Genetic characterization of Angiostrongylus cantonensis isolates from different regions of Ecuador

Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1945) was identified in Ecuador for the first time in 2008. Eleven provinces of the country were investigated to establish the phylogenetic relationships between the isolates of the adult parasite and to compare them with those existing in other regions of the world; partial region of subunit 1 of Cytochrome oxidase (COI 1) was amplified, amplicons were sequenced and aligned with the reference sequences of the AC1-AC9 haplotypes. Isolates are grouped in a single clade different from the other previously characterized groups, which represents a novelty for the genetic diversity of the parasite in Latin America and the rest of the world. The parasite has been recently introduced, which has prevented genetic divergence between the isolates.