Molecular Analysis of the Heterakis dispar Population in Domestic Geese Based on the ITS1-5.8rRNA-ITS2 Fragment

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Heterakis is a nematode which infects the ceca of birds. In geese, Heterakis dispar is the most common species. Due to the scarcity of data concerning the H. dispar population, we are providing this analysis based on the ITS1-5.8rRNA-ITS2 region, one of the most frequently used fragments in genetic analysis. We analyzed 71 H. dispar specimens isolated from 20 geese flocks. In the analyzed fragment, four nucleotide differences were noted, resulting in six types of sequences (A, B, C, D, E, and F). The most frequently noted type was type A (45%), followed by type B (18.3%), type C and D (11.3%), type E (8.5%), and finally, type F (5.6%). Infection with nematodes from different types of groups was noted in 30% of flocks, with type A being the most prevalent, followed by types B, D, or E to make up the remaining 100%. This study represents the first H. dispar population analysis based on the ITS1-5.8rRNA-ITS2 fragment. ABSTRACT: Heterakidosis is a parasitic infection in birds caused by the cecal parasite Heterakis spp. The most common species in geese is H. dispar, the largest avian heterakids species. Because of a scarcity of data concerning the H. dispar population, the aim of this study was the genetic analysis of Heterakis dispar isolated from geese flocks based on the ITS1-5.8rRNA-ITS2 fragment. Among the 71 H. dispar specimens isolated from 20 geese flocks, six haplotypes were determined (A, B, C, D, E, and F). The four nucleotide substitutions were noted in both ITS fragments, and all of them were transitions between adenine and guanine, or thymine and cytosine. The most frequently noted haplotype was type A (45%), followed by type B (18.3%), type C and D (11.3%), type E (8.5%), and F (5.6%). Infection with nematodes from different haplotype groups was noted in 30% of the flocks, with type A being the most prevalent, followed by types B, D, or E to make up 100%. This study represents the first H. dispar population analysis based on the ITS1-5.8rRNA-ITS2 fragment.