DNA sequences confirm low specificity to definitive host and wide distribution of the cat pathogen Platynosomum illiciens (= P. fastosum) (Trematoda: Dicrocoeliidae)

Abstract

Although feline platynosomosis has been commonly reported in several parts of the world, the taxonomy and epidemiological chain related to cat liver flukes remain controversial. In this study, nuclear ribosomal ITS, 28S, and mitochondrial cox1 sequences obtained for Platynosomum illiciens from cat, marmoset, lizard, and snail found naturally infected in Brazil reveal no significant molecular differences between these isolates. Moreover, sequence data confirm that Brazilian P. illiciens from different hosts is conspecific with parasites obtained from cats in Vietnam, supporting wide distribution of the species. The lack of pronounced specificity of P. illiciens to definitive hosts is confirmed here for the first time using molecular approach. The results are discussed in context of the epizootology of platynosomosis.

Molecular phylogenetics and mitogenomics of three avian dicrocoeliids (Digenea: Dicrocoeliidae) and comparison with mammalian dicrocoeliids

“…and platynosomiasis (Platynosomum spp.) [4][5][6][7]. In her latest revision of the family, Pojmańska [3] distinguished four subfamilies based on the relative position of gonads, vitellarium and uterus.…”

“…Until recently, molecular phylogenetic studies included only a few representatives of the Dicrocoeliidae [11,12], although the situation has been changing lately with a greater number of dicrocoeliid taxa being included in such analyses [1,7,10,[13][14][15]]. Among other systematic and nomenclatural changes, the molecular results have demonstrated the non-monophyletic nature of the majority of dicrocoeliid subfamilies, which resulted in the abandonment of the subfamily-based structure of the family [1].…”

Molecular phylogeny provides new insights on the taxonomy and composition of Lyperosomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea, Dicrocoeliidae) and related genera

“…DNA sequence data provide an important additional, complementary set of characters for phylogenetic inference. Although the history of the molecular systematic studies of the Dicrocoeliidae is relatively short, these studies have already provided important insights into the interrelationships among some key dicrocoeliid taxa and their systematic position (Tkach et al, 2001, 2018; Ribas et al, 2012; Hildebrand et al, 2015, 2016; Aldhoun et al, 2018; Pinto et al, 2018; Hildebrand and Tkach, 2019). Among other contributions, the molecular phylogenetic analyses strongly suggested that the subfamily-based structure as proposed in previous systems of the family, including the most recent revision by Pojmańska (2008) is not supported by the phylogeny and needs to be abandoned (Tkach et al, 2018).…”

Treatment of primate platynosomosis: A word of caution about the use of praziquantel in marmosets

“…This routine enabled the definitive diagnosis of platynosomosis in marmosets from the facility, and ten black‐tufted marmoset Callithrix penicillata (four adult males and six adult females) were selected for the therapeutic attempt. The specific identification of the parasite as P. illiciens was based on previous morphological and molecular studies of adult parasites obtained during necropsies of other specimens of the colony 3,4 …”

“…amazonensis and P . marmoseti ) is a trematode from the biliary ducts and gall bladder of birds and mammals, commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions 1‐4 . Although platynosomosis is better known in feline veterinary practice, the successive reports of this parasite in captive primates, especially in Neotropical primates (see Mati et al 5 and Mattioli et al, 6 and references cited therein), have recently broadened the relevance of the infection for this group of mammals.…”