The mitochondrial genome of the sheep roundworm Ascaris ovis (Ascaridida: Nematoda) from Southwest China

Yijun Chen; Lidan Wang; Xuan Zhou; Renyong Tang; Yingxin Li; Yunjian Liu; Yue Xie

doi:10.1080/23802359.2020.1870883

The mitochondrial genome of the sheep roundworm Ascaris ovis (Ascaridida: Nematoda) from Southwest China

Mitochondrial DNA B Resour. 2021 Feb 9;6(2):410-412. doi: 10.1080/23802359.2020.1870883.

Authors

Yijun Chen¹, Lidan Wang¹, Xuan Zhou^{1

2}, Renyong Tang³, Yingxin Li¹, Yunjian Liu¹, Yue Xie¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
² Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
³ School of Pharmacy and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China.

Abstract

The Ascaris roundworms (Ascaridida: Nematoda), one of the commonest soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), can cause ascariasis with significant socioeconomic and public health impact. In this study, the mitochondrial genome of Ascaris ovis, a representative of this genus from the sheep in Southwest China was determined using Illumina sequencing technology. The assembled genome was 14,205 bp in size and encoded 36 genes, including 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. ovis grouped with the congeneric Ascaris lumbricoides of humans, Ascaris spp. of non-human primates and Ascaris suum of pigs and together formed a monophyletic group relationship with either species of Baylisascaris/Toxascaris/Parascaris, species of Toxocara, species of Anisakis/Pseudoterranova or species of Ascaridia/Heterakis in the order Ascaridida, supporting its genetic similarity with A. lumbricoides, A. suum, and other congeneric species. The cumulative mitochondrial DNA data of this genus should contribute to a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among these roundworms.

Keywords: Ascaris; Roundworms; mitochondrial genome; phylogenetic relationships.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Sichuan International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation/Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Project [No. 2019YFH0065], Key R&D projects of Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province [No. 2019YFN0157], and Fund Program for the Scientific Activities of Selected Returned Overseas Professionals in Sichuan Province [No. 2022999016].