Molecular Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Nematodes of Phataginus tricuspis (Pholidonta: Manis) (Weber, 1904) and Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck 1827 (Rodentia: Thryonomyidae)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Parasitology and Bioinformatics division, Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.

2 Distance Learning Institute, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.

3 Molecular Biology Division, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria.

4 Department of Plant Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state. Nigeria.

Abstract

This study conducted molecular characterization of nematode parasites in three wild mammals—Philantomba maxwelli, Phataginus tricuspis, and Thryonomys swinderianus—collected from bushmeat markets in Lagos and Oyo states, Nigeria. Utilizing primers targeting the 28S rRNA (LSU391/501) and 18S rRNA/ITS regions (VrainF/AB28), nematodes from P. tricuspis and T. swinderianus were successfully amplified, while those from P. maxwelli showed poor amplification. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed Setaria digitata in P. tricuspis (99.37% homology with Japanese isolates) and Chabertia ovina in T. swinderianus (99.77% homology with Canadian isolates). The overall parasite prevalence was 23.2%, with P. maxwelli exhibiting the highest infection rate (41.7%), followed by P. tricuspis (27.8%) and T. swinderianus (14.5%). Nematodes dominated infections (86.8%), with co-infections of cestodes observed in P. tricuspis. Phylogenetic trees constructed using neighbor-joining methods and p-distance algorithms strongly supported the cladal grouping of S. digitata with reference sequences from Japan and Thailand, while C. ovina clustered with isolates from Canada and China.

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