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Genetic variability of Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) in alpine ruminant host species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2009

M.C. Cerutti*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133Milan, Italy
C.V. Citterio
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, SCT2, 32100 via Cappellari 44/a, Belluno, Italy
C. Bazzocchi
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133Milan, Italy
S. Epis
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133Milan, Italy
S. D'Amelio
Affiliation:
Parasitology Section, Department of Sciences of Public Health, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185Rome, Italy
N. Ferrari
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133Milan, Italy
P. Lanfranchi
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133Milan, Italy
*
*Fax: +39 02 50318095 E-mail: maria.cerutti@unimi.it

Abstract

Genetic variability of the ovine parasite Haemonchus contortus from the Alpine area was investigated using mitochondrial DNA (nd4 gene), internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 and microsatellites, in order to assess whether cross-transmission between domestic and wild ruminants occurs. The dataset was composed of 78 individual adult male H. contortus collected from chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex), domestic goat (Capra hircus) and sheep (Ovis aries) from different alpine areas. The data obtained show low host specificity and high genetic variation within H. contortus populations. The analyses indicate the presence of two mitochondrial haplotype clusters among host species and the absence of cryptic parasite species, confirming H. contortus as a generalist nematode and suggesting that parasite transmission between populations of domestic and wild ruminants normally occurs.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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