Journal of Medical Entomology (2007) 44, 222-228
M.T. Marrelli, L.F. Souza, R.C. Marques, M.B. Labruna, S.R. Matioli, A.P. Tonon, P.E.M. Ribolla, O. Marinotti and T.T.S. Schumaker (2007)
Taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships between neotropical species of ticks from genus Amblyomma (Acari: Ixodidae) inferred from second internal transcribed spacer sequences of rDNA
Journal of Medical Entomology 44 (2), 222-228
Abstract: The accurate specific identification of ticks is essential for the study, control and prevention of tick-borne diseases. Herein, we determined ribosomal nucleotide sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of 15 Neotropical hard tick species of the genus Amblyomma Koch found in Brazil. Most of the studied ticks accidentally parasite humans and potentially act as vectors of zoonoses. Lengths of the ITS2 sequences ranged from 956 to 1,207 bp, whereas GC content varied from 62.4 to 66.9%. A matrix of ITS2 divergence was calculated with the ITS2 sequence data obtained showing divergence levels varying from 1.5 to 28.8%. The analysis indicated that this molecular marker can be useful for Amblyomma-specific identification. Phylogenetic inferences based on the ITS2 sequences were used to assess some issues in subgenus taxonomy.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Osvaldo Marinotti, Marcelo Bahia Labruna
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy
molecular biology - genes
