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Background <p>Cobras (<i>Naja</i> spp.) are widely consumed and traded in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, yet their role in the transmission of zoonotic cestodes of the genus <i>Spirometra</i> remains unresolved at the species level. Accurate molecular identification is essential to clarify host associations, population connectivity, and potential public health implications.</p> Methods <p>Plerocercoids were collected from <i>Naja sputatrix</i> (East Java) and <i>Naja sumatrana</i> (West Sumatra). Specimens were characterised morphologically and subjected to mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses at the species level were conducted to determine the identity of the isolated cestodes and assess genetic relationships among isolates. Pairwise genetic distances were calculated to examine whether genetic differentiation correlated with host species.</p> Results <p>All newly generated sequences were consistently placed within the <i>Spirometra mansoni</i> clade with strong nodal support. Despite observable differences in larval body size between host species, all 15 isolates were distributed across only two <i>cox1</i> haplotypes (<i>P</i>-distance = 0.000 within haplotypes, 0.020 between haplotypes), both of which were shared between <i>N. sputatrix</i> and <i>N. sumatrana</i>, indicating no host-associated genetic differentiation between the two examined cobra species. Indonesian isolates exhibited high genetic similarity to previously reported <i>S. mansoni</i> sequences from other domestic and wild vertebrates (<i>P</i>-distance ≤ 0.026), as well as from geographically distant regions including Australia, China, and South America. These findings provide the first molecular confirmation of <i>S. mansoni</i> in <i>N. sputatrix</i> and the first record of <i>Spirometra</i> infection in <i>N. sumatrana</i>.</p> Conclusions <p><i>Spirometra mansoni</i> was confirmed to infect two cobra species in Indonesia (<i>N. sputatrix</i> and <i>N. sumatrana</i>) without evidence of host-specific genetic partitioning. The limited genetic differentiation across regions suggests substantial population connectivity, potentially facilitated by anthropogenic activities such as wildlife exploitation and trade. Cobras may represent an epidemiologically relevant interface linking sylvatic transmission cycles with human exposure. Molecular surveillance of <i>Spirometra</i> in wildlife entering food chains is warranted to better assess zoonotic risk.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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First molecular confirmation of Spirometra mansoni (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea) in Indonesian cobras (Naja sputatrix and Naja sumatrana)

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月9日

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  • Ryanka Edila,
  • Lucia Tri Suwanti,
  • Caroline Jepkorir Kibet,
  • Nnabuife Bernard Agumah,
  • Mustofa Helmi Effendi,
  • Seongjun Choe

摘要

Background

Cobras (Naja spp.) are widely consumed and traded in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, yet their role in the transmission of zoonotic cestodes of the genus Spirometra remains unresolved at the species level. Accurate molecular identification is essential to clarify host associations, population connectivity, and potential public health implications.

Methods

Plerocercoids were collected from Naja sputatrix (East Java) and Naja sumatrana (West Sumatra). Specimens were characterised morphologically and subjected to mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses at the species level were conducted to determine the identity of the isolated cestodes and assess genetic relationships among isolates. Pairwise genetic distances were calculated to examine whether genetic differentiation correlated with host species.

Results

All newly generated sequences were consistently placed within the Spirometra mansoni clade with strong nodal support. Despite observable differences in larval body size between host species, all 15 isolates were distributed across only two cox1 haplotypes (P-distance = 0.000 within haplotypes, 0.020 between haplotypes), both of which were shared between N. sputatrix and N. sumatrana, indicating no host-associated genetic differentiation between the two examined cobra species. Indonesian isolates exhibited high genetic similarity to previously reported S. mansoni sequences from other domestic and wild vertebrates (P-distance ≤ 0.026), as well as from geographically distant regions including Australia, China, and South America. These findings provide the first molecular confirmation of S. mansoni in N. sputatrix and the first record of Spirometra infection in N. sumatrana.

Conclusions

Spirometra mansoni was confirmed to infect two cobra species in Indonesia (N. sputatrix and N. sumatrana) without evidence of host-specific genetic partitioning. The limited genetic differentiation across regions suggests substantial population connectivity, potentially facilitated by anthropogenic activities such as wildlife exploitation and trade. Cobras may represent an epidemiologically relevant interface linking sylvatic transmission cycles with human exposure. Molecular surveillance of Spirometra in wildlife entering food chains is warranted to better assess zoonotic risk.

Graphical Abstract