New distribution record, morphological and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) tenuis (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) tenuis is a mosquito-borne subcutaneous parasite of raccoons, regarded as the causative agent of most human dirofilarial infections in North America. Despite the wide geographic range of raccoons in the Americas, the presence of this parasite has not been confirmed outside i...

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Main Authors: Aarón Hernández-Núñez, Víctor M. Vidal-Martínez, M. Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424000774
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author Aarón Hernández-Núñez
Víctor M. Vidal-Martínez
M. Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo
author_facet Aarón Hernández-Núñez
Víctor M. Vidal-Martínez
M. Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo
author_sort Aarón Hernández-Núñez
collection DOAJ
description Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) tenuis is a mosquito-borne subcutaneous parasite of raccoons, regarded as the causative agent of most human dirofilarial infections in North America. Despite the wide geographic range of raccoons in the Americas, the presence of this parasite has not been confirmed outside its known endemic areas in the Southern United States. Based on morphological and molecular data, we present the first record of D. (N.) tenuis in wild raccoons from the Yucatan Peninsula. Adult thread-like worms recovered from subcutaneous tissues of wild raccoons were analyzed with light microscopy, histology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and cox1 gene sequencing for identification and phylogenetic analysis. The collected nematodes were identified as D. (N.) tenuis based on their morphology. SEM analysis revealed details about different facial ornamentations in male worms, which had not been previously described. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses confirmed morphological observations by placing our specimens within clades of the Dirofilaria genus. Our findings represent the first molecular characterization for this nematode and extend the geographical range of this parasite to Mexico. Further studies are required for a more accurate picture of the epidemiology of this filarioid across Mexico and other areas overlapping the raccoon's range.
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spelling doaj-art-dafbb2f8c8264a3eb010553cacaf24c42025-08-20T02:50:25ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442024-12-012510098110.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100981New distribution record, morphological and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) tenuis (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from the Yucatan Peninsula, MexicoAarón Hernández-Núñez0Víctor M. Vidal-Martínez1M. Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo2Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Departamento Recursos del Mar, Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km 6, Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, C.P. 97310, MexicoCentro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Departamento Recursos del Mar, Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km 6, Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, C.P. 97310, MexicoCorresponding author. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional Unidad Mérida. Antigua Carretera a Progreso Km. 6 Cordemex, Merida, Yucatán. C.P. 97310, Mexico.; Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Departamento Recursos del Mar, Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km 6, Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, C.P. 97310, MexicoDirofilaria (Nochtiella) tenuis is a mosquito-borne subcutaneous parasite of raccoons, regarded as the causative agent of most human dirofilarial infections in North America. Despite the wide geographic range of raccoons in the Americas, the presence of this parasite has not been confirmed outside its known endemic areas in the Southern United States. Based on morphological and molecular data, we present the first record of D. (N.) tenuis in wild raccoons from the Yucatan Peninsula. Adult thread-like worms recovered from subcutaneous tissues of wild raccoons were analyzed with light microscopy, histology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and cox1 gene sequencing for identification and phylogenetic analysis. The collected nematodes were identified as D. (N.) tenuis based on their morphology. SEM analysis revealed details about different facial ornamentations in male worms, which had not been previously described. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses confirmed morphological observations by placing our specimens within clades of the Dirofilaria genus. Our findings represent the first molecular characterization for this nematode and extend the geographical range of this parasite to Mexico. Further studies are required for a more accurate picture of the epidemiology of this filarioid across Mexico and other areas overlapping the raccoon's range.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424000774NematodaDirofilariaTenuisRaccoonYucatanMexico
spellingShingle Aarón Hernández-Núñez
Víctor M. Vidal-Martínez
M. Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo
New distribution record, morphological and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) tenuis (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
Nematoda
Dirofilaria
Tenuis
Raccoon
Yucatan
Mexico
title New distribution record, morphological and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) tenuis (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
title_full New distribution record, morphological and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) tenuis (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
title_fullStr New distribution record, morphological and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) tenuis (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
title_full_unstemmed New distribution record, morphological and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) tenuis (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
title_short New distribution record, morphological and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) tenuis (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
title_sort new distribution record morphological and molecular characterization of dirofilaria nochtiella tenuis nematoda onchocercidae in raccoons procyon lotor from the yucatan peninsula mexico
topic Nematoda
Dirofilaria
Tenuis
Raccoon
Yucatan
Mexico
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424000774
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