The mitochondrial genome of the dog hookworm Ancylostoma caninum (Nematoda, Ancylostomatidae) from Southwest China

The dog hookworm Ancylostoma caninum (Nematoda, Ancylostomatidae) is a blood-feeding intestinal parasitic nematode and can cause ancylostomiasis in humans. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of this anthropozoonotic hookworm was sequenced through Illumina deep sequencing technology. The whole genome was 13,721 bp in length and encoded 36 genes including 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs. Phylogeny revealed that A. caninum grouped with species from Ancylostomatinae and separated from species of Bunostominae in the family Ancylostomatidae. Amongst the subfamily Ancylostomatinae, three dog-originated A. caninum, regardless of isolate origins, clustered together and were more closely related to the cat hookworm A. tubaeforme and the human hookworm A. duodenale than to the dog/cat hookworm A. ceylanicum and the sea lion hookworm Uncinaria sanguinis. Taken together, the cumulative mitochondrial DNA data provides insights into phylogenetic studies among Ancylostomatidae nematodes.