This study aimed to systematically identify cestode species infecting plateau livestock in northern Xizang and characterize their mitochondrial genomes through molecular approaches, providing scientific insights for regional disease control and parasite evolutionary research. Cestode specimens were collected from the small intestines of yaks and sheep in northern Xizang. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using 18S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing. Whole mitochondrial genomes were sequenced, assembled and annotated via next-generation sequencing (NGS), followed by comprehensive analysis of genomic architecture, nucleotide composition, and evolutionary patterns. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that samples T2-2, T2-2-1, T3-2, N1, N2, and N6 clustered closest to Moniezia spp. (GU817415) with 98% sequence similarity, while T3-2 showed 95% similarity to family Anoplocephalidae. Sample T3-1 was classified within the Avitellina spp. Mitochondrial genome analysis identified four circular double-stranded DNA structures (13,561-13,925 bp) containing 12 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs. All genomes exhibited high A+T content (69.31-73.54%) and gene overlaps. Notably, Moniezia spp. displayed 1-7 bp overlaps between cox3 and trnH genes, whereas an unprecedented 40 bp overlap between nad4l and nad4 genes was observed in Anoplocephalidae cestodes, indicating species-specific evolutionary adaptations. This study pioneer’s mitochondrial genome data for Tibetan plateau cestodes, uncovering substantial genetic diversity and lineage-specific evolutionary traits. The identification of dominant cestode species and their taxonomic status establishes a critical foundation for targeted antiparasitic strategies and mechanistic investigations into cestode adaptation under extreme high-altitude conditions.

To Cite This Article: Shi B, Hao R, Zhang Q and Lv Q, 2026. Molecular identification and mitochondrial genome analysis of tapeworms in yaks and sheep from the Tibetan plateau. Pak Vet J, 46(5): 1242-1253. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.111