More parasitic myositis cases in humans in Australia, and the definition of genetic markers for the causative agents as a basis for molecular diagnosis

AV Koehler; DM Spratt; R Norton; S Warren; B McEwan; R Urkude; S Murthy; T Robertson; N McCallum; F Parsonson; RS Bradbury; RB Gasser

Journal article

More parasitic myositis cases in humans in Australia, and the definition of genetic markers for the causative agents as a basis for molecular diagnosis

AV Koehler, DM Spratt, R Norton, S Warren, B McEwan, R Urkude, S Murthy, T Robertson, N McCallum, F Parsonson, RS Bradbury, RB Gasser

Infection Genetics and Evolution | ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV | Published : 2016

DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.06.026

Download PDF

Abstract

Since 1998, there have been six reported human cases of myositis in Australia, attributable to infection with the nematode Haycocknema perplexum. However, an unequivocal diagnosis of H. perplexum infection and associated disease has been seriously compromised by a lack of molecular markers for this nematode. Here, we report new cases of disseminated myositis in two male patients from the states of Queensland and Tasmania in Australia, respectively; genetically characterize the causative agent from each case; and, also establish a PCR-based sequencing approach as a tool to support the diagnosis of future cases and to underpin epidemiological studies.

University of Melbourne Researchers

Anson Koehler Author

Robin B. Gasser Author

Related Projects (5)

Discovering the function and structure of RIO kinases - toward new nematocides

This project is focused on: high quality fundamental molecular science, contributing to national objectives, including the development of no..

A SINGLE MOLECULE REAL-TIME DNA SEQUENCING FACILITY

A single molecule real-time DNA sequencing facility: A PacBio SMRT sequencing facility will be established and used to accelerate ten specif..

GENOME-BASED TOOLS TO SUPPORT UROGENITAL SCHISTOSOMIASIS CONTROL

More than 100 million sub-Saharan Africans have urogenital schistosomiasis, a disease that promotes malignant cancer and HIV/AIDS. Control d..

A SINGLE MOLECULE REAL-TIME DNA SEQUENCING FACILITY - MATCHING CONTRIBUTION

A PacBio SMRT sequencing facility will be established and used to accelerate ten specific research programs across a breadth of biological d..

Genetics of Blowfly Parasitism

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

We thank Drs Alison Ratcliffe, Tara Anderson and Peter Jessup for patient care or histopathological examination. RBG's research is supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Australian Research Council (ARC), Melbourne Water Corporation and Yourgene Biosciences (Dr Bill Chang). Neil Young assisted with RAxML, and Ross Hall with phylogenetic analysis.