Date Received: 04-04-2026 / Date Accepted: 31-07-2026 / Date Published: 26-10-2026
Taenia hydatigena is a tapeworm species parasitizing dogs and is of important veterinary significance because its larval stage, Cysticercus tenuicollis, causes considerable economic losses in intermediate hosts. This study aimed to identify and evaluate the genetic characteristics of T. hydatigena parasitizing dogs in Hanoi based on two mitochondrial markers, cox1 and 12S rRNA. Adult tapeworms were collected, followed by DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing. The obtained cox1 and 12S rRNA sequences showed 100% nucleotide identity with reference sequences deposited in GenBank, confirming the species as T. hydatigena. Based on 100 cox1 gene sequences and 104 sequences of 12S rRNA gene, a total of 13 and 49 haplotypes were identified, respectively. Genetic diversity indices indicated that the 12S rRNA gene exhibited a higher level of variation than the cox1 gene (Hd = 0.863 vs. 0.442; = 0.068 vs. 0.020). The haplotype network displayed a star-like structure with one dominant central haplotype, suggesting a recent population expansion from a common ancestor. In addition, several haplotypes formed distinct genetic clusters, indicating genetic differentiation of this species. The findings provide important molecular data for future epidemiological studies of T. hydatigena.
