Genetic characterization of three strains of Hymenolepis diminuta at 39 enzyme loci

• Published in: International journal for parasitology Vol. 19; no. 5; pp. 515 - 518
• Main Authors: Andrews, R.H., Adams, M., Baverstock, P.R., Behm, C.A., Bryant, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.1989; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: allozyme electrophoresis; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; cestodes; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; Electrophoresis, Cellulose Acetate; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genetic characterization; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Hymenolepis - enzymology; Hymenolepis - genetics; Hymenolepis diminuta; Invertebrata; Isoenzymes - genetics; strains; cestodes; Hymenolepis diminuta; strains; allozyme electrophoresis; genetic characterization; Gel electrophoresis; Enzyme; Plathelmintha; Parasite; Genetic distance; Allozyme; Strain specificity; Cestoda; Metabolism; Gene frequency; Helmintha; Invertebrata; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0020-7519; 1879-0135
• DOI: 10.1016/0020-7519(89)90081-7

The technique of allozyme electrophoresis was applied to three strains of Hymenolepis diminuta to distinguish between three hypotheses [(1) multiple species, (2) genetically distinct founder stocks and (3) response to differential selection among similar stocks] proposed to account for metabolic differences among strains. There was no evidence from the 39 enzyme loci established that the three strains represented more than one species. In the absence of knowledge of the population structure of H. diminuta in the wild, electrophoretic data herein could not distinguish between the latter hypotheses. Nevertheless, all three strains were distinguishable on electrophoretic profiles and allelic similarities between strains question the view of their proposed origins.