Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism of a triploid form of Fasciola in Japan

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism was characterized in a triploid form of Fasciola found in Japan in comparison with F. hepatica, F. gigantica and Korean Fasciola worm. Seventy worms of Fasciola from Japan, three of F. hepatica from Uruguay and Australia, two of F. gigantica from Thailand and one of Fasciola from Korea were used in the study. Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism was detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using eight restriction enzymes, BamH I, Bgl II, Dra I, EcoR I, EcoR V, Hind III, Mfl I and Sca I. Three different types (types 1, 2 and 3) were detected from 76 Fasciola worms used in the study. Eight of 70 Japanese worms were categorized in type 2 (F. gigantica type), and the remaining 62 were in type 3 (F. hepatica type).