Genetic variability of Onchocerca volvulus isolates from Mexico

DNA from Onchocerca volvulus from Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico were used to amplify the O-150 Onchocerca specific repeat sequence family. The amplicons from all isolates hybridized to OVS2 probe. With the amplicons from O. volvulus specific plasmid pOVS134, most samples did not hybridize. PCR products from DNA from adult from Oaxaca used as a probe recognized amplicons from adult worms from both Oaxaca and Chiapas, but not from infected black flies from Chiapas. Amplicons from an adult worm from Chiapas hybridized to PCR products from adult parasites from both Oaxaca and Chiapas and to PCR products from the DNA of infected black flies from Chiapas. These data, suggest that differences exist among the repeat sequence populations of parasites from Oaxaca and Chiapas in Mexico.