Molecular Confirmation and Genetic characterization of
Haemonchus contortus
Isolates at the Nuclear Ribosomal ITS2 Region: First Update from
Jhang Region of Pakistan
Warda Qamar1,
Muhammad Arfan Zaman1*, Mehwish Faheem2,
Ishtiaq Ahmed1, Kazim Ali1, Muhammad Fiaz
Qamar1, Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq3 and Farhan Ahmed
Atif4
1Department
of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,
Lahore (Jhang Campus), Pakistan 2Department of Zoology, GC
University, Lahore, Pakistan; 3Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad
Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan; 4Department
of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and
Animal Sciences, Lahore (Jhang Campus), Pakistan *Corresponding author: arfan.zaman@uvas.edu.pk
Abstract
Haemonchus (H.)
contortus is a blood-feeding parasite causing substantial
losses to sheep and goats sector across the globe. Pakistan’s livestock industry
comprises of more than 100 million head of small ruminants contributing to meet
the protein requirement of people. To date, there is no report on genetic
characterization of H.
contortus from Jhang District of
Pakistan. With the aim to narrow this research gap, the current study was
planned and molecular confirmation and genetic diversity of
H.
contortus was determined.
Species-specific primers were used to amplify partial ITS-2 region. Sequencing
and subsequently identity of every isolate was verified through NCBI BLAST
program. Molecular analysis revealed a total of 14 haplotypes out of 30 isolates
with 23 mutations. High haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.846) was observed with
statistically significant Tajima’s D
(-2.00336*) value suggesting population expansion. The phylogenetic analysis
showed existence of unique haplotypes of H.
contortus at Jhang. Further, significantly negative Tajima’s D
(-2.16660*) and non-significant Fu’s Fs (-4.218) also indicated population
expansion as obtained in the median-joining network consisting of a dataset of
39 sequences. The study has reflected high genetic variation and existence of
unique haplotypes of H.
contortus in Jhang, Pakistan. The results of this study will serve
as an important database for future studies
H.
contortus in the country.
To Cite This Article:
Qamar W, Zaman MA, Faheem M, Ahmed I, Ali K, Qamar MF, Ishaq HM and Atif
FA, 2022.
Molecular confirmation and genetic
characterization of Haemonchus contortus
isolates at the nuclear ribosomal ITS2 region: First update from Jhang region of
Pakistan. Pak Vet J, 42(2): 251-255.
http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2021.071