title: Genetic variability of Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) in alpine ruminant host species.
abstract: Genetic variability of the ovine parasite Haemonchus contortus from the Alpine area was investigated using mitochondrial DNA (nd4 gene), internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 and microsatellites, in order to assess whether cross-transmission between domestic and wild ruminants occurs. The dataset was composed of 78 individual adult male H. contortus collected from chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex), domestic goat (Capra hircus) and sheep (Ovis aries) from different alpine areas. The data obtained show low host specificity and high genetic variation within H. contortus populations. The analyses indicate the presence of two mitochondrial haplotype clusters among host species and the absence of cryptic parasite species, confirming H. contortus as a generalist nematode and suggesting that parasite transmission between populations of domestic and wild ruminants normally occurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy. maria.cerutti@unimi.it
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cerutti
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Citterio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bazzocchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Epis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Amelio
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lanfranchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D003670:Deer; D005060:Europe; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006041:Goats; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D058507:Host Specificity; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012418:Ruminants / Q000469:parasitology*; D012756:Sheep; D014251:Trichostrongyloidea / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D015801:Helminth Proteins