Analysis of internal transcribed spacer1 (ITS1) region of rDNA for genetic characterization of Paramphistomum sp.

Paramphistomosis is the most prevalent disease of domestic ruminants, causing heavy economic loss in many countries across the world. The morphological identification of these parasites is difficult, therefore molecular characterization is used to discriminate Paramphistomum species. The present study was conducted to identify Paramphistomum sp. at Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. All samples of these rumen flukes were collected from buffalo. The gDNA was isolated from the adult parasites and the ITS1 region was amplified for the sequence analysis. All flukes had 100% similarity and there was no intraspecific variation. The Blast results showed that all flukes were P. cervi as they form a single cluster with P. cervi reported from China. The results of the ITS1 sequences of the present study with reference sequencing from China showed eight specific SNPs. This was the first study in which P. cervi was genetically characterized through the ITS1 region of rDNA at District Mardan, Pakistan. It can also be used as a marker for the genetic identification of Paramphistomum species.