Abstract：To analyze the genetic variations of the ITS2 gene from Paragonimus in 10 districts of Hubei,Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces of China in order to provide the biological evidence for the classification of Paragonimus,12 strains of Paragonimus were collected from these districts and their genomic DNAs were amplified by PCR using a pair of primers 3s' and BD2.The PCR-amplified products were purified and underwent direct gene sequencing.While,the genetic distances among these 12 strains were calculated by MEGA 4.0 so as to map the phylogenetic tree.It was demonstrated in the present study that these 12 strains could be divided into 3 groups,i.e.(1)isolates from Jiang-Wuning,Zhejiang-Lanting,Hubei-Xian-Ning and Hubei-Chebe;(2)isolates from Hubei-Zouma(a and b),Hubei-Wufeng(a and b),Hubei-Wuli,Hubei-Suizhou and Hubei-Shiyan;(3)isolates from Hubei-Shennonjia.It is evident that there are 3 species of Paragonimus existing in Hupei province;they are P.westermani,P.skrjabnimi and a uncertain species named as Paragonimus shennonjia which may be the new species of Paragonimus.
