The complete mitochondrial genomes of Oesophagostomum asperum and Oesophagostomum columbianum in small ruminants

Abstract

Oesophagostomum spp., commonly known as 'nodule worms', is one of the important emerging nematode zoonoses worldwide. In the present study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of two small ruminant nodule worms, Oesophagostomum asperum and Oesophagostomum columbianum, and compared them with that of pig nodule worms (Oesophagostomum dentatum and Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum). The complete mt genomes of O. asperum andO. columbianum were 13,672 and 13,561 bp, respectively. Both mt genomes were circular, and consisted of 36 genes, including 12 genes coding for proteins, 2 genes for rRNA, and 22 genes for tRNA. The gene content and arrangement are identical to that of pig nodule worms. The availability of full mtDNA sequences of O. asperum and O. columbianum provide useful information for studying population genetics of Oesophagostomum spp., molecular epidemiology and control of O. asperum and O. columbianum infection in small ruminants.

Keywords: Mitochondrial (mt) genome; Oesophagostomum asperum; Oesophagostomum columbianum; Phylogenetic analyses.