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A comparative study of karyotypes and chromosomal location of rDNA genes in important liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and Fascioloides magna (Trematoda: Fasciolidae)

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Abstract

Chromosomal characteristics, i.e., number, size, morphology, and location of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) clusters were examined in two medically important liver flukes, Fasciola hepatica and Fascioloides magna (Fasciolidae), using conventional Giemsa staining and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with ribosomal 18S rDNA probe. A comparison of F. magna and F. hepatica karyotypes confirmed significant differences in all chromosomal features. Whilst the karyotype of F. hepatica comprised ten pairs of chromosomes (one metacentric and nine medium-sized subtelocentrics and submetacentrics; 2n = 20, n = 1 m + 5 sm + 4 st; TCL = 49.9 μm), the complement of F. magna was composed of 11 pairs of medium-sized subtelocentrics and submeta-metacentrics (2n = 22, n = 9 st + 1 sm + 1 sm-m; TCL = 35.2 μm). Noticeable differences were found mainly in length and morphology of first chromosome pair. It was metacentric and 9.0 μm long in F. hepatica while subtelocentric and 4.7 μm long in F. magna. Although FISH with rDNA probe revealed a single cluster of ribosomal genes in both species, conspicuous interspecific differences were displayed by chromosomal location of ribosomal loci (i.e., NORs). The signals were found on short arms of fifth homologous pair in F. hepatica; however, they were detected in pericentromeric regions of the long arms of tenth pair in F. magna. The observed cytogenetic differences were interpreted in terms of karyotype evolution of fasciolid flukes; F. hepatica may be regarded phylogenetically younger than F. magna. The present paper provides a pilot study on molecular cytogenetics within a group of hermaphroditic digenetic flukes.

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Acknowledgements

We are highly indebted to František Marec (Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre ASCR, České Budějovice, Czech Republic) and Tomáš Scholz (Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, České Budějovice, Czech Republic) for kind help and providing facilities during research stays of M. R. and M. O. We wish to thank Katarína Oberhauserová (University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Animal Breeding, Košice, Slovakia) for providing us with F. hepatica material. The work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under contracts LPP-0126-07 and APVV-51-062205, and by the Slovak Grant Agency VEGA (2/0148/09 and 2/0014/10). The publication has been created within realization of the project Centre of Excellence for Parasitology (Code ITMS: 26220120022), based on the support of the Operational Programme “Research and Development” funded from the European Fund of Regional Development (rate 0.3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Parasitological Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001, Košice, Slovakia

    Marianna Reblánová, Marta Špakulová, Martina Orosová, Ivica Králová-Hromadová & Eva Bazsalovicsová

  2. Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre AS CR, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Martina Orosová

  3. Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia

    Dušan Rajský

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  1. Marianna Reblánová
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Correspondence to Marianna Reblánová.

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Reblánová, M., Špakulová, M., Orosová, M. et al. A comparative study of karyotypes and chromosomal location of rDNA genes in important liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and Fascioloides magna (Trematoda: Fasciolidae). Parasitol Res 109, 1021–1028 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2339-y

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