Molecular characterization of Gastrodiscoides hominis (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda: Digenea) inferred from ITS rDNA sequence analysis

Gastrodiscoides hominis (Digenea: Paramphistomata: Gastrodiscidae) is an amphistomid intestinal fluke of pigs causing gastrodiscoidiosis. With the use of molecular tools assisting the conventional diagnostic procedures, we aimed at finding out molecular characterization of G. hominis using PCR amplifications of rDNA ITS (1, 2) sequences. The sequences obtained (GenBank accession numbers EF027096, EF027097, EF027098, EU887294, and EU887295) were compared with available sequences of other digenean parasites, particularly those having a zoonotic potential in the northeastern region of India. The BLAST search revealed a close similarity with members of the family Paramphistomidae, showing maximum similarity with the amphistome, Homalogaster paloniae (subfamily Paramphistominae). Based on various tree construction methods, phylogeny of G. hominis is discussed.