Ecophysiological characterization and molecular differentiation of Culex pipiens forms (Diptera: Culicidae) in Tunisia
Abstract Background The Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae) includes the most widespread mosquito species in the world. Members of this complex are the primary enzootic and epidemic vectors of the West Nile virus (genus Flavivirus) in several countries. The two recognized forms of Cx. pipiens...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-017-2265-7 |
| _version_ | 1818441102690091008 |
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| author | Marwa Beji Adel Rhim David Roiz Ali Bouattour |
| author_facet | Marwa Beji Adel Rhim David Roiz Ali Bouattour |
| author_sort | Marwa Beji |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae) includes the most widespread mosquito species in the world. Members of this complex are the primary enzootic and epidemic vectors of the West Nile virus (genus Flavivirus) in several countries. The two recognized forms of Cx. pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758) - pipiens and molestus - exhibit behavioral and physiological differences. Natural populations of Cx. pipiens were investigated in several sites in Tunisia to evaluate the ecophysiological and molecular characteristics of their forms. Results The analysis showed the sympatric presence of Cx. pipiens forms and hybrids in all studied sites. Of all the tested larvae of Cx. pipiens, 33.5% were identified as pipiens, 30.8% were identified as molestus, and 35.6% were identified as hybrids. The molestus and hybrid forms were positively correlated with urban habitats and belowground sites while the pipiens form was positively correlated with rural habitats and aboveground sites. Autogeny was expressed in all types of habitats and breeding sites. By contrast with the microsatellite CQ11, the two molecular markers, ace-2 and cytb, did not allow differentiation between the Cx. pipiens forms. Conclusions Our study shows the ubiquitous distribution and the plasticity of the different forms of Cx. pipiens in a wide range of ecological conditions. It suggests that the behavioral traits assigned to the forms of Cx. pipiens seem to be more flexible than previously assumed. Our analysis also proves that the microsatellite CQ11 remains an efficient tool for distinguishing between Cx. pipiens forms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T18:22:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1ce6e2f2689a4e13a4bbdba57b468cba |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T18:22:55Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-1ce6e2f2689a4e13a4bbdba57b468cba2022-12-21T22:52:01ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052017-07-0110111010.1186/s13071-017-2265-7Ecophysiological characterization and molecular differentiation of Culex pipiens forms (Diptera: Culicidae) in TunisiaMarwa Beji0Adel Rhim1David Roiz2Ali Bouattour3Université Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire d’Epidémiologie et de Microbiologie Vétérinaire LR11IPT03, Service d’Entomologie MédicaleUniversité Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire d’Epidémiologie et de Microbiologie Vétérinaire LR11IPT03, Service d’Entomologie MédicaleInfectious Diseases and Vectors: Ecology, Genetics, Evolution and Control, IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement)Université Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire d’Epidémiologie et de Microbiologie Vétérinaire LR11IPT03, Service d’Entomologie MédicaleAbstract Background The Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae) includes the most widespread mosquito species in the world. Members of this complex are the primary enzootic and epidemic vectors of the West Nile virus (genus Flavivirus) in several countries. The two recognized forms of Cx. pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758) - pipiens and molestus - exhibit behavioral and physiological differences. Natural populations of Cx. pipiens were investigated in several sites in Tunisia to evaluate the ecophysiological and molecular characteristics of their forms. Results The analysis showed the sympatric presence of Cx. pipiens forms and hybrids in all studied sites. Of all the tested larvae of Cx. pipiens, 33.5% were identified as pipiens, 30.8% were identified as molestus, and 35.6% were identified as hybrids. The molestus and hybrid forms were positively correlated with urban habitats and belowground sites while the pipiens form was positively correlated with rural habitats and aboveground sites. Autogeny was expressed in all types of habitats and breeding sites. By contrast with the microsatellite CQ11, the two molecular markers, ace-2 and cytb, did not allow differentiation between the Cx. pipiens forms. Conclusions Our study shows the ubiquitous distribution and the plasticity of the different forms of Cx. pipiens in a wide range of ecological conditions. It suggests that the behavioral traits assigned to the forms of Cx. pipiens seem to be more flexible than previously assumed. Our analysis also proves that the microsatellite CQ11 remains an efficient tool for distinguishing between Cx. pipiens forms.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-017-2265-7Culex pipiensForm molestusForm pipiensHybridTunisiaEcology |
| spellingShingle | Marwa Beji Adel Rhim David Roiz Ali Bouattour Ecophysiological characterization and molecular differentiation of Culex pipiens forms (Diptera: Culicidae) in Tunisia Parasites & Vectors Culex pipiens Form molestus Form pipiens Hybrid Tunisia Ecology |
| title | Ecophysiological characterization and molecular differentiation of Culex pipiens forms (Diptera: Culicidae) in Tunisia |
| title_full | Ecophysiological characterization and molecular differentiation of Culex pipiens forms (Diptera: Culicidae) in Tunisia |
| title_fullStr | Ecophysiological characterization and molecular differentiation of Culex pipiens forms (Diptera: Culicidae) in Tunisia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecophysiological characterization and molecular differentiation of Culex pipiens forms (Diptera: Culicidae) in Tunisia |
| title_short | Ecophysiological characterization and molecular differentiation of Culex pipiens forms (Diptera: Culicidae) in Tunisia |
| title_sort | ecophysiological characterization and molecular differentiation of culex pipiens forms diptera culicidae in tunisia |
| topic | Culex pipiens Form molestus Form pipiens Hybrid Tunisia Ecology |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-017-2265-7 |
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