Genetic variability among Dicrocoelium dendriticum isolates from different regions in Shaanxi Province, China revealed by sequences of three mitochondrial genes

Abstract

The genetic variations in three mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) regions, namely portion of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (pcox1), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (pnad1) and cytochrome b (pcytb), were examined for Dicrocoelium dendriticum samples isolated from different origins in Shaanxi Province, northwestern China. The intra-specific sequence differences within D. dendriticum samples were 0–0.52% for pcox1, 0–0.73% for pnad1 and 0–0.58% for pcytb. Phylogenetic analyses based on combined sequences of three mtDNA showed that all D. dendriticum samples were clustered together in same clade of Paragonimus westermani. But the phylogenetic trees could not reveal geographically genetic relationships of D. dendriticum isolates in this province. These findings will provide basic information for further study of molecular epidemiology and control of D. dendriticum infection in this province as well as in China.

Keywords::

• Dicrocoelium dendriticum
• genetic variation
• mitochondrial DNA
• phylogenetic analysis

Declaration of interest: This work was supported in part by grants from Basic Research Key Program (ZD2012010) and the Special Fund for Talents in Northwest A&F University (Z109021107 and 2010BSJJ015) to GHZ, the Fund for Basic Scientific Research Program in Northwest A&F University (QN2012018) to QL, and Funding of Teaching Innovation in Northwest A&F University (JY1102039 and JY1102036) to JKS and QL. The authors report no conflicts of interests. The authors alone are responsible for doing the research and writing the paper.