Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Relationships Between Neotropical Species of Ticks from Genus Amblyomma (Acari: Ixodidae) Inferred from Second Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequences of rDNA

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology 2007-03, Vol.44 (2), p.222-228
• Main Authors: Marrelli, M. T., Souza, L. F., Marques, R. C., Labruna, M. B., Matioli, S. R., Tonon, A. P., Ribolla, P. E M., Marinotti, O., Schumaker, T. T S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amblyomma; animal taxonomy; Animals; Arachnida; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; DNA Primers - chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genetic markers; internal transcribed spacers; Invertebrates; ITS2; Ixodidae - classification; Ixodidae - genetics; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; Molecular Sequence Data; molecular systematics; nucleotide sequences; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; POPULATION BIOLOGY/GENETICS; ribosomal DNA; sequence analysis; Sequence Analysis, DNA - veterinary; sequence homology; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Species Specificity; taxonomy; tick identification; ticks; Vectors. Intermediate hosts
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585%282007%2944%5B222%3ATAPRBN%5D2.0.CO%3B2

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.