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Molecular characterization of Hymenolepis nana based on nuclear rDNA ITS2 gene marker


Mojtaba Shahnazi
Majid Zarezadeh Mehrizi
Safar Ali Alizadeh
Peyman Heydarian
Mehrzad Saraei
Mahmood Alipour
Elham Hajialilo

Abstract

Introduction:  Hymenolepis nana is a zoonotic tapeworm with widespread distribution. The goal of the present study was to identify the parasite in the specimens collected from NorthWestern regions of Iran using PCR-sequencing method.

Methods: A total of 1521 stool samples were collected from the study individuals. Initially, the identification of hymenolepis nana was confirmed by parasitological method including direct wet-mount and formalin-ethyl acetate concentration methods. Afterward, PCR-sequencing analysis of ribosomal ITS2 fragment was targeted to investigate the molecular identification of the parasite.

Results: Overall, 0.65% (10/1521) of the isolates were contaminated with H. nana in formalin-ethyl acetate concentration. All ten isolates were succefully amplified by PCR and further sequenced. The determined sequences were deposited in GenBank under the accession numbers MH337810 -MH337819.

Conclusion: Our results clarified the presence of H. nana among the patients in the study areas. In addition, the molecular tech- nique could be accessible when the human eggs are the only sources available to identify and diagnose the parasite.

Keywords: Hymenolepis nana, rDNAITS2, PCR, Iran.


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eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905