Morphological and molecular differentiation between Culicoides oxystoma and Culicoides kingi (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Tunisia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Culicoides kingi and Culicoides oxystoma belong to the Schultzei group of biting midges. These two species are vectors of disease in livestock of economic importance. As described in the literature, morphological identification for discrimination between them is still unclear. However, species-specific identification is necessary to solve taxonomic challenges between species and to understand their roles in disease transmission and epidemiology. This study aims to develop accurate tools to discriminate C. oxystoma from C. kingi using traditional morphometry and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR RFLP) assays for use in developing countries.

Methods

Specimens were collected from the region of Kairouan in central Tunisia. A total

SUBMITTER: Slama D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8684274 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature