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Phylogeny of the subgenus Culicoides and related species in Italy, inferred from internal transcribed spacer 2 ribosomal DNA sequences
- Source :
- Medical and veterinary entomology. 20(2)
- Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) include vectors for the economically important animal diseases, bluetongue (BT) and African horse sickness (AHS). In the Mediterranean Basin, these diseases are transmitted by four species of Culicoides: the first three belong in the subgenus Avaritia Fox and are Culicoides imicola Kieffer, Culicoides obsoletus (Meigen) and Culicoides scoticus Downes and Kettle; the fourth is Culicoides pulicaris (Linnaeus) in the subgenus Culicoides Latreille. In the Palaearctic Region, this subgenus (usually referred to as the C. pulicaris group) now includes a loose miscellany of some 50 taxa. The lack of clarity surrounding its taxonomy stimulated the present morphological and molecular study of 11 species collected in Italy. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence variation demonstrated a high degree of divergence. These results, combined with those from a parallel morphological study, disclosed: (1) that some previously described taxa should be resurrected from synonymy; (2) that there are new species to be described; (3) that the subgenus Culicoides (as currently employed) is a polyphyletic assemblage of four lineages - the subgenus Culicoides sensu stricto, the subgenus Silvicola Mirzaeva and Isaev, the subgenus Hoffmania Fox and the hitherto unrecognized Fagineus species complex. Each is discussed briefly (but not defined) and its constituent Palaearctic taxa listed. Strong congruence between morphological and molecular data holds promise for resolving many of the difficult taxonomic issues plaguing the accurate identification of vector Culicoides around the world.
- Subjects :
- Culicoides imicola
Species complex
Analysis of Variance
General Veterinary
Ceratopogonidae
Culicoides obsoletus
Molecular Sequence Data
Zoology
Biology
biology.organism_classification
Insect Vectors
Italy
Insect Science
Polyphyly
DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
Animals
Parasitology
Taxonomy (biology)
Internal transcribed spacer
Subgenus
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Phylogeny
DNA Primers
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 0269283X
- Volume :
- 20
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Medical and veterinary entomology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....7954b2c6b4896437dcd91c386f459eeb