Genetic variation within Taenia multiceps in Sardinia, Western Mediterranean (Italy)

Abstract

Investigations were undertaken on Taenia multiceps to determine if genetic variation was present within the parasites of Sardinia (Italy). Forty samples were obtained from various locations of Sardinia and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on NADH dehydrogenase I (ND1) and cytochrome c subunit 1 (CO1) mitochondrial genes and amplicons were then sequenced and aligned with Bioedit software. Pairwise comparison between the ND1 sequences of the T. multiceps isolates showed differences ranging from 1.27 to 2.54% using an isolate obtained from Wales as an outgroup, while COI sequences showed within the samples coming from Sardinia a lesser deg..