Genetic variability in isozymes of Angiostrongylus malaysiensis

The genetic difference between Angiostrongylus malaysiensis and A. cantonensis was assayed by electrophoretic analysis of isozymes. Six enzymes were analyzed using 5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Seven of 10 loci, namely GPI-1, GPI-2, HK-1, HK-2, MDH-1, MDH-2 and PGM-2, were shown to be polymorphic, but the remaining 3 loci, LDH, ME and PGM-1, were not. Both A. malaysiensis and A. cantonensis were polymorphic at 6 of the loci (p = 0.600) with heterozygosity H of 0.286 and 0.151, respectively. The Nei's genetic distance (D) between A. malaysiensis and A. cantonensis was 0.27470. This value indicates the level of interspecific variation within a genus. Through isozyme analysis, the present study demonstrated that A. malaysiensis of Japan is a valid species, separate from A. cantonensis.