ABSTRACT
We collected fecal samples from 21 individuals infected with Taenia tapeworms in Koh Kong Province, Cambodia, and performed nucleotide sequencing of the cox1 gene and multiplex PCR on the eggs for DNA differential diagnosis of human Taenia tapeworms. Genomic DNA was extracted from the eggs of a minimum number of 10 isolated from fecal samples. Using oligonucleotide primers Ta7126F, Ts7313F, Tso7466F, and Rev7915, the multiplex PCR assay proved useful for differentially diagnosing Taenia solium, Taenia saginata, and Taenia asiatica based on 706, 629, and 474 bp bands, respectively. All of the Taenia specimens from Kho Kong, Cambodia, were identified as either T. saginata (n=19) or T. solium (n=2) by cox1 sequencing and multiplex PCR.
Subject(s)
Cyclooxygenase 1/genetics , Helminth Proteins/genetics , Taenia saginata/enzymology , Taenia saginata/genetics , Taenia solium/enzymology , Taenia solium/genetics , Taeniasis/parasitology , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Cambodia , Child , DNA Primers/genetics , DNA, Helminth/chemistry , DNA, Helminth/genetics , Feces/parasitology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Taenia saginata/isolation & purification , Taenia solium/isolation & purification , Young AdultABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to study Schistosoma mekongi and other intestinal parasitic infections, and intestinal symptoms and related complaints among school-age children and adolescents living around Tonle Sap Lake. Villages were selected where there were potential signs of schistosomiasis (hepatomegaly), and where subjects complained of intestinal symptoms. Stool samples were collected from 1,616 children and were examined by Kato-Katz, SAF concentration, and Baermann technique; short clinical examinations were also performed. No S. mekongi infection was detected, although a high level of intense human water contacts was reported. Helminth infection such as Ascaris lumbricoides (27.7%) and hookworms (29.7%) were common. Trichuris trichiura 4.4%), Hymenolepis nana (6.2%), Giardia lamblia (4.2%), and Entamoeba spp (14.4%) were also recorded. Strongyloides stercoralis was frequently diagnosed (20.2%). It was concluded that it is unlikely that S. mekongi is transmitted in Tonle Sap Lake. However, other intestinal parasitic infections are widespread. In particular, S. stercoralis should be considered an important etiologic agent in children and adolescents with abdominal complaints.
