TY - JOUR
T1 - Ixodes ventalloi
T2 - morphological and molecular support for species integrity
AU - Stefania Latrofa, Maria
AU - Giannelli, Alessio
AU - Flaminia Persichetti, Maria
AU - Grazia Pennisi, Maria
AU - Solano-Gallego, Laia
AU - Brianti, Emanuele
AU - Parisi, Antonio
AU - Wall, Richard L
AU - Dantas-Torres, Filipe
AU - Otranto, Domenico
PY - 2017/1
Y1 - 2017/1
N2 - Despite their medical and veterinary importance, some tick species are so poorly studied, that their role within pathogen vector transmission cycles is difficult to assess. The tick Ixodes ventalloi is one such species, and its biology and phylogenetic status remain an issue of debate. In the present study, specimens of adult I. ventalloi (n = 65 females; n = 31 males) infesting cats in the Lipari Island (Aeolian archipelago, Sicily, southern Italy) were characterized morphologically and molecularly, the latter based on mitochondrial 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) genes. In addition, within the I. ventalloi specimens examined, the genetic data and phylogenetic analyses for both mitochondrial genes suggest the existence of two distinct genogroups. The ecological and epidemiological significance of the genetic structure within the I. ventalloi endemic population remains to be determined. The results highlight the need for further analysis of this tick species, including whole mitochondrial genome sequencing and crossbreeding studies, which will be pivotal to complement features of its status as a vector of disease pathogens.
AB - Despite their medical and veterinary importance, some tick species are so poorly studied, that their role within pathogen vector transmission cycles is difficult to assess. The tick Ixodes ventalloi is one such species, and its biology and phylogenetic status remain an issue of debate. In the present study, specimens of adult I. ventalloi (n = 65 females; n = 31 males) infesting cats in the Lipari Island (Aeolian archipelago, Sicily, southern Italy) were characterized morphologically and molecularly, the latter based on mitochondrial 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) genes. In addition, within the I. ventalloi specimens examined, the genetic data and phylogenetic analyses for both mitochondrial genes suggest the existence of two distinct genogroups. The ecological and epidemiological significance of the genetic structure within the I. ventalloi endemic population remains to be determined. The results highlight the need for further analysis of this tick species, including whole mitochondrial genome sequencing and crossbreeding studies, which will be pivotal to complement features of its status as a vector of disease pathogens.
KW - 16S rRNA
KW - Cats
KW - cox1
KW - Ixodes ventalloi
KW - Morphology
KW - Phylogeny
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84991743320
U2 - 10.1007/s00436-016-5286-9
DO - 10.1007/s00436-016-5286-9
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 27761719
AN - SCOPUS:84991743320
SN - 0932-0113
VL - 116
SP - 251
EP - 258
JO - Parasitology Research
JF - Parasitology Research
IS - 1
ER -