First Molecular Identifications of Necator americanus and Ancylostoma ceylanicum Infecting Rural Communities in Lower Myanmar

Win Pa Pa Aung Department of Parasitology and Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine 2, Ministry of Health and Sport, Yangon, Myanmar.

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Thi Thi Htoon Department of Parasitology, National Health Laboratory, Yangon, Myanmar.

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Htay Htay Tin Department of Parasitology, National Health Laboratory, Yangon, Myanmar.

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Oranuch Sanpool Department of Parasitology and Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

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Jurairat Jongthawin Department of Parasitology and Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

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Lakkhana Sadaow Department of Parasitology and Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

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Issarapong Phosuk Department of Parasitology and Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

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Rutchanee Ropai Department of Parasitology and Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

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Pewpan M. Intapan Department of Parasitology and Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

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Wanchai Maleewong Department of Parasitology and Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.16-0610
Volume/Issue:
Volume 96: Issue 1
Page(s):
214–216
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Hookworms are enteric parasitic roundworms infecting an estimated 400 million persons worldwide. Herein, we provide the first molecular identifications of human hookworms from certain parts of rural Lower Myanmar. DNA was extracted from hookworm-positive stool samples, as determined by microscopy. DNA sequences of the partial internal transcribed spacer 1, full length 5.8S gene, and partial internal transcribed spacer 2 were determined and compared with available hookworm sequences from public databases. Of the 11 polymerase chain reaction–positive samples, eight (Bago Region, N = 4; Mon State, N = 4) yielded sequences with high similarity to those of Necator americanus. A further three sequences (Mon State, N = 2; Bago Region, N = 1) showed high similarity with those of Ancylostoma ceylanicum. The latter is primarily a parasite of dogs and represents a zoonosis. Given that different species of hookworms exhibit different epidemiological and biological characteristics, accurate identification is essential for the planning and execution of effective control programs for hookworm infections.

Author Notes

* Address correspondence to Wanchai Maleewong, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, 123 Mitraparp Road, Amphur Muang, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. E-mail: wanch_ma@kku.ac.th

Financial support: This study was supported by a TRF Senior Research Scholar Grant, Thailand Research Fund grant no. RTA5880001; the Higher Education Research Promotion and National Research University Project of Thailand, Office of the Higher Education Commission, Thailand, through the Health Cluster (SHeP-GMS); the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University (TR57201) through Wanchai Maleewong and Pewpan M. Intapan. Win Pa Pa Aung was partially supported by the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University (IN59211). Oranuch Sanpool was supported by Scholarship under the Post-Doctoral Training Program from Research Affairs and Graduate School, Khon Kaen University (58101).

Authors' addresses: Win Pa Pa Aung, Department of Parasitology and Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen Thailand and Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine 2, Ministry of Health and Sport, Yangon, Myanmar, E-mail: eipamicro@gmail.com. Thi Thi Htoon and Htay Htay Tin, Department of Parasitology, National Health Laboratory, Myanmar, E-mails: thithihtoon@gmail.com and drhtayhtaytin@gmail.com. Oranuch Sanpool, Jurairat Jongthawin, Lakkhana Sadaow, Issarapong Phosuk, Rutchanee Ropai, Pewpan M. Intapan, and Wanchai Maleewong, Department of Parasitology and Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand, E-mails: sanpoolor@yahoo.com, jurairat_kku@hotmail.com, sadaow1986@gmail.com, issarapong2oum@gmail.com, rutchanee5020@gmail.com, pewpan@kku.ac.th, and wanch_ma@kku.ac.th.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2017
Received:
27 Jul 2016
|
Accepted:
22 Sep 2016
|
Published Online:
11 Jan 2017
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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