Phenotypes of intermediate forms of Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica in buffaloes from Central Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Fascioliasis is an important food-borne parasitic disease caused by the two trematode species, Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. The phenotypic features of fasciolid adults and eggs infecting buffaloes inhabiting the Central Punjab area, Pakistan, have been studied to characterize fasciolid populations involved. Morphometric analyses were made with a computer image analysis system (CIAS) applied on the basis of standardized measurements. Since it is the first study of this kind undertaken in Pakistan, the results are compared to pure fasciolid populations: (a) F. hepatica from the European Mediterranean area; and (b) F. gigantica from Burkina Faso; i.e. geographical areas where both species do not co-exist. Only parasites obtained from bovines were used. The multivariate analysis showed that the characteristics, including egg morphometrics, of fasciolids from Central Punjab, Pakistan, are between F. hepatica and F. gigantica standard populations. Similarly, the morphometric measurements of fasciolid eggs from Central Punjab are also between F. hepatica and F. gigantica standard populations. These results demonstrate the existence of fasciolid intermediate forms in endemic areas in Pakistan.

Molecular evidence shows that the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica is the predominant Fasciola species in ruminants from Pakistan

“…Further, in a more recent morphometric analysis of Fasciola isolates from buffalo originating from the districts of Punjab province, similar to some of those included in this study, Afshan et al (2013) reported F. hepatica and F. gigantica, along with intermediates of both species. The difference between the results here and those of previous studies may be due to the fact that the previous identifications were based purely on morphological analysis.…”

CIAS detection of Fasciola hepatica/F. gigantica intermediate forms in bovines from Bangladesh

“…The remaining variables (PCII, Y axis) were all significantly correlated with the first principal component (PCI, X axis), contributing 58% to overall variations. The PCI could therefore be accepted as a general indicator of size (Afshan et al 2013), so that the resulting factor maps (Fig. 3) can clearly illustrate global size differences in the populations analysed.…”

“…A -Chakaria; B -Bhola Sadar; C -Rangamati Sadar; D -Sylhet Sadar; E -Patnitola; F -Shapahar; G -Naogaon Sadar; H -Ishwardi; I -Ishwarganj; J -Lalmonirhat Sadar; K -Mymensingh Sadar; L -Dhunat; M -Shailkupa; N -Jhenaidah Sadar uration in the biliary duct system up to the onset of egg production. Consequently, to avoid the influence of age and growth on the trematode comparison, morphological variation is quantified by geometrical morphometrics (Rohlf and Marcus, 1993), a technique offering an estimate of size by which different axes of growth are integrated into a single variable (Afshan et al 2013). The estimate of size is contained in a single variable reflecting variation in many directions, as many as there are landmarks under study, and shape is defined as their relative positions after correction for size, position and orientation.…”

“…Studies were performed using a computer image analysis system (CIAS) on the basis of standardised measurements known to be useful for the differentiation of fasciolid species (Valero et al 2005Periago et al 2006Periago et al , 2008Afshan et al 2013). Standardised measurements were taken using a microscope and images captured by a digital camera (Nikon Coolpix), which were then analysed by image analysis software (ImagePro plus version 5.0 for Windows, Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA).…”

Morphological and molecular identification of Explanatum explanatum in domestic water buffalo in Pakistan

“…The environments in which water buffalo are kept are well suited to the water and mud snails that act as intermediate hosts for a range of Fasciolidae, Paramphistomatidae, Dicrocoeliidae and Schistosomatidae trematode parasites of the liver, forestomach, intestinal tract and blood, causing disease and production loss. Immature and adult parasites of the Fasciolidae (Afshan et al, 2013;Amor et al, 2011;Shahzad W, 2012;Shoriki et al, 2014) and Paramphistomatidae families (Hanna et al, 1988;Ichikawa et al, 2013;Khan et al, 1990;Mazahery et al, 1994) are common in the liver parenchyma and bile ducts of slaughtered buffalo kept throughout subtropical regions. In addition, the Dicrocoeliidae family parasites which require a land snail first intermediate host, are occasionally reported in the livers of buffalo in subtropical regions, for example in Iran and India (Eduardo, 1985;Gorjipoor et al, 2015;Jithendran and Bhat, 1996).…”