Genomic variability within laboratory and wild subspecies of Heligmosomoides polygyrus

Genomic DNA extracted from laboratory and wild subspecies of the trichostrongyle nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus were compared using RFLP and DNA/DNA hybridization techniques. Eight restriction endonuclease digests of the genomic DNA of the two subspecies were hybridized with heterologous ribosomal DNA probes and the total radio-isotope labelled DNA of the laboratory subspecies. DNA hybridization of the two subspecies of H. polygyrus yielded different banding patterns when probed with the rDNA clones in Pvu II digests and when total genomic DNA was used as the probe in Hind III and Pvu II digests. The remaining hybridization profiles of both subspecies were identical.