Korean J Parasitol.  2019 Aug;57(4):423-427. 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.4.423.

Coenurosis of Yak, Bos grunniens, caused by Taenia multiceps: A Case Report with Molecular Identification in Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China

• Zhang XY
• Jian YN
• Duo H
• Shen XY
• Ma YJ
• Fu Y
• Guo ZH

• KMID: 2459481
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2019.57.4.423

Abstract

Coenurosis is an important zoonotic helminthic disease caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Taenia multiceps. This parasite typically infects the brain of the intermediate hosts, including sheep, goat, cattle and even humans. We report a case of T. multiceps infection in a yak confirmed by clinical symptoms, morphological characteristics, and molecular and phylogenetic analyses. The coenurus was thin-walled, whitish, and spherical in shape with a diameter of 10 cm. The parasite species was identified as T. multiceps by PCR amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA, cox1 and nad1 genes. Three gene sequences all showed high homology (all above 97%) with the reference sequences from different hosts. Moreover, phylogenetic reconstructions with the 3 published Taenia gene sequences confirmed that the Qinghai yak isolate was closely related to T. multiceps. Although there are advanced diagnosis and treatment methods for coenurosis, early infection is difficult to diagnose. Importantly, the findings of yak infection case should not be ignored due to its zoonotic potential.

Keyword

Taenia multiceps; coenurosis; case report; molecular identification; Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area

MeSH Terms

Animals
Brain
Cattle*
Cestoda
China*
Diagnosis
Goats
Helminths
Humans
Parasites
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sheep
Taenia*