Anisakid nematodes parasitize mainly fish, marine mammals and/or fish-eating birds, and can be transmitted to a range of fish-eating mammals, including humans, where they can cause gastrointestinal disease linked to larval infection or allergic responses. In spite of the animal and human health significance of these parasites, there are still gaps in our understanding of the systematics, biology, epidemiology and ecology of anisakids. Mitochondrial (mt) DNA provides useful genetic markers for investigations in these areas, but complete mt genomic data have been lacking for most anisakids. In the present study, the mt genomes of Anisakis simplex sensu stricto and Contracaecum osculatum sensu stricto were amplified from genomic DNA by long-range polymerase chain reaction and sequenced using 454 technology. The circular mt genomes of these species were 13,926 and 13,823 bp, respectively, and each of them contained 12 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNA, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes consistent for members of the Ascaridida, Oxyurida, Spirurida, Rhabditida and Strongylida. These mt genomes provide a stepping-stone for future comparative analyses of a range of anisakids and a basis for reinvestigating their genetic relationships. In addition, these markers might be used in prospecting for cryptic species and exploring host affiliations.
Keywords: Anisakidae; Epidemiology; Genetics; Mitochondrial genome; Nematoda; Systematics.
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