Development of microsatellite markers for the soft tick Ornithodoros phacochoerus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros are responsible for the maintenance and transmission of the African swine fever (ASF) virus in the sylvatic and domestic viral cycles in Southern Africa. They are also the main vectors of the Borrelia species causing relapsing fevers. Currently, no genetic markers are available for Afrotropical Ornithodoros ticks. As ASF spreads globally, such markers are needed to assess the role of ticks in the emergence of new outbreaks. The aim of this study is to design microsatellite markers that could be used for ticks of the Ornithodoros moubata complex, particularly Ornithodoros phacochoerus, to assess population structure and tick movements in ASF endemic areas.

Methods

A total of 151 markers were designed using the O. moubata and O. 

SUBMITTER: Taraveau F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11238500 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature