Comparison of some Molecular Markers for Tick Species Identification

Abstract

Background: Ticks are obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites of vertebrates. Since many tick identification studies are based on the analysis of 16S rDNA, 12S rDNA and ITS-1, 2 rDNA genes, we aimed to compare the performance of these molecular markers of common use for the identification of ticks, under a diagnostic laboratory environment.
 Methods: Overall, 192 tick specimens were collected through the state of Texas from January 2014 to August 2015 and the species was determined by both morphology and molecular amplification using the 16S rDNA, 12S rDNA, ITS1 and ITS2. 
 Results: The species collected were identified by molecular techniques as Dermacentor albipictus, D. variabilis, Am­blyomma americanum, Ixodes scapularis, A. cajennense, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Carios capensis. ITS1 and ITS2 were not able to prove consistent amplification and therefore have been considered as potential markers for tick iden­tification.
 Conclusion: The use of mitochondrial genes in tick identification showed to provide more consistent results in the diagnostic environment.

Genotypic Detection of Fish-Borne Zoonotic Trematodes Using the Hotshot DNA Extraction Method

“…Currently, molecular identification using PCR have been developed for different species of parasites (Chuboon & Chalobol, 2009). Besides, the use of molecular techniques for identification has been more common to overcome the limitations of morphological identification (Abouelhassan et al, 2019).…”

“…The sequencing analysis of the examined samples revealed 99% identity with some other species from the same family. Therefore, the choice of reliable genetic markers for species identification would assure the sequence assignment and the phylogenetic results (Abouelhassan et al, 2019). In addition, the primers should be designed to be more specific with no cross-reaction with other trematodes (Chontananarth et al, 2018).…”

“…Morphological identification requires experience and special sample preservation and treatment. Whereas, molecular identification provides an alternative to overcome the limitations of morphological identification (Abouelhassan et al, 2019).…”

Molecular identification of new circulating Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticum from sheep and goats in Duhok governorate, Iraq

“…With regard to tick species, 16S rDNA has been used and has been successful in constructing phylogeny of species of hard tick and 16S rRNA is helpful in building of the phylogenetic tree of hard tick species (26,27). There was no such a study that recorded this species, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma marginatum, Rhipicephalus annulatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Rhipicephalus turanicus.…”

Refinement of an established large-animal model to understand the tick-pathogen-host interface

“…Several studies have demonstrated the utility of molecular identification of tick species by targeting the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), 16S RNA, ITS-2 or 12S RNA genes or loci (312,(323)(324)(325)(326)(327). A study directly compared the four described molecular targets, COI, 16S, ITS-2 and 12S RNA genes or loci, and found no statistically significant difference in successful tick species identification between the four tested DNA targets (312).…”