title: Allozyme markers suitable for population genetic analysis of Fasciola hepatica.
abstract: Protein electrophoresis was used to study allozyme variation in Fasciola hepatica collected from three locations in Galicia (NW Spain), an area where fascioliasis is endemic. Eleven of 16 loci showed variation in at least one population and 7 loci were polymorphic in all populations studied. Five of these markers showed expected heterozygosities ranging from 0.137 to 0.569. The Nei's unbiased genetic diversity within populations ranged from 0.146 to 0.168. Genotypic frequencies were consistent with panmixia in 25 of 28 cases. Only 2 loci showed a significant deficit of heterozygotes. Genetic distances between populations were small (D(a)=0.003-0.010). These results suggest high levels of genetic variability and low population structure. This study shows that several of the markers developed are useful for study the population genetic structure of the parasite, which is essential to investigate the evolution of drug resistance that has recently emerged in populations of the study area.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Severo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Prieto
authors.forename: Román
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vilas
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mezo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Warleta
authors.forename: Florencio M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ubeira
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paniagua
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers