Morphological and genetic diversity of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato from the New and Old Worlds.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The taxonomic status of the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto), which has long been regarded as the most widespread tick worldwide and a vector of many pathogens to dogs and humans, is currently under dispute.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive morphological and genetic study of 278 representative specimens, which belonged to different species (i.e., Rhipicephalus bursa, R. guilhoni, R. microplus, R. muhsamae, R. pusillus, R. sanguineus sensu lato, and R. turanicus) collected from Europe, Asia, Americas, and Oceania. After detailed morphological examination, ticks were molecularly processed for the analysis of partial mitochondrial (16S rDNA, 12S rDNA, and cox1) gene sequences.

Results

In addition to R. sanguineus s.l. and R. turanicu

SUBMITTER: Dantas-Torres F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3735430 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature