Abstract

The tapeworm Spirometra erinaceieuropaei is the most frequently species which found in wild frog and causing a serious parasitic zoonosis known as sparganosis. This study aimed to provide molecular evidences of spargana collected from wild frogs which used as food and contribute to provide important implication for preven­tion and control of sparganosis. A total of 185 Asian wild frog (Rana rugulosa) samples were selected from food markets in Banyuwangi City, Indonesia. Molecular identification based on spargana that were collected and coding gene of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. Spargana were found in 9.1% (17/185) of the frogs and PCR analysis results identified all specimens belonging to the species S. erinaceieuropaei, therefore indicated that S. erinaceieuropaei is the major causative agent of sparganosis from frogs which sold as food in markets. These findings can be useful to the molecular diagnosis and control of Spirometra infections in humans and animals.