Larval Gnathostoma hispidum detected in the red banded odd-tooth snake, Dinodon rufozonatum rufozonatum, from China

Abstract

A total of 205 larval gnathostomes were collected from 18 (22.5%) of 80 red banded odd-tooth snakes, Dinodon rufozonatum rufozonatum, which had been smuggled from China and confiscated at Customs in Busan, Republic of Korea. In order to identify the species, some of the larvae were observed by a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The larvae were 2.18 x 0.29 mm in average size, and had a pair of lips at the anterior end, a muscular esophagus, 2 pairs of cervical sacs, and brownish intestines. The head bulb was characteristically equipped with 4 rows of hooklets; the average number of hooklets in each respective row was 38.6, 40.5, 41.5, and 43.7. In SEM views, the mouth evidenced a pair of lateral lips of equal size in a half-moon shape. Each lip featured a couple of labial papillae and a small amphid located between the 2 papillae. The hooklets on the head bulb had single-pointed, posteriorly-curved tips. The cuticular spines were larger and more densely distributed on the anterior part of the body, and decreased gradually in size and number toward the posterior body. On the basis of these morphological characteristics, the larvae were identified as the third stage larvae of Gnathostoma hispidum.

INTRODUCTION

Gnathostoma species are clinically important nematodes, and have been recognized as the causative agents of larva migrans. Although approximately 20 species have been identified in various localities of the world, only a half of them, i.e., G. spinigerum, G. hispidum, G. turgidum, G. doloresi, G. nipponicum, G. americanum, G. procyonis, G. miyazakii, G. malaysiae, and G. vietnamicum were demonstrated to be valid species (Miyazaki, 1991). Among them, 4 species, i.e., G. spinigerum, G. hispidum, G. nipponicum, and G. dorolesi have been detected from human infections (Morishita, 1924; Ando et al., 1988; Nawa et al., 1989). In the case of G. hispidum, it has been reported that a significant number of Japanese individuals was infected through consumption of raw flesh of loaches imported from China (Morita et al., 1984; Demitsu and Aizawa, 1985; Araki, 1986).

In the Republic of Korea, the third-stage larvae of G. spinigerum were detected in the abdominal muscle of a snake head, Channa argus (Kim, 1973), and the third-stage larvae of G. nipponicum and G. hispidum were detected in the viscera of Chinese loaches (Sohn et al., 1993; Sohn and Lee, 1996). G. hispidum larvae were also detected in the pit-viper snake, Agkistrodon brevicaudus (Sohn and Lee, 1998). Thus, in the present study, we detected larval gnathostomes from the red banded odd-tooth snake, Dinodon rufozonatum rufozonatum, which had been smuggled from China and confiscated at Busan Customs. They were identified as the third-stage larvae of G. hispidum, on the basis of their morphological characteristics. The primary objective of the present study is to describe the detection and identification of larval G. hispidum in the snake, D. rufozonatum rufozonatum, smuggled from China.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We obtained a substantial number of (more than 211) snakes, consisting of 4 species including the red banded odd-tooth snake, D. rufozonatum rufozonatum, from Busan Customs, in October 2002 (Table 1). The snakes had been smuggled from China and confiscated by a customs officer. A total of 211 snakes (Table 1) were examined in our laboratory. Their muscles and viscera were isolated and artificially digested with pepsin-HCl solution in an incubator at 36℃. The digested material was washed with 0.85% saline and examined under a stereomicroscope.

Table 1.

Length and weight of snakes examined in this study

Some of the worms collected were fixed in 10% formalin, cleared in alcohol-glycerin solution, mounted in glycerin-jelly, and observed under a light microscope. In order to observe the surface ultrastructure, some of the worms were washed several times in 0.2 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) and fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde at 4℃. After 3 washings with this buffer, they were dehydrated through a graded alcohol series (50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, and absolute alcohol), dried in a critical point dryer, coated with gold in the JFC-1100E ion sputtering device (JEOL, Tokyo, Japan), and observed using a scanning electron microscope (Philips XL-30S, Amsterdam, Netherlands) with an accelerating voltage of 20 kV.

RESULTS

Recovery of gnathostome larvae in snakes

A total of 205 larval gnathostomes, identified as G. hispidum (Fig. 1), were collected from 18 (22.5%) D. rufozonatum rufozonatum. Only one larva of G. hispidum was detected in 1 (2.0%) specimen of Elaphe davidi (Table 2).

Fig. 1.

Gnathostome larvae collected in the red banded odd-tooth snakes, D. rufozonatum rufozonatum, smuggled from China. Bar is 1 mm.

Table 2.

Infection status of Gnathostoma hispidum larvae in 2 species of snakes from China

Description of G. hispidum larvae from D. rufozonatum rufozonatum

The entire body of the larvae was covered with approximately 220 transverse rows of minute spines, with an average size of 2.18 x 0.29 mm. A pair of lips protruded at the anterior end, followed by a muscular esophagus (0.67 mm in average) and brownish intestines, and the anus opened at the ventral side of the posterior end. Two pairs of cervical sacs (0.31 mm in average) were clearly observed in the esophageal region (Fig. 2). The characteristic head bulb (0.07 x 0.17 mm in average size) was equipped with 4 rows of hooklets (Fig. 3). The average number of hooklets in the respective row was 38.6, 40.5, 41.5, and 43.7, counting in a posterior direction. The observed morphological features and measurements were consistent with those of G. hispidum reported by previous authors (Table 3).

Fig. 2.

The advanced third-stage larva of Gnathostoma hispidum recovered from the muscles of snakes. Bar is 300 µm.

Fig. 3.

The head bulb of the larva bearing 4 transverse rows of hooklets. Bar is 50 µm.

Table 3.

Measurements of G. hispidum larvae from D. rufozonatum rufozonatum and comparison with previous reports (unit: mm)

^a)Data (range with average) from 10 larvae from experimental mice.

^b)Data (range with average) from 10 larvae from pit-viper snakes.

^c)Data (rnage with average) from 20 larvae from snakes.

SEM findings of the larvae

The larvae evidenced a characteristic head bulb, numerous transverse striations with cuticular spines, and an anus (Fig. 4). In the head bulb, the mouth had a pair of lateral lips of equal size. Each lip featured a couple of labial papillae and a small amphid located between the two papillae. The hooklets located on the head bulb evidenced single-pointed, posteriorly-curved tips (Figs. 5 and 6). A cervical papilla was located between the 10th and 11th transverse striations, and a body papilla was located between the 19th and 20th transverse striations (Fig. 7). The anus was half-moon shaped, and opened at the ventral side of the posterior end (Fig. 8). The cuticular spines were larger and more densely distributed in the anterior area and gradually decreased in size and number, in a posterior direction. The body surface of the anterior part was very wrinkled and evidenced shape-pointed cuticular spines on the transverse striations. The surface of the middle part of the body evidenced transverse ridges and smaller cuticular spines on the transverse striations. The body surface of the posterior portion consisted of a smooth cuticle, the spines of which were distributed more sparsely on the transverse striations (Figs. 9, 10 and 11).

Figs. 4-11.

Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) view of the advanced third-stage larvae of G. hispidum from the red banded odd-tooth snake, D. rufozonatum rufozonatum. Fig. 4. Whole body showing a head bulb, numerous transverse striations with cuticular spines and an anus.

Fig. 5.

The head bulb of larva bearing 4 transverse rows of hooklets. Each hooklet with a sharp point somewhat curved posteriorly.

Fig. 6.

Frontal view of the head bulb, which is somewhat retractable into the body.

Fig. 7.

Anterior part of a larva with a head bulb, numerous transverse striations with cuticular spines, a cervical papilla (arrow head) located between 10th and 11th transverse striations and a body papilla (arrow mark) between 19th and 20th transverse striations.

Fig. 8.

Posterior part of a larva with numerous transverse striations has smaller cuticular spines, and an anus.

Fig. 9.

Body surface of the anterior part consists of a highly wrinkled cuticle and has shape-pointed cuticular spines on the transverse striations.

Fig. 10.

Body surface of the middle part has transverse ridges and smaller cuticular spines on the transverse striations. Bar is 10 µm

Fig. 11.

Body surface of the posterior part consists of smooth cuticle of which spines are more sparsely distributed on the transverse striations.

DISCUSSION

G. hispidum is a relatively common nematode parasite that infects domestic and wild pigs in Asia and Europe. It is distributed widely from Southeast Asia to the Far East, including the Republic of Korea (Sohn and Lee, 1998). In the case of China, the prevalence of adult worms in domestic pigs has been reported by some Chinese investigators (Chen, 1936; Wang et al., 1976; Huang et al., 1986), and the infection status of larval worms was investigated in loaches imported from China by Japanese (Akahane and Mako, 1984; Koga et al., 1985) and Korean (Sohn and Lee, 1996) workers. However, few studies have been conducted regarding larval worm infections in the snake host. Therefore, this study appears to be the first to verify that the red banded odd-tooth snake, D. rufozonatum rufozonatum, plays a crucial role as a transport host for G. hispidum in China.

Several snake species have been reported as the transport or paratenic hosts of gnathostomes. G. spinigerum larvae were detected in the snakes, Python reticularis, Naja bungarus, and Naja tripudianus in India (Chandler, 1925), and from Natrix tigrina tigrina, Dinodon orientale, and Elaphe quadrivirgata in Japan (Yamaguti et al., 1956; Miyazaki, 1960). Larval Gnathostoma procyonis was detected in Agkistrodon piscivorus and Natrix sipendon confluens in the USA (Miyazaki and Ash, 1959). In the case of G. doloresi larvae, Japanese workers discovered the species in several species of snakes, namely, Trimeresurus elegans, Trimeresurus flavoviridis, Trimeresurus okinavensis, and Dinodon semicarinatus in Japan (Miyazaki and Kawashima, 1962; Tada et al., 1969; Toshioka, 1970; Mako and Akahane, 1985). Larval G. hispidum was detected only in the pit-viper, A. brevicaudus, in the Republic of Korea (Sohn and Lee, 1998). In the present study, D. rufozonatum rufozonatum from China was added to the list of snake intermediate hosts of G. hispidum.

The present study is the first to confirm that smuggled animals play the role as a transmission vehicle for various species of parasites. Thus far, many human cases of parasitic infections occurring in foreign countries have been reported in the Republic of Korea. However, no reports have yet been filed regarding the parasites in the smuggled animals, although parasites have been previously reported from imported food-animals (Sohn et al., 1993; Sohn and Lee, 1996). The primary parasites of snakes, including spargana, Neodiplostomum spp. mesocercariae, tetrathyridia and larval gnathostomes, are possible sources of human infections. Furthermore, they may represent a seed of zoonotic prevalence in the Republic of Korea. Actually, it remains questionable as to whether surveillance regarding parasites in imported and/or smuggled food-animals has been conducted properly.

According to studies concerning the prevalence of adult gnathostomes in domestic pigs in China, Jiangxi Province is the most endemic area for G. hispidum (Chen, 1936; Wang et al., 1976; Huang et al., 1986). Jiangxi Province is located in the south-central region of China, is surrounded by land, and has some large freshwater lakes in the Nanchang vicinity, where the highest prevalence of G. hispidum has been reported. The peculiar natural conditions of Jiangxi Province, most notably the presence of freshwater lakes and the fact that pigs roam freely, may be instrumental in the maintenance of the complete life cycle of G. hispidum. On the other hand, Akahane and Mako (1984) have reported that the prevalence of larval G. hispidum in loaches from Nanking was higher than that of those observed in Peking and Tientsin. However, we were unable to determine the geographical origin of the snakes examined in the present study.

Miyazaki (1960) previously noted that the number, arrangement pattern, and shape of the hooklets on the head bulb are quite useful for the species identification of the genus Gnathostoma. The number and arrangement of hooklets on the head bulb of larval gnathostomes observed in the present study were compatible with those of G. hispidum as described by previous authors. However, they differed significantly from those of the 3 other species (Table 4) distributed throughout the Far East.

Table 4.

Comparison of the number of hooklets on the head bulb in several species of larval Gnathostoma

^a)From Miyazaki (1952).

^b)From Sohn and Lee (1998).

The SEM findings observed in the present study were not different from those reported by Sohn and Lee (1998), with the exception of the location of cervical papillae. They mentioned that a cervical papilla is located between the 11th and 12th transverse striations, while in the present study, cervical papillae were conserved between the 10th and 11th transverse striations. The other features observed by SEM, including the 2 lips and labial papillae, the shape and arrangement of the hooklets on the head-bulb, and the distribution of transverse striations and cuticular spines, were consistent with the observations reported in previous studies (Kondo et al., 1984; Sohn and Lee, 1998).