Eimeria parasites of domestic fowl: genetic relationships of different isolates estimated from random amplified polymorphic DNA

Genetic relationships between Eimeria parasites of domestic fowl, including three isolates of E. acervulina, one of E. maxima, four of E. mitis, six o f E. praecox, one of E. tenella, and two of uncertain identity, were analyz ed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean, using 12 primers. Each primer amplified 4-34 DNA fragments/isolate. The similarity coefficients and phenograms were calc ulated from RAPD products with 230-2,000 bp in silver-stained polyacrylamid e gels. Some primers generated RAPD markers which were species-specific for E. acervulina, E. mitis, and E. praecox. The phenograms revealed six clust ers, each corresponding to an individual Eimeria species. The pBP and pBP2 isolates, of uncertain identity, clustered with the E. acervulina isolates (100% bootstrap). The intraspecific relationships showed certain degree of genetic isolation of the Eimeria populations, and it was associated with br oiler house and with geographic separation.