Molecular species delimitation analysis of Leptotrombidium spp. and other chigger species parasitizing birds in Malaysia.

ABSTRACT: Trombiculid mites (Acariformes) are unique among arthropods of medical importance in that only the larval instar (chigger) is parasitic, which can result in the transmission of zoonotic scrub typhus. The use of molecular approaches for chigger species discrimination has been very limited until recently, especially for those parasitizing bird hosts, where data remain scarce. Here, we aimed to generate DNA barcodes of chiggers parasitizing birds in Malaysia based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene following DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing. Fifty-four COI sequences from 8 bird-associated chigger species in Malaysia were combined with 50 GenBank sequences comprising 7 genera from various countries for DNA barcode and phylogenetic analysis. The correct identificat

SUBMITTER: Rajasegaran P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12507433 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature