Determination of Trichuris muris from murid hosts and T. arvicolae (Nematoda) from arvicolid rodents by amplification and sequentiation of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 segment of the ribosomal DNA.

Trichuris muris has been isolated from murid hosts ( Apodemus sylvaticus and Mus musculus) and Trichuris arvicolae from arvicolid rodents in Barcelona, Spain. Genomic DNA was isolated and the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 segment from the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was amplified and sequenced using polymerase chain reaction techniques. The ITS2 of both populations isolated from Apodemus and Mus was 382 nucleotides in length and had a GC content of about 60.73%, while the ITS2 of T. arvicolae was 442 nucleotides in length and had a GC content of about 59.8%. Furthermore, the ITS1 of Trichuris from murids was 448 nucleotides in length and had a GC content of about 56.47%, while T. arvicolae was 446 nucleotides in length and had 57.62% of GC content. A total of 161 and 173 nucleotides were observed along the 5.8S gene of T. murisand T. arvicolae, respectively; This difference in nucleotides was due to the insertion of a DNA segment (transposon) in the 5.8S sequence of the latter species. Slight intraindividual and intraspecific variations were detected in the rDNA of both species. The presence of microsatellites was observed in all of the individuals assayed. Sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacers and the 5.8S gene demonstrated no sequence differences between T. muris isolated from both of its murid hosts. Nevertheless, clear differences were detected between the ITS2, ITS1 and 5.8S gene of T. muris and T. arvicolae. This corroborates the existence of two separate Trichuris species in murid and arvicolid hosts. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis was carried out and endonucleases restriction maps were elaborated for both species.