<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<sec id="j_jvetres-2022-0018_s_005">
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p><italic>Fasciola hepatica</italic> is a trematode infecting ruminants worldwide and occasionally affecting other animal species, including humans. It causes significant economic losses. Geographic distribution and patterns of infection must be considered before control and management measures are developed for this parasite. DNA molecular markers are useful for the identification of flukes and elucidation of their genetic evolution. Therefore, the population structure of <italic>F. hepatica</italic> was studied using this method in sheep in Xinjiang, China.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2022-0018_s_006">
<h3>Material and Methods</h3>
<p>The molecular characteristics, genetic relationships within the population and dispersal patterns of <italic>F. hepatica</italic> isolates were analysed based on the <italic>cox1</italic> and <italic>nad1</italic> genes. The population structure of <italic>F. hepatica</italic> from three regions of Xinjiang was explored and a neutrality test was conducted.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2022-0018_s_007">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>The <italic>cox1</italic> and <italic>nad1</italic> genes have 21 and 42 variable sites, respectively, which can be classified into 34 and 33 haplotypes. Median-joining network and phylogenetic tree analyses showed that there was no significant variation in <italic>F. hepatica</italic> isolates between the three geographical regions. Analysis of variance revealed that the genetic variation of <italic>F. hepatica</italic> was mainly present within the populations. The neutrality test indicated that the populations were relatively stable but the Hami population may have undergone short-term expansion.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2022-0018_s_008">
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>This study revealed for the first time the molecular characteristics, genetic diversity and dispersal patterns of <italic>F. hepatica</italic> isolates from sheep in Xinjiang, thus providing new insights into the genetic variation and haplotype diversity of <italic>F. hepatica</italic> from indigenous sheep.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
Fasciola hepatica is a trematode infecting ruminants worldwide and occasionally affecting other animal species, including humans. It causes significant economic losses. Geographic distribution and patterns of infection must be considered before control and management measures are developed for this parasite. DNA molecular markers are useful for the identification of flukes and elucidation of their genetic evolution. Therefore, the population structure of F. hepatica was studied using this method in sheep in Xinjiang, China.

Material and Methods
The molecular characteristics, genetic relationships within the population and dispersal patterns of F. hepatica isolates were analysed based on the cox1 and nad1 genes. The population structure of F. hepatica from three regions of Xinjiang was explored and a neutrality test was conducted.

Results
The cox1 and nad1 genes have 21 and 42 variable sites, respectively, which can be classified into 34 and 33 haplotypes. Median-joining network and phylogenetic tree analyses showed that there was no significant variation in F. hepatica isolates between the three geographical regions. Analysis of variance revealed that the genetic variation of F. hepatica was mainly present within the populations. The neutrality test indicated that the populations were relatively stable but the Hami population may have undergone short-term expansion.

Conclusion
This study revealed for the first time the molecular characteristics, genetic diversity and dispersal patterns of F. hepatica isolates from sheep in Xinjiang, thus providing new insights into the genetic variation and haplotype diversity of F. hepatica from indigenous sheep.

Molecular characteristics and genetic diversity of <italic>Fasciola hepatica</italic> from sheep in Xinjiang, China

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Molecular characteristics and genetic diversity of  from sheep in Xinjiang, China

Introduction
Fasciola hepatica is a trematode infecting ruminants worldwide and occasionally affecting other animal species, including humans. It causes...

Molecular characteristics and genetic diversity of Fasciola hepatica from sheep in Xinjiang, China

Online veröffentlicht: 22. Apr. 2022

Seitenbereich: 199 - 207

Eingereicht: 14. Sept. 2021

Akzeptiert: 18. März 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2022-0018

Schlüsselwörter
cox1, nad1, genetic diversity, population structure

© 2022 W. Xifeng et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Molecular characteristics and genetic diversity of Fasciola hepatica from sheep in Xinjiang, China

Online veröffentlicht: 22. Apr. 2022

Seitenbereich: 199 - 207

Eingereicht: 14. Sept. 2021

Akzeptiert: 18. März 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2022-0018

Schlüsselwörtercox1, nad1, genetic diversity, population structure

© 2022 W. Xifeng et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Schlüsselwörter
cox1, nad1, genetic diversity, population structure