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Gastrointestinal parasite infections in livestock and companion animals in Mongolia have not been investigated sufficiently. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cyclophyllid cestodes (Taeniidae and Mesocestoididae) in Mongolian sheepdogs using copro-DNA analysis. Sheepdog fecal samples (n = 1242) were collected from five ecological zones (mountain taiga, forest-steppe, steppe, desert-steppe, and desert) and four geographical regions (Western, Khangai, Central, and Eastern) within 20 of the country's 21 provinces. Among the 1242 samples, 201 (16.2%) tested positive for mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and ribosomal 12S rRNA encoding genes of cyclophyllid cestodes. Prevalence in the mountain taiga, forest-steppe, steppe, desert-steppe, and desert zones was 29.2%, 15.4%, 15.1%, 20.1%, and 9.1%, respectively. Prevalence in the Western, Khangai, Central, and Eastern regions was 19.9%, 18.6%, 12.1%, and 12.8%, respectively. Taenia hydatigena, Taenia multiceps, and two Mesocestoides species (Mesocestoides sp.1 and Mesocestoides sp.2) were identified. T. hydatigena was found in the samples from all 20 provinces (all five zones and four regions), while T. multiceps was detected in the samples from 19 provinces (all five zones and four regions). Mesocestoides sp.1 infection was detected in the samples from all zones (except desert) and regions; it was detected in 14 provinces. Mesocestoides sp.2 infection was detected in the samples from all zones (except mountain taiga) and regions and found in seven provinces. Cyclophyllidea infection in sheepdogs is highly prevalent across Mongolia, representing a zoonotic risk. Implementation of a surveillance program for sheepdogs and their owners, and the wild animals in all ecological zones should be considered. In addition, control measures, including public awareness campaigns, especially for sheepdog owners, and periodic deworming of sheepdogs are warranted., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are important causes of morbidity in poorer areas of developing countries, with high endemicity in Southeast Asia. Humans are most often exposed to the infective forms of STHs in areas with sub-standard sanitation. The number of STH infections globally was estimated at 1.5 billion in 2018. In Indonesia, the prevalence of STH infections ranges from 2.5% to 62.0%. STH and taeniasis infections were evaluated on Samosir Island, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Field surveys were conducted in January 2003, February 2005, and February 2006 in Simanindo Subdistrict, with a subsequent survey conducted in the subdistricts of Simanindo and Ronggurnihuta in September 2015. A total of 371 individuals were screened between 2003 and 2006 and 368 were screened in 2015 (314 from Simanindo and 54 from Ronggurnihuta). Fecal samples were collected and examined microscopically by the Kato-Katz technique. The prevalence of STH infections in Simanindo for the years 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2015 was 41.4%, 52.2%, 55.7%, and 46.8%, respectively. The 2015 prevalence of STH infections in Ronggurnihuta was 66.7%. Taenia asiatica taeniasis prevalence was 3.4% and 2.2% for the years 2003 and 2005, respectively, with no cases detected in 2006 or 2015. The prevalence of STH infections in Simanindo and Ronggurnihuta was similar to other STH prevalence values reported for Indonesia. Country-level values have not changed substantially from those reported in the 1980s and 1990s, where prevalence ranged from 40% to 70%. Improvement of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation for control of STH infections on Samosir Island will require collaboration among multiple sectors., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors are responsible for the content and writing of this paper., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Most part of Southeast Asia is considered endemic for human-infecting Taenia tapeworms; Taenia solium, T. saginata, and T. asiatica. However, until now there was no report of the occurrence of human cases of T. asiatica in Lao PDR. This study, conducted in Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR, microscopically examined a total of 470 fecal samples by Kato Katz method and found 86% of people harboring at least one helminth. Hookworms were detected in 56% of the samples besides Opisthorchis like eggs (42%), Trichuris trichiura (27%), Ascaris spp. (14%), and Taenia spp. (4%) eggs. Serology for cysticercosis showed 6.8% positives with results varying from 3% to 14.3% in Ethnic School students and Kalouk Kao village respectively. Species-specific PCR targeting mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of 28 tapeworms, recovered from 16 patients, revealed T. solium (n = 2), T. saginata (n = 21), and T. asiatica (n = 5). Two patients were confirmed to be coinfected with T. saginata and T. asiatica, indicating the endemicity of the 3 human Taenia in Lao PDR. However, nucleotide sequencing of a nuclear DNA gene, DNA polymerase delta (pold) revealed that all the tapeworms identified as T. asiatica using mtDNA had T. saginata type allele at pold locus, demonstrating that they are not "pure T. asiatica" but the hybrid descendants between the two species, confirming the wide distribution of hybrids of T. saginata/ T. asiatica in Southeast Asia. The high prevalence of several helminthic NTDs in east Savannakhet area even with conventional control measures indicates the importance to establish wide and multifaceted health programs to sustainably improve the quality of life of the populations living in these communities.

Multiplex PCR was established for differential diagnosis of taeniasis and cysticercosis, including their causative agents. For identification of the parasites, multiplex PCR with cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene yielded evident differential products unique for Taenia saginata and Taenia asiatica and for American/African and Asian genotypes of Taenia solium with molecular sizes of 827, 269, 720, and 984 bp, respectively. In the PCR-based detection of tapeworm carriers using fecal samples, the diagnostic markers were detected from 7 of 14 and 4 of 9 T. solium carriers from Guatemala and Indonesia, respectively. Test sensitivity may have been reduced by the length of time (up to 12 years) that samples were stored and/or small sample volumes (ca. 30 to 50 mg). However, the diagnostic markers were detected by nested PCR in five worm carriers from Guatemalan cases that were found to be negative by multiplex PCR. It was noteworthy that a 720 bp-diagnostic marker was detected from a T. solium carrier who was egg-free, implying that it is possible to detect worm carriers and treat before mature gravid proglottids are discharged. In contrast to T. solium carriers, 827-bp markers were detected by multiplex PCR in all T. saginata carriers. The application of the multiplex PCR would be useful not only for surveillance of taeniasis and cysticercosis control but also for the molecular epidemiological survey of these cestode infections.

Cysticercosis caused by infection with embryonated eggs of Taenia solium is an important cause of neurological disease worldwide. On the basis of mitochondrial DNA analysis, T. solium is divided into 2 (African/American and Asian) genotypes. Glycoproteins (GPs) in cyst fluid purified from the 2 genotypes of T. solium were characterized and compared with the recombinant chimeric T. solium—Ag1V1/Ag2 protein (Rec-Ag1V1/Ag2) as serodiagnostic antigens. Immunoblot analysis revealed that banding patterns of GPs differed between the 2 genotypes because of posttranslation modification, especially glycosylation. The comparison of native GPs with Rec-Ag1V1/Ag2 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated that there was no statistical difference in sensitivity. In addition, the conservation of the genes encoding Ag1V1 and Ag2 in T. solium worldwide was verified. These results indicate that Rec-Ag1V1/Ag2 has great potential for usefulness in serodiagnosis as an alternative to native antigens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cysticercosis caused by infection with embryonated eggs of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium is an important cause of neurological disease worldwide. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA, the pathogen has been divided into two geographic clades, corresponding to Afro-American and Asian genotypes. In this study the genotyping of T. solium was carried out by using the nuclear DNA sequences of the immunodiagnostic antigen genes Ag1V1 and Ag2. The two geographic genotypes were supported by the Ag2 sequences, especially showing unique substitutions in each of the genotypes. It seems likely that the Ag2 may be a novel nuclear DNA marker to distinguish the two geographic genotypes of T. solium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine cysticercosis, caused by Taenia saginata metacestodes, is the cause of significant economic losses to the meat production chain by condemnation and downgrading of infected carcasses. It is also a public health issue causing human taeniasis. This study evaluated the occurrence of bovine cysticercosis at the meat inspection procedures in slaughterhouses of south and north regions of the Tocantins State in Brazil. Specimens identified as cysts of T. saginata were collected and analyzed by molecular (PCR) and histopathological techniques. The cysts were collected from March to December of 2010 in slaughterhouses located in the cities of Alvorada (South) and Araguaína (North). The frequency of cystic lesions during the study was 0.033% (53/164,091) with 69.81% of calcified lesions and 30.9% of live cysts at meat inspection. From 14 samples submitted to molecular analysis, 28.57% (4/14) were positive for T. saginata. The histopathological analysis of the non-T. saginata samples showed lesions suggestive of granuloma and hydatid disease. The results indicated that the identification of the etiological agent is difficult by macroscopic inspection, emphasizing the need to associate specific diagnostic methods at meat inspection in abattoirs. In addition, species-specific PCR would be an effective tool for diagnosis, monitoring, and identifying cysticercosis, assisting the conventional tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Molecular diagnosis for taeniasis and cysticercosis in humans on the basis of mitochondrial DNA analysis was reviewed. Development and application of three different methods, including restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, base excision sequence scanning thymine-base analysis and multiplex PCR, were described. Moreover, molecular diagnosis of cysticerci found in specimens submitted for histopathology and the molecular detection of taeniasis using copro-DNA were discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]