Molecular characterization of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in areas with pest outbreaks and simuliotoxicosis in Northeast Anatolia Region, Turkey

• Published in: Acta tropica 2019-11, Vol.199, p.105149-105149, Article 105149
• Main Authors: Onder, Zuhal, Yildirim, Alparslan, Duzlu, Onder, Arslan, Mukremin O., Sari, Baris, Tasci, Gencay T., Ciloglu, Arif, Aydin, Nilgun Parmaksizoglu, Inci, Abdullah, Adler, Peter H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; COI gene; Disease Outbreaks; DNA barcoding; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; Electron Transport Complex IV - genetics; Haplotypes; Pests; Phylogeny; Simuliidae - classification; Simuliidae - genetics; Simuliotoxicosis; Turkey
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105149

•Simuliid pest problems and simuliotoxicosis affect cattle in northeastern Turkey.•The COI gene was analyzed for four species of black flies in the pest region.•Genetic divergence was 0.2–1.6% (intraspecific) and 11.2–14.5% (mean interspecific).•COI results reflect nominal species but do not unequivocally reveal cryptic species.•A rapid identification tool now exists to aid simuliid control in Turkey's pest area. Accurate species identification provides the foundation for successful pest management and vector control of black flies. Accordingly, we examined the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequences of four morphologically and chromosomally identified species of black flies (Simulium vernumgroup sp., S. bergi Rubtsov, S. bezzii (Corti), and S. kiritshenkoi Rubtsov) in Northeast Anatolia Region of Turkey where simuliid pest problems and simuliotoxicosis cases have been reported among cattle. COI gene sequences of these species and closely related species available in GenBank were used to provide species-level diagnoses and infer relationships. Both subgenera (Nevermannia and Simulium) were monophyletic, and subclades generally corresponded with species groups. Intraspecific genetic divergence was 0.2–1.6%, whereas the mean interspecific genetic divergence among the four species was 11.2–14.5%. The COI analysis produced results congruent with morphological concepts of the nominal species S. bergi and S. bezzii. Probable misidentifications in GenBank were revealed, especially for species in the S. ornatum and S. vernum groups, complicating identification capability. Sequence variation in the COI barcode region also might not be adequate for species delineation and identification among some species in these two species groups.