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Identification of the intermediate hosts of Habronema microstoma and Habronema muscae under field conditions
Author(s) -
TRAVERSA D.,
OTRANTO D.,
IORIO R.,
CARLUCCIO A.,
CONTRI A.,
PAOLETTI B.,
BARTOLINI R.,
GIANGASPERO A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
medical and veterinary entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2915
pISSN - 0269-283X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2008.00737.x
Subject(s) - stomoxys , biology , muscidae , stable fly , haematobia irritans , polymerase chain reaction , ribosomal dna , musca , internal transcribed spacer , ribosomal rna , zoology , veterinary medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , ecology , phylogenetics , gene , larva , medicine
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based assay was used for the specific detection of Habronema microstoma and Habronema muscae (Nematoda, Spirurida) in order to identify the intermediate hosts of both nematode species under field conditions. A total of 1087 netted and 165 laboratory‐bred flies were tested. Flies were identified as Musca domestica Linnaeus 1758, Musca autumnalis De Geer 1776, Haematobia irritans (Linnaeus 1758), Haematobia titillans (De Geer 1907) and Stomoxys calcitrans (Linnaeus 1758) (Muscidae). Genomic DNA was extracted from pools of fly heads, thoraces and abdomens, and 703 samples were subjected to a duplex two‐step semi‐nested PCR assay to specifically detect diagnostic regions within the ribosomal ITS2 sequence of both H. microstoma and H. muscae . Stomoxys calcitrans specimens were positive for H. microstoma DNA and M. domestica specimens were positive for H. muscae DNA. In particular, PCR‐positive samples derived from both farm‐netted and laboratory‐bred flies. The present study represents the first evidence of the vectorial competence of different fly species as intermediate hosts of Habronema stomachworms under field conditions. We discuss the roles of S. calcitrans and M. domestica in transmitting H. microstoma and H. muscae .