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Three Human Gnathostomiasis Cases in Thailand with Molecular Identification of Causative Parasite Species
Jurairat Jongthawin1, Pewpan M Intapan1, Oranuch Sanpool1
1Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences and Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; Retina Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, Udon Thani Hospital, Udon Thani, Thailand; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand.
Abstract:
Human gnathostomiasis is one of the important food-borne parasitic zoonoses. The disease is caused by a spirurid roundworm of the genus Gnathostoma. Here, we describe three parasitological confirmed cases of human gnathostomiasis, caused by Gnathostoma spinigerum, in a hospital in Thailand during 2004-2012. Clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of cases were revealed. Parasites were accidentally recovered from patients and morphologically identified as Gnathostoma species. Confirmed diagnosis and identification of causative parasite species was made by DNA extraction of the recovered worms, followed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the second internal transcribed spacer region (ITS2) of DNA and the partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox-1) gene. Sequences corresponding to ITS2 and cox-1 were similar to G. spinigerum. To our knowledge, this study represents the first molecular confirmation that recovered G. spinigerum is a causative agent of human infection in Thailand.
