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Title: GENETIC ANALYSIS OF TRICHINELLA POPULATIONS BY 'COLD' SINGLE-STRAND CONFIRMATION POLYMORPHISM ANALYSIS

Author
item GASSER, ROBIN - UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
item HU, MIN - UNIVERSITY OF MELBROURNE
item ABS EL~OSTA, YOUSSEF - UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
item Zarlenga, Dante
item POZIO, EDOARADO - ROME, ITALY

Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2005
Publication Date: 9/25/2005
Citation: Gasser, R.B., Hu, M., Abs El~Osta, Y., Zarlenga, D.S., Pozio, E. 2005. Genetic analysis of trichinella populations by 'cold' single-strand confirmation polymorphism analysis. Veterinary Parasitology. 132(1-2):23-6.

Interpretive Summary: Trichinellosis is a disease of major public health significance, caused by parasitic nematodes of the genus Trichinella. Human infections have seen a world-wide resurgence emanating from both domestic and wild hosts. The diagnosis of trichinellosis and investigating the genetic make up of Trichinella populations is central to studying and understanding host parasite relationships, transmission patterns and the development of control strategies. In the present study, we report a simple, PCR-based approach for the analysis of genetic variation within and among the currently recognized species and genotypes of Trichinella, by targeting the highly variable expansion segment 5 region of the ribosomal DNA. We also examine the genetic relationships among these species and genotypes by evaluating sequence variation within less variable regions of the same gene. This information will help identify local sources of infection, help prevent repopulating domestic livestock with Trichinella species, and provide information as to which sylvatic hosts are high risk sources of human infection in any given geographical locality.

Technical Abstract: A non-isotopic single-strand conformation polymorphism (‘cold’ SSCP) technique has been assessed for the analysis of sequence variability in the expansion segment 5 (ES5) of domain IV and the D3 domain of nuclear ribosomal DNA within and/or among isolates and individual muscle (first-stage) larvae representing all currently recognized species/genotypes of Trichinella. Data are consistent with the ability of cold SSCP to identify intra-specific as well as inter-specific variability among Trichinella genotypes. The cold SSCP approach should be applicable to a range of other genetic markers for comparative studies of Trichinella populations globally.