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Allozyme polymorphism of Mdh and α-Gpdh in Ixodes ricinus populations: comparison of borreliae-infected and uninfected ticks

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Abstract

Ixodes ricinus Linnaeus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks are vectors of numerous infectious diseases in humans and animals. The allozyme variability of MDH and α-Gpdh was detected by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in I. ricinus natural populations in three localities in Serbia. Four alleles of Mdh locus (MDH 1, MDH 2, MDH 3 and MDH X) and four alleles of α-Gpdh locus (VS, S, F and VF) were detected. Interpopulation differences in Mdh and α-Gpdh allele frequencies were statistically insignificant. Significant difference in α-Gpdh allele frequencies between males and females was recorded in the largest sample only. Differences in allele frequencies, detected between borreliae-infected and uninfected I. ricinus ticks, were close to the level of statistical significance, especially for α-Gpdh locus. Clear significant difference appeared in females when sexes were tested separatelly (P = 0.037). It is interesting that genotypes containing rarer alleles (MDH 1 and S) were infected in higher proportion in comparison to other genotypes. Our results point towards a possible role of Mdh and α-Gpdh loci in I. ricinus ticks in the determination of energy requirements for host seeking. Sex differences in α-Gpdh allele frequencies suggest that selective pressure, concerning efficiency of reserve materials utilisation, points to α-Gpdh rather than to Mdh locus.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Eoin Healy and Dr. Per Moestrup Jensen for constructive comments related to electrophoretic assay and zymogram detection. This work was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia (Project No. 145002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Medical Arachnoentomology, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Dr. Subotića 4, POB 102, 11129, Belgrade, Serbia

    Željko Radulović, Marija Milutinović & Snežana Tomanović

  2. Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Marko Anđelković & Dragoslav Marinković

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Zoran Vujčić

  4. Center of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Nataša Božić

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  1. Željko Radulović
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  2. Marija Milutinović
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  3. Marko Anđelković
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  4. Zoran Vujčić
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  5. Snežana Tomanović
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  6. Nataša Božić
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  7. Dragoslav Marinković
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Correspondence to Željko Radulović.

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Radulović, Ž., Milutinović, M., Anđelković, M. et al. Allozyme polymorphism of Mdh and α-Gpdh in Ixodes ricinus populations: comparison of borreliae-infected and uninfected ticks. Exp Appl Acarol 40, 113–121 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-006-9028-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-006-9028-z

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