First report of four rare strongylid species infecting endangered Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Xinjiang, China
Abstract Background The Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) is the only surviving wild horse species in the world. A significant population of Przewalski's horses resides in Xinjiang, China. Parasitosis poses a considerable threat to the conservation of this endangered species. Ye...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05993-w |
| _version_ | 1797453723164737536 |
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| author | Huiping Jia Sijia Gao Liping Tang Yajun Fu Yu Xiong Make Ente Shalitanati Mubalake Changliang Shao Kai Li Defu Hu Dong Zhang |
| author_facet | Huiping Jia Sijia Gao Liping Tang Yajun Fu Yu Xiong Make Ente Shalitanati Mubalake Changliang Shao Kai Li Defu Hu Dong Zhang |
| author_sort | Huiping Jia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) is the only surviving wild horse species in the world. A significant population of Przewalski's horses resides in Xinjiang, China. Parasitosis poses a considerable threat to the conservation of this endangered species. Yet, there is limited information on the nematode parasites that infect these species. To deepen our understanding of parasitic fauna affecting wild horses, we identified the intestinal nematodes of Przewalski’s horses in Xinjiang and added new barcode sequences to a public database. Methods Between 2018 and 2021, nematodes were collected from 104 dewormed Przewalski's horses in Xinjiang. Each nematode was morphologically identified to the species level, and selected species underwent DNA extraction. The extracted DNA was used for molecular identification through the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) genetic marker. Results A total of 3758 strongylids were identified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to identify four specific parasitic nematodes (Oesophagodontus robustus, Bidentostomum ivashkini, Skrjabinodentus caragandicus, Petrovinema skrjabini) and to obtain the ITS2 genetic marker for P. skrjabini. Conclusions The ITS2 genetic marker for P. skrjabini enriches our understanding of the genetic characteristics of this species and expands the body of knowledge on parasitic nematodes. Our findings extend the known host range of four strongylid species, thereby improving our understanding of the relationship between Przewalski’s horses and strongylids. This, in turn, aids in the enhanced conservation of this endangered species. This study introduces new instances of parasitic infections in wild animals and offers the DNA sequence of P. skrjabini as a valuable resource for molecular techniques in nematode diagnosis among wildlife. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:26:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-14f195aa6f48473fabe43c20a9ce703b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:26:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-14f195aa6f48473fabe43c20a9ce703b2023-11-26T12:29:19ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052023-10-011611710.1186/s13071-023-05993-wFirst report of four rare strongylid species infecting endangered Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Xinjiang, ChinaHuiping Jia0Sijia Gao1Liping Tang2Yajun Fu3Yu Xiong4Make Ente5Shalitanati Mubalake6Changliang Shao7Kai Li8Defu Hu9Dong Zhang10School of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversitySchool of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversitySchool of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversitySchool of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversitySchool of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversityXinjiang Research Centre for Breeding Przewalski’s HorseXinjiang Research Centre for Breeding Przewalski’s HorseXinjiang Kalamaili Mountain Ungulate Nature Reserve Management CenterSchool of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversitySchool of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversitySchool of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversityAbstract Background The Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) is the only surviving wild horse species in the world. A significant population of Przewalski's horses resides in Xinjiang, China. Parasitosis poses a considerable threat to the conservation of this endangered species. Yet, there is limited information on the nematode parasites that infect these species. To deepen our understanding of parasitic fauna affecting wild horses, we identified the intestinal nematodes of Przewalski’s horses in Xinjiang and added new barcode sequences to a public database. Methods Between 2018 and 2021, nematodes were collected from 104 dewormed Przewalski's horses in Xinjiang. Each nematode was morphologically identified to the species level, and selected species underwent DNA extraction. The extracted DNA was used for molecular identification through the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) genetic marker. Results A total of 3758 strongylids were identified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to identify four specific parasitic nematodes (Oesophagodontus robustus, Bidentostomum ivashkini, Skrjabinodentus caragandicus, Petrovinema skrjabini) and to obtain the ITS2 genetic marker for P. skrjabini. Conclusions The ITS2 genetic marker for P. skrjabini enriches our understanding of the genetic characteristics of this species and expands the body of knowledge on parasitic nematodes. Our findings extend the known host range of four strongylid species, thereby improving our understanding of the relationship between Przewalski’s horses and strongylids. This, in turn, aids in the enhanced conservation of this endangered species. This study introduces new instances of parasitic infections in wild animals and offers the DNA sequence of P. skrjabini as a valuable resource for molecular techniques in nematode diagnosis among wildlife. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05993-wOesophagodontus robustusBidentostomum ivashkiniSkrjabinodentus caragandicusPetrovinema skrjabiniNematodesIntestinal parasites |
| spellingShingle | Huiping Jia Sijia Gao Liping Tang Yajun Fu Yu Xiong Make Ente Shalitanati Mubalake Changliang Shao Kai Li Defu Hu Dong Zhang First report of four rare strongylid species infecting endangered Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Xinjiang, China Parasites & Vectors Oesophagodontus robustus Bidentostomum ivashkini Skrjabinodentus caragandicus Petrovinema skrjabini Nematodes Intestinal parasites |
| title | First report of four rare strongylid species infecting endangered Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Xinjiang, China |
| title_full | First report of four rare strongylid species infecting endangered Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Xinjiang, China |
| title_fullStr | First report of four rare strongylid species infecting endangered Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Xinjiang, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | First report of four rare strongylid species infecting endangered Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Xinjiang, China |
| title_short | First report of four rare strongylid species infecting endangered Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Xinjiang, China |
| title_sort | first report of four rare strongylid species infecting endangered przewalski s horses equus ferus przewalskii in xinjiang china |
| topic | Oesophagodontus robustus Bidentostomum ivashkini Skrjabinodentus caragandicus Petrovinema skrjabini Nematodes Intestinal parasites |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05993-w |
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