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Phylogeography of Ascaris lumbricoides and A. suum from China

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Abstract

In order to obtain further understanding of genetic structure and evolutionary relationship of Ascaris from humans and pigs, phylogeography study on 12 populations from six endemic regions in China was conducted using mitochondrial DNA markers (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) and NAD1) and the software programs of DnaSP 5.0, Arlequin 3.0, MEGA 4.0, and NETWORK 4.5.1.6. Results showed that (a) genetic diversity of Ascaris varied with hosts and locations, but no distinct geographical distribution pattern was found, (b) a higher level of genetic diversity and differentiation was found in pig-derived populations in contrast to human-derived ones, and in populations of human-derived Ascaris from the southern regions in comparison to that from the middle and northern locations, but similar geographical difference was not observed within pig-derived populations, (c) historical population expanding was detected from a large part of human-derived Ascaris populations but not in pig-derived Ascaris, (d) a high level of gene flow was detected between human- and pig-derived Ascaris and also among human-derived populations, and (e) network analysis from haplotype of COX1 indicated an ancestral haplotype from human-derived Ascaris. In conclusion, the present study revealed new information on Ascaris on the aspects of genetic diversity, population differentiation and historical demographic patterns, gene flow, phylogenesis reconstruction, and haplotype network, discussed the results with historical demographic migration of humans and domestication of wild boar in China, and raised a different assumption about the evolutionary relationship of the two roundworms. This study should have certain enlightenment for the epidemiology and the evolutionary and taxonomy relationship of Ascaris from humans and pigs.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30972580/C150702). Thanks also to Dr. Deng Libing for his help in data analysis and Dr. Charles D. Criscione for reading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parasitology, College of Basic Medicine, Nanchang University, Xuefu Dadao 999, Nanchang, 330031, People’s Republic of China

    Chunhua Zhou, Ningyan Hu & Weidong Peng

  2. Department of Biochemistry, College of Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330029, People’s Republic of China

    Chunhua Zhou

  3. Jiangxi Medical Science Research Institute, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of China

    Keng Yuan

  4. Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang, 330099, People’s Republic of China

    Min Li

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  1. Chunhua Zhou
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  2. Min Li
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  5. Weidong Peng
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Correspondence to Weidong Peng.

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Zhou, C., Li, M., Yuan, K. et al. Phylogeography of Ascaris lumbricoides and A. suum from China. Parasitol Res 109, 329–338 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2260-4

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