Molecular characterisation of the tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Malaysia: new insights into the cryptic diversity and distinct genetic assemblages throughout the world
Abstract Background The morphotaxonomy of Rhipicephalus microplus complex has been challenged in the last few years and prompted many biologists to adopt a DNA-based method for distinguishing the members of this group. In the present study, we used a mitochondrial DNA analysis to characterise the ge...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2015-06-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0956-5 |
| _version_ | 1797811748990877696 |
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| author | Van Lun Low Sun Tee Tay Kai Ling Kho Fui Xian Koh Tiong Kai Tan Yvonne Ai Lian Lim Bee Lee Ong Chandrawathani Panchadcharam Yusoff Norma-Rashid Mohd Sofian-Azirun |
| author_facet | Van Lun Low Sun Tee Tay Kai Ling Kho Fui Xian Koh Tiong Kai Tan Yvonne Ai Lian Lim Bee Lee Ong Chandrawathani Panchadcharam Yusoff Norma-Rashid Mohd Sofian-Azirun |
| author_sort | Van Lun Low |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The morphotaxonomy of Rhipicephalus microplus complex has been challenged in the last few years and prompted many biologists to adopt a DNA-based method for distinguishing the members of this group. In the present study, we used a mitochondrial DNA analysis to characterise the genetic assemblages, population structure and dispersal pattern of R. microplus from Southeast Asia, the region where the species originated. Methods A phylogeographic analysis inferred from the 16S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes was performed with five populations of R. microplus collected from cattle in Malaysia. Malaysian R. microplus sequences were compared with existing COI and 16S rRNA haplotypes reported globally in NCBI GenBank. Results A total of seven and 12 unique haplotypes were recovered by the 16S rRNA and COI genes, respectively. The concatenated sequences of both 16S rRNA and COI revealed 18 haplotypes. Haplotype network and phylogenetic analyses based on COI+16S rRNA sequences revealed four genetically divergent groups among Malaysian R. microplus. The significantly low genetic differentiation and high gene flow among Malaysian R. microplus populations supports the occurrence of genetic admixture. In a broader context, the 16S rRNA phylogenetic tree assigned all isolates of Malaysian R. microplus into the previously described African/the Americas assemblage. However, the COI phylogenetic tree provides higher resolution of R. microplus with the identification of three main assemblages: clade A sensu Burger et al. (2014) comprises ticks from Southeast Asia, the Americas and China; clade B sensu Burger et al. (2014) is restricted to ticks that originated from China; and clade C sensu Low et al. (2015) is a new genetic assemblage discovered in this study comprising ticks from India and Malaysia. Conclusions We conclude that the R. microplus complex consisting of at least five taxa: R. australis, R. annulatus, R. microplus clade A sensu Burger et al. (2014), R. microplus clade B sensu Burger et al. (2014) and the new taxon, R. microplus clade C sensu Low et al. (2015). The use of COI as the standard genetic marker in discerning the genetic assemblages of R. microplus from a broad range of biogeographical regions is proposed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:28:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53493cf1fdb94da58a1068c907ad19bd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:28:17Z |
| publishDate | 2015-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-53493cf1fdb94da58a1068c907ad19bd2023-06-04T11:14:16ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052015-06-018111010.1186/s13071-015-0956-5Molecular characterisation of the tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Malaysia: new insights into the cryptic diversity and distinct genetic assemblages throughout the worldVan Lun Low0Sun Tee Tay1Kai Ling Kho2Fui Xian Koh3Tiong Kai Tan4Yvonne Ai Lian Lim5Bee Lee Ong6Chandrawathani Panchadcharam7Yusoff Norma-Rashid8Mohd Sofian-Azirun9Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of MalayaDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of MalayaDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of MalayaDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of MalayaDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of MalayaDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of MalayaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia KelantanVeterinary Research InstituteInstitute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of MalayaInstitute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of MalayaAbstract Background The morphotaxonomy of Rhipicephalus microplus complex has been challenged in the last few years and prompted many biologists to adopt a DNA-based method for distinguishing the members of this group. In the present study, we used a mitochondrial DNA analysis to characterise the genetic assemblages, population structure and dispersal pattern of R. microplus from Southeast Asia, the region where the species originated. Methods A phylogeographic analysis inferred from the 16S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes was performed with five populations of R. microplus collected from cattle in Malaysia. Malaysian R. microplus sequences were compared with existing COI and 16S rRNA haplotypes reported globally in NCBI GenBank. Results A total of seven and 12 unique haplotypes were recovered by the 16S rRNA and COI genes, respectively. The concatenated sequences of both 16S rRNA and COI revealed 18 haplotypes. Haplotype network and phylogenetic analyses based on COI+16S rRNA sequences revealed four genetically divergent groups among Malaysian R. microplus. The significantly low genetic differentiation and high gene flow among Malaysian R. microplus populations supports the occurrence of genetic admixture. In a broader context, the 16S rRNA phylogenetic tree assigned all isolates of Malaysian R. microplus into the previously described African/the Americas assemblage. However, the COI phylogenetic tree provides higher resolution of R. microplus with the identification of three main assemblages: clade A sensu Burger et al. (2014) comprises ticks from Southeast Asia, the Americas and China; clade B sensu Burger et al. (2014) is restricted to ticks that originated from China; and clade C sensu Low et al. (2015) is a new genetic assemblage discovered in this study comprising ticks from India and Malaysia. Conclusions We conclude that the R. microplus complex consisting of at least five taxa: R. australis, R. annulatus, R. microplus clade A sensu Burger et al. (2014), R. microplus clade B sensu Burger et al. (2014) and the new taxon, R. microplus clade C sensu Low et al. (2015). The use of COI as the standard genetic marker in discerning the genetic assemblages of R. microplus from a broad range of biogeographical regions is proposed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0956-5Rhipicephalus microplusCattle TickCOI Gene16S rRNA GeneMalaysia |
| spellingShingle | Van Lun Low Sun Tee Tay Kai Ling Kho Fui Xian Koh Tiong Kai Tan Yvonne Ai Lian Lim Bee Lee Ong Chandrawathani Panchadcharam Yusoff Norma-Rashid Mohd Sofian-Azirun Molecular characterisation of the tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Malaysia: new insights into the cryptic diversity and distinct genetic assemblages throughout the world Parasites & Vectors Rhipicephalus microplus Cattle Tick COI Gene 16S rRNA Gene Malaysia |
| title | Molecular characterisation of the tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Malaysia: new insights into the cryptic diversity and distinct genetic assemblages throughout the world |
| title_full | Molecular characterisation of the tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Malaysia: new insights into the cryptic diversity and distinct genetic assemblages throughout the world |
| title_fullStr | Molecular characterisation of the tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Malaysia: new insights into the cryptic diversity and distinct genetic assemblages throughout the world |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular characterisation of the tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Malaysia: new insights into the cryptic diversity and distinct genetic assemblages throughout the world |
| title_short | Molecular characterisation of the tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Malaysia: new insights into the cryptic diversity and distinct genetic assemblages throughout the world |
| title_sort | molecular characterisation of the tick rhipicephalus microplus in malaysia new insights into the cryptic diversity and distinct genetic assemblages throughout the world |
| topic | Rhipicephalus microplus Cattle Tick COI Gene 16S rRNA Gene Malaysia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0956-5 |
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