Phylogenetic analysis of eyeworm (Oxyspirura petrowi) in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) based on the nuclear 18S rDNA and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene (COX1)

Abstract

Oxyspirura petrowi is a heteroxenous nematode found in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) of the Rolling Plains ecoregion of Texas. Despite its impact on this popular gamebird, genetic level studies on O. petrowi remain relatively unexplored. To accomplish this, we chose the previously studied nuclear rDNA 18S region as well as the mitochondrial COX1 gene region of O. petrowi to investigate phylogenetic relations between O. petrowi and other nematode species. In this study, we generate primers using multiple alignment and universal nematode primers to obtain a near-complete 18S and partial COX1 sequence of O. petrowi, respectively. Phylogenetic trees for O. petrowi's 18S and COX1 gene regions were constructed using the Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony method. A comparative analysis was done based on the nuclear and mitochondrial region similarities between O. petrowi and other nematode species that infect both humans and animals. Results revealed a close relation to the zoonotic eyeworm Thelazia callipaeda as well as a close relation with filarial super family (Filarioidea) such as the human eyeworm Loa loa and Dirofilaria repens eyeworm of dog and carnivores.

“Weight of evidence” as a tool for evaluating disease in wildlife: An example assessing parasitic infection in Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)

“…Evidence exists of parasites like Loa and Thelazia callipaeda , which are closely related to O . petrowi ( Xiang et al, 2013 ; Kalyanasundaram et al, 2018a ), causing irritation and impaired vision in their hosts ( Otranto et al, 2004 ; Barua et al, 2005 ; Nayak et al, 2016 ). Moreover, Kalyanasundaram et al (2018a) determined A .…”

“…petrowi ( Xiang et al, 2013 ; Kalyanasundaram et al, 2018a ), causing irritation and impaired vision in their hosts ( Otranto et al, 2004 ; Barua et al, 2005 ; Nayak et al, 2016 ). Moreover, Kalyanasundaram et al (2018a) determined A . pennula to have a 90% relation to the ascarids, specifically Toxascaris leonine which is common parasite of cats and dogs that is known to cause nutrient loss, weight loss, and death ( Kalyanasundaram et al, 2017 ).…”

Life-cycle of Oxyspirura petrowi (Spirurida: Thelaziidae), an eyeworm of the northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus)

“…Pathological investigations have further increased concerns of O. petrowi infection, as the Harderian gland is associated with immune function [15]; although more research is needed to elucidate links between infection and these immune system processes. Moreover, phylogenetic analyses have revealed the close relation of O. petrowi to the human eyeworm ( Loa loa ) [16, 17] and the human and carnivore eyeworm ( Thelazia callipaeda ) [17], which have been associated with impaired vision [18] and ulcerative keratitis [19] in their hosts, respectively. While the phylogenetic similarity of O. petrowi to L. loa and T. callipaeda does not necessarily imply similar pathology, the documented pathological consequences of O. petrowi infection alongside reports of bobwhite flying into stationary objects [20, 21] suggest that impaired vision may occur in birds infected with this parasite.…”

Predicting seasonal infection of eyeworm (Oxyspirura petrowi) and caecal worm (Aulonocephalus pennula) in northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) of the Rolling Plains Ecoregion of Texas, USA

“…This is of great concern when considering these two tissues’ importance to saturation of the eye (Holly and Lemp, 1977) and immune response (Payne, 1994), respectively. Recent phylogenetic analyses performed by Kalyanasundaram et al (2018a) revealed its close relation to the human eyeworm, Loa loa , and the human and carnivore eyeworm, Thelazia callipaeda , which are both responsible for vision impairment and inflammation in their hosts (Barua et al, 2005; Nayak et al, 2016). Through PCR techniques developed by Almas et al (2018), the differential grasshopper ( Melanoplus differentialis ) was identified as the primary carrier of the eyeworm though the infective larva can be carried in a variety of grasshopper species.…”