Background This study investigates the genetic characteristics of Capillaria isolates from the infected fish, Bagrus
bajad, and their relation to human Capillaria philippinensis using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR)
analysis. Fifteen fish Capillaria were isolated and compared to identified human C. philippinensis using six primers:
M-are, M-1, G-7, G-11, G-15, and G-18.
Results All six primers successfully amplified DNA, highlighting their efficacy in distinguishing between human
and fish Capillaria isolates. The analysis revealed distinctive banding patterns between fish and human isolates, with
variations in size and number of DNA fragments. Additionally, genetic similarity analysis showed intriguing patterns of
relatedness, with certain pairs exhibiting high similarity percentages. Comparative assessment of RAPD polymorphism
demonstrated consistent findings of 100% polymorphism across all primers. The Unweighted Pair Group Method
with Arithmetic Mean Algorithm (UPGMA) evaluated the closest relationship between human and fish isolates. These
results underscore the utility of RAPD analysis in delineating the genetic diversity among Capillaria isolates from
different hosts.
Conclusion Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of the genetic variability and relatedness among
Capillaria isolates, shedding light on their evolutionary dynamics and zoonotic potential.
Keywords Capillaria, Fish, Genetic similarity, Relatedness, RAPD polymorphism