Aim: To identify the genetic diversity between Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus.
Methods: Mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene was amplified from genomic DNA of human hookworms collected from infected patients in Hejiang County, Sichuan Province, and the purified PCR products were directly sequenced by using Licor auto-sequencer.
Results: The PCR products were about 700 bp. Alignment of CO1 gene fragment sequences showed 89.7% similarity between Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, but still certain nucleotide variations (10.3%) existed.
Conclusion: CO1 gene sequence can be used as a marker to identify the two species of human hookworms.