A preliminary investigation into the genetic variation and population structure of Taenia hydatigena from Sardinia, Italy

•Cysticercosis caused by the metacestode stage of Taenia hydatigena is endemic in Sardinia.•The parsimony network analysis indicated the existence of a common lineage for T. hydatigena.•The pairwise fixation index (Fst) showed the absence of genetic differentiation between sheep Cysticercus tenuicollis isolates from Sardinia, Iran and Palestine. However, C. tenuicollis from Sardinian sheep were differentiated from those of goat and pig origin. Goat C. tenuicollis was genetically different from adult T. hydatigena.•Our results indicate the existence of variants of T. hydatigena.

Cysticercosis caused by the metacestode stage of Taenia hydatigena is endemic in Sardinia. Information on the genetic variation of this parasite is important for epidemiological studies and implementation of control programs. Using two mitochondrial genes, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) we investigated the genetic variation and population structure of Cysticercus tenuicollis from Sardinian intermediate hosts and compared it to that from other hosts from various geographical regions.The parsimony cox1 network analysis indicated the existence of a common lineage for T. hydatigena and the overall diversity and neutrality indices indicated demographic expansion. Using the cox1 sequences, low pairwise fixation index (Fst) values were recorded for Sardinian, Iranian and Palestinian sheep C. tenuicollis which suggested the absence of genetic differentiation.Using the ND1 sequences, C. tenuicollis from Sardinian sheep appeared to be differentiated from those of goat and pig origin. In addition, goat C. tenuicollis were genetically different from adult T. hydatigena as indicated by the statistically significant Fst value. Our results are consistent with biochemical and morphological studies that suggest the existence of variants of T. hydatigena.