Roundworm's genetic code successfully sequenced

An international research team, led by the University of Melbourne, has sequenced the genetic code of the roundworm Toxocara canis. The parasite causes toxocariasis, a disease that mainly affects young children in underprivileged communities and can also be fatal to young puppies.

Senior author Professor Robin Gasser, from Melbourne’s Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, said the parasite causes toxocariasis when passed from the intestines of infected dogs to humans through contact with faecal material. He explained, “When an animal excretes the worms’ eggs in faeces, the eggs can spread.”

The parasite is relatively well studied from a clinical perspective, but the new study is said to be the first in-depth investigation of its molecular biology. Writing in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers said they used “next-generation sequencing to produce a draft genome and transcriptome of T. canis to support future biological and biotechnological investigations”.

“This genome is 317 Mb in size, has a repeat content of 13.5% and encodes at least 18,596 protein-coding genes,” the researchers continued. They claim the draft T. canis genome will provide a useful resource for future molecular studies for this and other related parasites.

“Although this study focused on T. canis, the findings and the technological approaches used should be readily applicable to a wide range of other ascaridoid nematodes (roundworms) of major animal and human health importance,” Professor Gasser said.

“The more we know about these parasites, the better equipped we are to combat their deadly effects.”

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