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Germ cells: a useful tool for the taxonomy of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and species of the Amblyomma cajennense complex (Acari: Ixodidae)

  • Genetics, Evolution, and Phylogeny - Original Paper
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Abstract

The systematics of several ticks species (Acari: Ixodidae) remains controversial. Many species, including those of the Amblyomma cajennense complex and Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., are given special attention since they are cryptic species complexes and are also important in human and veterinary medicine. The A. cajennense complex was recently reorganized into six valid species, among which Amblyomma patinoi and Amblyomma mixtum have been confirmed in Colombia. On the other hand, the taxonomic status of R. sanguineus s.l. is controversial since it is a cosmopolitan cryptic species complex with a high reproductive capacity and a broad range of hosts (including man). To address this challenge, the germ cells of male ticks display a diverse morphology that offers novel opportunities for taxonomy. This study describes the events of spermatogenesis in A. mixtum and R. sanguineus s.l. individuals collected during active feeding on domestic hosts in the department of Caldas, Colombia. The individuals were identified using dichotomous keys and through PCR amplification of a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA gene. The male reproductive systems of A. mixtum and R. sanguineus s.l. were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde for 48 h and dehydrated in increasing dilutions of ethanol. The samples were then embedded and mounted in historesin to obtain sections of 3 μm that were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), photographed, and visualized through optical microscopy. The results show that the morphology of mature germ cells displays excellent diagnostic traits that can be used for tick taxonomy.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Vicerrectoría de Investigaciones y Posgrados (Universidad de Caldas), Colombia and Colciencias Convocatoria 775 Joven investigador, 2017.

Funding

The project was funded by COLCIENCIAS (code 112777758193); execution contract: 858 of 2017.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 Apartado Aéreo 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia

    Erika M. Ospina-Pérez, Lorys Y. Mancilla-Agrono & Fredy A. Rivera-Páez

  2. Ciencias – Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia

    Erika M. Ospina-Pérez

  3. Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia

    Lorys Y. Mancilla-Agrono

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  1. Erika M. Ospina-Pérez
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  2. Lorys Y. Mancilla-Agrono
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Correspondence to Erika M. Ospina-Pérez or Fredy A. Rivera-Páez.

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Statement of informed consent/Human and animal rights and informed consent

We requested signed informed consent from the animal owner or land administrator prior to collecting the ectoparasite samples. Also, this research was conducted under the “Framework permit granted to Universidad de Caldas by the Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales (ANLA) of Colombia, according to the Resolution 02497 of December 31st of 2018” and the “Approval of the Bioethics Committee of the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences – Universidad de Caldas (June 2nd of 2017).

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Ospina-Pérez, E.M., Mancilla-Agrono, L.Y. & Rivera-Páez, F.A. Germ cells: a useful tool for the taxonomy of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and species of the Amblyomma cajennense complex (Acari: Ixodidae). Parasitol Res 119, 1573–1582 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06662-y

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