AI Article Synopsis

  • Thelazia callipaeda is a parasite that causes thelaziasis in various animals and humans, but its genetic population structure is not well understood.
  • This study analyzed genetic variation in 32 T. callipaeda isolates from patients in China using multiple genetic markers, finding high diversity and identifying 21 haplotypes, primarily distinguishing populations between Europe and Asia.
  • The research concluded that the Asian population shows significant genetic diversity but emphasizes the need for further research on its biology and epidemiology.

Article Abstract

Background: Thelazia callipaeda is the causative agent of thelaziasis in canids, felids and humans. However, the population genetic structure regarding this parasite remains unclear.

Methodology/principal Findings: In this study, we first explored the genetic variation of 32 T. callipaeda clinical isolates using the following multi-molecular markers: cox1, cytb, 12S rDNA, ITS1 and 18S rDNA. The isolates were collected from 13 patients from 11 geographical locations in China. Next, the population structure of T. callipaeda from Europe and other Asian countries was analyzed using the cox1 sequences collected during this study and from the GenBank database. In general, the Chinese clinical isolates of T. callipaeda expressed high genetic diversity. Based on the cox1 gene, a total of 21 haplotypes were identified. One only circulated in European countries (Hap1), while the other 20 haplotypes were dispersed in Korea, Japan and China. There were five nucleotide positions in the cox1 sequences that were confirmed as invariable among individuals from Europe and Asia, but the sequences were distinct between these two regions. Population differences between Europe and Asian countries were greater than those among China, Korea and Japan. The T. callipaeda populations from Europe and Asia should be divided into two separate sub-populations. These two groups started to diverge during the middle Pleistocene. Neutrality tests, mismatch distribution and Bayesian skyline plot (BSP) analysis all rejected possible population expansion of T. callipaeda.

Conclusions: The Asian population of T. callipaeda has a high level of genetic diversity, but further studies should be performed to explore the biology, ecology and epidemiology of T. callipaeda.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5783425PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006165DOI Listing

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