RESEARCH 

Cloning, Expressions and localizations of Saposin-Like Proteins in Fasciola gigantiga

Research of Interest: 
    Cloning and Expression of Saposin like proteins in Fasciola gigantic: Fasciolosis is an important disease of domestic animals particularly sheep and cattle that results in significant economic loss estimated at US$ 3.2 billion per annum worldwide (Spithill TW et al., 1999). Fasciolosis, caused by infection with F. gigantic, is one of the most common parasitic diseases in the tropics.  Fasciolosis causes a decrease of milk and meat production of the cattle and sheep, economic loss to farmers, and cause anemia and liver disease in hosts.  F. gigantica is the major parasite causing fasciolosis in Southeast Asia, including Thailand.  Sukhapesna V et al. (1990) reported 47.1% prevalence of buffalos infected with F. gigantica in Thailand.  Consequently, there is a need to develop a more cost-effective and sustainable method for controlling this disease, such as vaccines, which are safe, leave no chemical residues, environmental friendly and acceptable to consumers (Dalton JP et al., 2001; Preyavichyapugdee N et al., 2008). Vaccination could be applied either to prevent the infection or to arrest the development of the parasite at a certain stage of its life cycle, or even to partially reduce the fecundity of infecting adult parasites to decrease the rate of infection in susceptible animals.