Molecular identification and genetic diversity analysis of Contracaecum rudolphii in the Yarkand River basin
In order to assess the genetic diversity level of Contracaecum rudolphii population parasitising Schizothorax biddulphi in the Yarkant River Basin,the sequences of ITS-1 and CO Ⅰ genes of 52 Contracaecums from three regions,namely,the Yarkant River,the Tashkurgan River and the Xiabandi Reservoir,were determined by PCR,and the gene sequences and their genetic structure were analysed.The results showed that Contracaecum in Schizothorax biddulphi in the Yarkand River Basin were all identified as C.rudolphii B based on ITS-1 genes,and a total of 30 haplotypes were detected based on CO Ⅰ genes,including one shared haplotype.Genetic diversity analysis showed that the overall haplotype diversity(Hd)and nucleotide diversity(Pi)of the three populations were 0.931 and 0.009 67,respectively.Phylogenetic trees and haplotype network structures indicate that haplotypes clustered randomly among the three populations and did not form a distinct geographical distribution.Population genetic structure and AMOVA analysis showed that the genetic distances among the 3 populations were small and at a weak differentiation level,and the differentiation of C.rudolphii B was mainly from within the populations.The conclusions showed that the populations of C.rudolphii B from 3 different geographical groups in the Yarkant River Basin were all high genetic diversity populations,with frequent gene exchanges among the populations,which did not form a specific geographic genetic structure,and were in a state of stable amplification,and that the present study was aimed at providing theoretical basis for the conservation of Schizothorax biddulphi.