Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Linguatula serrata isolated from camels, sheep and goats in Iran.

Abstract

Linguatula serrata is an important zoonotic parasite with worldwide distribution. The objective of the present study was to investigate the molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of nymphal stage of L. serrata from camels, goats and sheep in Iran. The mesenteric lymph nodes were collected from various ruminants including goats, sheep and camels at Isfahan and Shiraz slaughterhouses and the nymphs were identified using morphological characteristics. After DNA extraction, the 18S rRNA and Cox1 genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The sequencing of the genes was conducted using specific primers and a capillary DNA analyzer. The comparison of amplified sequences with existing data confirmed the presence of L. serrata with 99.6-100% nucleotide sequence similarity. Based on 18S rRNA and Cox1 sequences, two isolates collected from sheep revealed 100% and 99.9% sequence identity, respectively. Also, three isolates from camel had 99.64-100% and 99.7-100% homology. Two isolates from sheep had 100% identity in their 18SrRNA gene and were categorized together, but showed 99.9% similarity in the Cox1 gene, not clustering together. Phylogenetic analysis of the Cox1 gene classified nearly all the isolates into L. arctica clade. It can be concluded that 18S rRNA and Cox1 genes sequencing can be a proper method for the analysis of phylogenetic relationships of L. serrata among different hosts in different parts of Iran, possibly helpful for infection control and prevention.