Characterization of Fasciola gigantica isolates from cattle from South-western Zimbabwe using RAPD-PCR

The study sought to characterize Fasciola gigantica isolates from cattle in different localities using RAPD-PCR. Adult flukes morphologically identified as F. gigantica were collected from slaughtered infected animals during meat hygiene inspections. DNA was extracted from single flukes and subjected to RAPD-PCR analysis. In the RAPD-PCR analysis, genomic DNA isolated from the conical anterior end of the worms was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using 10 random oligonucleotide primers. Depending upon the Fasciola gigantica isolate-primer combination, 1-13 DNA fragments in the range of 75-2000bp were amplified. It was observed that all the 10 primers directing amplification of DNA were of potential interest in the generation of polymorphic DNA. The percentage polymorphic loci ranged from 33.33-100%. Polymorphic bands were scored and used to calculate Nei’s 1978 genetic distance. The genetic distance values ranged between 0.0690 (isolate 5 and 6 from Gwanda and 0.6109 (isolate 6 from Gwanda and isolate 14 from Matopo). The mean Nei’s gene diversity was 0.2839. The study showed the variability of Fasciola gigantica isolates from the same host, using RAPD markers could be applied as a low cost way of identificatio