The complete mitochondrial genomes of Gnathostoma doloresi from China and Japan

Gnathostoma doloresi is one of the neglected pathogens causing gnathostomiasis. Although this zoonotic parasite leads to significant socioeconomic concerns globally, little is known of its genetics and systematics. In the present study, we sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of G. doloresi isolates from China and Japan. The lengths of the mt genomes of the G. doloresi China and Japan isolates are 13,809 and 13,812 bp, respectively. Both mt genomes encode 36 genes, including 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. The gene order, transcription direction, and genome content are identical with its congener G. spinigerum. Phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated amino acid sequences of 12 PCGs by Bayesian inference (BI) indicated that G. doloresi are closely related to G. spinigerum. Our data provide an invaluable resource for studying the molecular epidemiology, phylogenetics, and population genetics of Gnathostoma spp. and should have implications for further studies of the diagnosis, prevention, and control of gnathostomiasis in humans and animals.