Genetic structure and gene flow of the flea Xenopsylla cheopis in Madagascar and Mayotte.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The flea Xenopsylla cheopis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) is a vector of plague. Despite this insect's medical importance, especially in Madagascar where plague is endemic, little is known about the organization of its natural populations. We undertook population genetic analyses (i) to determine the spatial genetic structure of X. cheopis in Madagascar and (ii) to determine the potential risk of plague introduction in the neighboring island of Mayotte.

Results

We genotyped 205 fleas from 12 sites using nine microsatellite markers. Madagascan populations of X. cheopis differed, with the mean number of alleles per locus per population ranging from 1.78 to 4.44 and with moderate to high levels of genetic differentiation between populations. Three distinct genetic cluste

SUBMITTER: Harimalala M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5520349 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature