@article{01JP7X03AXKKRVEBH42QQ3A43F,
  abstract     = {{Background The giant roundworm Ascaris is an intestinal nematode, causing ascariasis by infecting humans and pigs worldwide. Recent estimates suggest that Ascaris infects over half a billion people, with chronic infections leading to reduced growth and cognitive ability. Ascariasis affects innumerable pigs worldwide and is known to reduce production yields via decreased growth and condemnation of livers. The predominant anthelminthic drugs used to treat ascariasis are the benzimidazoles. Benzimidazoles interact with beta-tubulins and block their function, and several benzimidazole resistance-associated mutations have been described in the beta-tubulins of ruminant nematodes. Recent research on ascarids has shown that these canonical benzimidazole resistance-associated mutations are likely not present in the beta-tubulins of Ascaris, Ascaridia or Parascaris, even in phenotypically resistant populations. Methods To further determine the putative absence of key beta-tubulin polymorphisms, we screened two beta-tubulin isotypes of Ascaris, highly expressed in adult worms. Using adult and egg samples of Ascaris obtained from pigs and humans worldwide, we performed deep amplicon sequencing to look for canonical resistance-associated mutations in Ascaris beta-tubulins. Subsequently, we examined these data in closer detail to study the population dynamics of Ascaris and genetic diversity within the two isotypes and tested whether genotypes appeared to partition across human and pig hosts. Results In the 187 isolates, 69 genotypes were found, made up of eight haplotypes of beta-tubulin isotype A and 20 haplotypes of isotype B. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were seen at 14 and 37 positions for beta-tubulin isotype A and isotype B, respectively. No evidence of any canonical benzimidazole resistance-associated mutations was found in either human- or pig-derived Ascaris isolates. There was, however, a difference in the genetic diversity of each isotype and distribution of beta-tubulin genotypes between human- and pig-derived Ascaris. Statistical tests of population differentiation show significant differences (p < 0.001) between pig- and human-derived worms; however, more diversity was seen between worms from different populations than worms from different hosts. Conclusions Our work suggests an absence of canonical beta-tubulin mutations within Ascaris, but alternative modes of anthelminthic resistance may emerge necessitating continued genetic scrutiny alongside monitoring of drug efficacy.}},
  articleno    = {{225}},
  author       = {{Jones, Ben P. and Kozel, Kezia and Alonte, Allen Jethro I. and Llanes, Kennesa Klariz R. and Juhasz, Alexandra and Chaudhry, Umer and Roose, Sara and Geldhof, Peter and Belizario, Vicente Y. and Nejsum, Peter and Stothard, J. Russell and LaCourse, E. James and van Vliet, Arnoud H. M. and Paller, Vachel Gay V. and Betson, Martha}},
  issn         = {{1756-3305}},
  journal      = {{PARASITES & VECTORS}},
  keywords     = {{HAEMONCHUS-CONTORTUS,SUUM,POPULATION,LUMBRICOIDES,EGGS,PARASCARIS,REVEALS,HUMANS,FAMILY,CHINA,Ascaris,Benzimidazole,Drug-resistance,beta-Tubulin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{12}},
  title        = {{Worldwide absence of canonical benzimidazole resistance-associated mutations within β-tubulin genes from Ascaris}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06306-5}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}

Altmetric

View in Altmetric

Web of Science

Times cited: