First molecular identification and genetic diversity of Strongyloides stercoralis and Strongyloides fuelleborni in human communities having contact with long-tailed macaques in Thailand

Abstract

The parasitic nematodes, Strongyloides stercoralis and Strongyloides fuelleborni, can infect humans and non-human primates. We amplified and sequenced a portion of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA) and of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene of Strongyloides from humans in the study area in Thailand, where people have frequent contact with long-tailed macaques. Fresh stool samples were obtained from 213 people and were examined using the agar plate culture method. The overall prevalence of Strongyloides infection was 8.92% (19/213). From a total of 19 worms (one per infected person), 18 adult males had 18S rRNA sequences identical with that of S. stercoralis and one adult female had a sequence almost identical with that of S. fuelleborni. A median-joining network of cox1 sequences revealed nine new haplotypes from S. stercoralis, and an overall haplotype diversity (Hd) of 0.9309. The single haplotype of S. fuelleborni was also new and contributed to an overall haplotype diversity for that species of 0.9842. This is the first molecular identification of S. stercoralis and S. fuelleborni in a human community having contact with long-tailed macaques in Thailand. It is also the first report of S. fuelleborni infecting a human in Thailand.

Detection of classic and cryptic Strongyloides genotypes by deep amplicon sequencing: A preliminary survey of dog and human specimens collected from remote Australian communities

“…Worldwide, it is estimated to infect up to 370 million people and is predominately found in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities (Olsen et al, 2009, Bisoffi et al, 2013, Beknazarova et al, 2016). While S. stercoralis is a globally distributed nematode, S. f. fuelleborni has thus far only reported in Africa and Southeast Asia and S. f. kellyi from Papua New Guinea (PNG) (Thanchomnang et al, 2017, Pampiglione and Ricciardi, 1971, Ashford et al, 1992).…”

Strongyloides stercoralis infection in human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients and related risk factors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Nematoda, or roundworms, represent an important phylum of human and animal parasites. Within the roundworms, the genus Strongyloides comprises several soil‐transmitted parasitic species, some of which are zoonotic like Strongyloides (S.) stercoralis and S. fuelleborni (Keiser & Nutman, ; Thanchomnang et al, ). Of those, S. stercoralis is of worldwide importance, being endemic to tropical, subtropical, and temperate areas (Garcia, ; Segarra‐Newnham, ).…”

Advances in the Molecular and Cellular Biology of Strongyloides spp.

“…S. fuelleborni infections have also been widely reported in humans and several nonhuman primates such as chimpanzees, gorillas, macaques, and baboons [3][4][5]12]. However, due to the absence of autoinfection in S. fuelleborni infections, the disease associated with them in humans is not as severe as in S. stercoralis infections [46].…”

“…Strongyloidiasis, caused mainly by Strongyloides stercoralis, is one of the most neglected soil-borne tropical diseases. Human infections with Strongyloides fuelleborni and S. fuelleborni kellyi have also been reported in Asia, Papua New Guinea, and some African locales [1][2][3][4][5]. Globally, S. stercoralis is reported to infect more than 370 million people mainly in tropical and subtropical regions [6].…”