Identification and Genetic Characterization of Isolated from Cattle in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Based on Sequence Analysis of Mitochondrial (COI) Gene.

Background: In Saudi Arabia, more than US$ 0.2 million annual losses are caused by liver condemnations due to fascioliasis. Data obtained from the genetic characterization of population sheds light on parasite transmission which could eventually help in development of effective parasite control measures. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of spp. isolated from cattle in Saudi Arabia by sequence analyses of COI gene.

Materials And Methods: A total of 325 cows slaughtered at the central municipal abattoir in Jeddah city, Jeddah Province, Saudi Arabia were examined for fascioliasis in the period from 1 of June to 1 of July 2020. DNA was extracted from adult worms and used for PCR and DNA sequence using a primer pair targeting COI gene. Analysis of the obtained sequences was done using BLAST search and phylogenetic analysis.

Results: Bovine fascioliasis was diagnosed in 18 out of 325 cattle (5.5%). Forty-eight flukes were extracted from infected animals and DNA was successfully amplified from all flukes. Overall 12 different DNA sequences were obtained. BLAST search showed that all obtained sequences were and had >97% similarity with isolates from Tanzania, Europe and Iran. Phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences showed that isolates from the current study were clustered in one subclade closely related to isolates from North and South Africa and Italy.

Conclusion: Reports on the molecular characterization of spp. in Saudi Arabia are limited. In the current study, our findings showed that was the only species parasitizing cattle in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. Further studies using a large number of samples from different localities in Saudi Arabia are needed to provide data that will help the development of control measures against fascioliasis.