Phylogenetic study based on 28S rRNA gene sequencing of Wuchereria bancrofti isolated from the filaria endemic areas of Bankura district, West Bengal, India.

Lymphatic filariasis is one of the major public health concern in India, and Bankura district of West Bengal is one of the main filaria prone area of the country. Wuchereria bancrofti is the causative organism and Culex quinquefasciatus is the main vector of lymphatic filariasis in India. In the present study, infection and infectivity rate of filarial vector C. quinquefasciatus were determined. The molecular characterization, DNA fingerprinting and phylogenetic analysis of W. bancrofti was done. In the study area, overall vector infection and infectivity rates were 4.83 and 0.97%, respectively. The infection and infectivity rate were found to be higher in rainy season and lower in summer season. The AT and GC content of W. bancrofti SNC Bankura (Accession No. JF930705) were 55.59 and 44.41%, respectively. The phylogenetic tree was prepared following neighbour joining, maximum parsimony, minimum evolutionary and UPGMA methods. The study revealed that W. bancrofti SNC Bankura (JF930705) showed 100% similarity with W. bancrofti (Accession No. EU370161). The cluster containing, W. bancrofti SNC Bankura (JF930705) and W. bancrofti (EU370161) branched with Brugia pahangi (M15309) with 62% bootstrap value. W. bancrofti SNC Bankura (JF930705), W. bancrofti (EU370161) and B. pahangi (M15309) branched with Dirofilaria immitis (AF188120) with 78% bootstrap value.