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Mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene analysis reveals occurrence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto from steppe and high plateaus regions, Algeria

  • Arthropods and Medical Entomology - Original Paper
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Abstract

The present study aims to perform comparative genetic characterization for R. sanguineus s.l. infesting Algerian dogs living in steppe and high plateau regions based on mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. In total, 1043 ticks were collected from 147 infested dogs, including 756 ticks from 124 dogs in Djelfa and 287 ticks from 23 dogs in Bordj-Bou-Arreridj. All ticks were morphologically identified as R. sanguineus s.l., and 87 specimens were randomly selected for molecular analysis. Sequences obtained from selected ticks clustered with sequences of R. sanguineus s.l. from France, Germany, Portugal, and Spain, all of which belong to R. sanguineus s.s. The occurrence of R. sanguineus s.s. in Algeria is an interesting result given that most R. sanguineus in Africa cluster among the tropical lineage. This finding should prompt further investigation by exhaustive studies across Algerian territory. Such data can be useful to understand the dispersal route of R. sanguineus s.s. from Europe to North Africa, or whether their occurrence in Algeria is a result of historical biogeography.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the private veterinarians Imad Seloum, Mossaab Yassad, and Laatamna Chahra working in Bordj-Bou-Arreridj for their support and participation during the sampling of the material.

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Author notes

  1. Lidia Chitimia-Dobler and Deon K. Bakkes contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Exploration and Valorisation of Steppe Ecosystems, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Djelfa, Moudjbara Road, BP 3117, Djelfa, Algeria

    AbdElkarim Laatamna

  2. Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, 80937, Munich, Germany

    Beate Oswald & Lidia Chitimia-Dobler

  3. Gertrud Theiler Tick Museum, Agricultural Research Council Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa

    Deon K. Bakkes

  4. Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Deon K. Bakkes

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  1. AbdElkarim Laatamna
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  2. Beate Oswald
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  3. Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
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  4. Deon K. Bakkes
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Correspondence to Lidia Chitimia-Dobler.

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Laatamna, A., Oswald, B., Chitimia-Dobler, L. et al. Mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene analysis reveals occurrence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto from steppe and high plateaus regions, Algeria. Parasitol Res 119, 2085–2091 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06725-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06725-0

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