Abstract: Objective　To investigate the morphological characteristics of Echinostoma miyagawai in domestic ducks in Wuhu area, and to explore the feasibility of the cytochrome oxidase subunit?1 (Cox1) gene as a molecular marker for the identification of E. miyagawai. Methods　E. miyagawai was isolated from free?ranged domestic ducks in Wuhu area, and the parasites were stained and identified. In addition, the mitochondrial Cox1 gene of E. miyagawai was amplified using a PCR assay, and the amplification product was sequenced and aligned with the GenBank database to yield the homology for the identification of parasite species in combination with morphological findings. Intra?species comparison was done based on the Cox1 gene sequence. Results　The prevalence of E. miyagawai infection was 16.67% in domestic ducks in Wuhu area, and the adult E. miyagawai was 6.6 to 13.2 mm in length. The size of the E. miyagawai Cox1 gene was approximately 660 bp, which had a 99.68% homology to the E. miyagawai accessed in GenBank. The morphological findings were in agreement with molecular identification. Conclusion　E. miyagawai infection is common in domestic ducks in Wuhu area, and the mitochondrial Cox1 gene is a feasible marker of intra? and inter?species molecular identification of Echinostoma.

Key words: Echinostoma miyagawai, Domestic duck, Cox1 gene, Morphological feature, Molecular characterization, Wuhu City

摘要： ［摘要］　目的　了解芜湖地区家鸭体内宫川棘口吸虫形态学特征，并探讨Cox1基因作为分子标记鉴定宫川棘口吸虫的可行性。方法　从芜湖地区散养家鸭体内分离宫川棘口吸虫，染色、制片、鉴定；并应用PCR技术扩增出宫川棘口吸虫线粒体Cox1基因序列，测序后与GenBank数据库进行序列比对，获得同源性。结合形态学结果鉴定虫种，并基于Cox1基因序列进行种间比较分析。结果　芜湖地区家鸭体内宮川棘口吸虫感染率约为16.67%，成虫体长6.6～13.2 mm。扩增出的宫川棘口吸虫Cox1基因长度为660 bp，与GenBank中收录的宫川棘口吸虫同源性为99.68%，形态学鉴定与分子鉴定结果一致。结论　芜湖地区家鸭体内宫川棘口吸虫感染较为普遍，线粒体Cox1基因可作为分子标记用于棘口属内和属间分子鉴定。

关键词: 宫川棘口吸虫, 家鸭, Cox1基因, 形态学特征, 分子鉴定, 芜湖市