Characterization of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome Sequence of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) from China

Abstract

Sparganosis, caused by the plerocercoid larvae of members of the genus Spirometra, can cause significant public health problem and considerable economic losses. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei from China was determined, characterized and compared with that of S. erinaceieuropaei from Japan. The gene arrangement in the mt genome sequences of S. erinaceieuropaei from China and Japan is identical. The identity of the mt genomes was 99.1% between S. erinaceieuropaei from China and Japan, and the complete mtDNA sequence of S. erinaceieuropaei from China is slightly shorter (2 bp) than that from Japan. Phylogenetic analysis of S. erinaceieuropaei with other representative cestodes using two different computational algorithms [Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML)] based on concatenated amino acid sequences of 12 protein-coding genes, revealed that S. erinaceieuropaei is closely related to Diphyllobothrium spp., supporting classification based on morphological features. The present study determined the complete mtDNA sequences of S. erinaceieuropaei from China that provides novel genetic markers for studying the population genetics and molecular epidemiology of S. erinaceieuropaei in humans and animals.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genomes of two whipworms Trichuris ovis and Trichuris discolor (Nematoda: Trichuridae)

“…However, some species of this genus cannot be reliably differentiated according to these criteria (Knight, 1984). mt genome sequences may provide reliable genetic markers in examining taxonomic status of nematodes (Blouin, 2002), particularly when PCGs sequences are used as markers in comparative analyses Liu et al, 2011;2012c ;Wang et al, 2011). Therefore, in the present study we determined the complete mt genome sequences of T. ovis and T. discolor.…”

Mitochondrial Genome Sequences of <i>Spirometra erinaceieuropaei</i> and <i>S. decipiens</i> (Cestoidea: Diphyllobothriidae)

“…Mitochondrial DNA sequencing is now considered a useful molecular tool for inferences of evolutionary analysis, phylogenetic reconstruction, taxonomic identification, biogeography, population genetics, and epidemiological investigation [ 3 , 4 ]. The complete mitochondrial genomes of order Pseudophyllidea have been recently published for Diphyllobothrium latum [ 5 ], Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense [ 6 ], and S. erinaceieuropaei [ 7 ].…”

“…The mtDNA cox1 gene sequences revealed that S. erinaceieuropaei and S. proliferum are distinct species [ 10 ]. More recently, the complete mitochondrial genome of S. erinaceieuropaei isolated from China was reported and compared to the mitochondrial genome of a Japanese isolate [ 7 ]. However, the speciation of the parasite may need to revise careful reconsideration based on morphological analyses of Spirometra tapeworms.…”

The genome of the sparganosis tapeworm Spirometra erinaceieuropaeiisolated from the biopsy of a migrating brain lesion

“…Previously there has been a paucity of molecular data for S. erinaceieuropaei ; reports in the literature have focused on the mitochondrion [ 41 ]; a small number of cloned nuclear genes, such as genes encoding copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase [ 42 ] and a ced-3-like apoptosis-related gene [ 43 ]; and a survey of 910 ESTs [ 44 ]. Recently, the genomes of four different species of tapeworm were described [ 2 , 3 ] but, for the first time, a genome from the Diphyllobothriidea order of tapeworms is now available.…”

“…We found that 7% of the genome was below 0.6× median coverage, and 8% was above 1.6× median coverage. For the mitochondrial genome, we found that 137 contigs in a BLAST search against the mitochondrial sequence of a Chinese isolate [ 41 ] gave a significant match with an E value of <1e-50.…”