Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Toxocara apodemi (Nematoda: Ascarididae) from Striped Field Mice, Apodemus agrarius, in Korea

  • Kim, Hyeon Cheol (College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Hong, Eui Ju (College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Ryu, Si Yun (College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Park, Jinho (College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University) ;
  • Cho, Jeong Gon (College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University) ;
  • Yu, Do Hyeon (College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Chae, Joon Seok (Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Choi, Kyoung Seong (College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University) ;
  • Park, Bae Keun (College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University)
  • Received : 2020.03.03
  • Accepted : 2020.07.27
  • Published : 2020.08.31
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Abstract

Adult ascarid worms from the field mice, Apodemus agrarius, were observed with a light and scanning electron microscope, and molecularly analized with 18S rRNA gene. In the scanning electron microscope, 3 prominent labia were present in the anterior end of male and female worms, but the interlabia and gubernaculum were absent. Scanning electron micrographs showed cervical alae as vestigial organs that looked like a slightly uplifted superficial sewing stitch. Total 6 pairs of post-cloacal papillae were observed on the tail of the male worms. The tail of female worms was blunt and conical shape with a spine-like structure, mucron. The eggs were sub-globular, coated with the albuminous layer and 73 by 82 ㎛ in average size. The superficial pits of T. apodemi egg (mean 8.6×6.7 ㎛) are obviously bigger than those of Toxocara spp. The partial sequence of 18S rRNA showed the sequence homology of Toxocara canis (99.6%), Toxocara cati (99.4%), Toxascaris leonina (99.4%), and Toxocara vitulorum (99.2%). Conclusively, it was confirmed that ascarid nematodes, Toxocara apodemi, recovered from striped field mice in Korea are taxonomically conspecific relationship with genus Toxocara and genetic divergence from other Toxocara species.

Keywords

References

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