morphological misidentifications between these two closely related species are common due to overlapping morphological characters. Although certain male traits such as body length and width aided species differentiation, female traits were found to be less reliable. Furthermore, hybrid forms (8.2%) were revealed through the ITS2 results, which can further complicate morphological identification. Mito-nuclear discordance was also present in 1.9% of the Angiostrongylus specimens from Thailand, suggesting a complex historical interbreeding between the species.

conclusionsBased on our findings, we suggest that nuclear ITS2 is a reliable marker for species identification of A. cantonensis and A. malaysiensis, especially in regions where both species coexist. Additionally, the scope and consequences of hybridization between the two closely related Angiostrongylus species should be further investigated in Thailand.

Indexed as

AngiostrongylusAngiostrongylus cantonensisStrongylida InfectionsAnimalsFemaleHumansMalePhenotypePhylogenyAngiostrongylus cantonensisAngiostrongylus malaysiensisHybridsMisidentificationMorphological and molecular characters

Identifiers

PMID38326886
PMCPMC10851580

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