Comparative cytogenetics of opisthorchid species (Trematoda, Opisthorchiidae)

In the present study karyotypes and chromosomes of five species of the family Opisthorchiidae (Opisthorchis felineus (Rivolta, 1884), O. viverrini (Poirier, 1886), Metorchis xanthosomus (Creplin, 1846), M. bilis (Braun, 1893), and Clonorchis sinensis (Cobbold, 1875)) were compared. Karyotypes of O. felineus, M. xanthosomus, M. bilis and C. sinensis consist of two pairs of large meta- and submetacentrics and five pairs of small chromosomes (2n = 14). The karyotype of O. viverrini is 2n = 12, which indicates a fusion of two chromosomes of opisthorchid ancestral karyotype. Analysis of mitotic and meiotic chromosomes was performed by heterologous in situ hybridization of microdissected DNA probes obtained from chromosomes 1 and 2 of O. felineus and chromosomes 1 and 2 of M. xanthosomus. Results of chromosome staining (C- and AgNOR-banding) and FISH of telomeric probes and ribosomal DNA probe on opisthorchid chromosomes were used for chromosome comparison. Data on chromosome number in opisthorchid species were also discussed.